Curator and Director Institute of Contemporary Art, Department of Art - UT Chattanooga

Job Description

The Department of Art at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) invites applications for the Curator and Director of the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA). The ICA showcases exhibitions featuring local and national artists and prioritizes work that aligns with the Department of Art’s broader educational objectives: to provide a rigorous and accessible learning environment for students to develop creative processes and intellectual models for contemporary art practice and scholarship in the history of art and visual culture.

The Curator and Director will build connections across the department to foster a symbiotic relationship between gallery programming, collections management, and department mission, vision, and curricula. Named for UTC Guerry Professor of Art Emeritus George Ayers Cress, The Cress Gallery of Art became the ICA at UTC in 2020. The ICA’s mission is to propel a culture of creativity and artistic inquiry in the Department of Art and on the campus of the University of Tennessee  extension, the ICA at UTC is a unique resource in the Chattanooga arts community, complementing the work of local and regional art institutions such as Stove Works, the Hunter Museum of American Art, the Association of Visual Arts, and Arts Build.

This position is an opportunity for a curator with a strong, pedagogically-oriented vision who is eager to engage both the Department of Art and the broader arts community with programming responsive to contemporary issues. The ICA supports a year-round schedule including temporary special exhibitions with visiting regional and national contemporary artists as well as student shows: the annual Juried Student Exhibition, Scholarship Exhibition, and the department’s BFA Thesis Exhibition.

The curator also has the opportunity to feature works from UTC’s Permanent Collection and Art faculty. This is a 12-month staff appointment reporting to the Head of the Department of Art, beginning in July 2026. Salary range is $77,/year. The position includes a full benefits package along with access to professional development funds within the department and competitive college- and university-level grants for research and professional development.

• Oversight of daily operations of the ICA.
• Curation of a range of exhibitions, including thesis exhibitions, student juried exhibitions, exhibitions featuring materials from the Permanent collection, and original exhibitions featuring a range of contemporary artists.
• Management of all aspects of exhibition programming (research, liaising with artists and other arts institutions, installation, public programs, and promotion).
• Maintenance of records for the ICA and inventory for the Permanent Collection; determining and implementing best practices in the archival care of items in the Permanent Collection; processing new acquisitions.
• Engagement in fundraising efforts for the gallery in collaboration with UTC’s Office of Development.
• Management of the operating budget for the ICA and Permanent Collection; maintaining budget records and generating fiscal reports.
• Hiring and supervising student gallery workers.
• Fostering student engagement and providing opportunities for research and learning.
• Teaching one undergraduate course per year in the Department of Art.
• Participation in departmental meetings and commitment to building a symbiotic relationship between the gallery and the department at large.

• Master’s Degree in Art, Curatorial Practice, Visual Studies, Art History, or related field.
• Established record of curatorial experience.
• Demonstrated experience in fundraising, donor relations, and/or grant writing.

• Experience working at a University or College gallery or museum.
• At least 3 years of curatorial experience.

To apply, please include the following materials as separate PDF files:

• A cover letter describing professional background, interest in the position, and why you are interested in working in a University gallery (1–2 pages)
• CV
• Curator’s statement relevant to a university setting
• PDF of materials that demonstrate…