The Position

MCA Denver is looking for a talented and highly organized planning and logistics coordinator to assist the Exhibitions team with the creation of innovative contemporary art exhibitions. The ideal candidate is adept at prioritizing and managing deadlines, has experience with registrarial duties within an art museum or gallery, is an open and clear communicator, and is passionate about working with a small but mighty team on an exhibition program grounded in excellence, inclusion, and adventurousness. The Exhibitions Coordinator works closely with the museum’s Curators and Exhibitions Manager and supports the department's needs related to the mounting of exhibitions, adherence to budgets, communication with other museum departments, and coordination of artists' travel and site visits. This person is also responsible for overseeing MCA's Octopus Initiative, including managing all logistics related to the circulation of artwork from this innovative free art lending library. 

The position is full-time with benefits and during most weeks requires a minimum of two days per week onsite to connect with the larger team, while planning and other duties may productively occur remotely.  In the weeks leading up to and during exhibition turnovers, this position is expected to be on-site five days a week. We are headquartered, and this position is based, in the downtown Denver area.

About You

• You are motivated by helping artists' dreams come true.
• You are a skilled project coordinator, able to meet and manage deadlines and handle a range of tasks that have overlapping timelines. 
• You are a courteous, clear, and attentive communicator, able to handle correspondence and sensitive information from artists, lenders, and galleries.
• You are detail oriented and highly attuned to the needs related to the care and installation of artworks.
• Your approach is centered on openness and facilitation.
• You have a desire to work with a dynamic, diverse, and collaborative team, during regular museum operating hours including some nights and weekends supporting our epic programs and events.

A Day in the Life

Registrarial and Administrative 

• Assist curators with the planning and production needs of exhibitions including coordination of artists' site visits, correspondence with artists, galleries, and community partners, coordination of artist agreements, maintaining exhibition checklists, production of exhibition labels, and supporting exhibition team with new commissions. 
• Support registrarial duties, including coordinating loan letters and loan forms, corresponding with lenders, completing condition reports, sending out certificates of insurance, maintaining lender correspondence and loan agreement compliance, and maintaining exhibition files.
• Photographically document incoming artwork.
• Manage the administration of exhibition agreements and contracts. 
• Support the Exhibition Manager with planning for de/installation periods, including schedule development.
• Support curators with the production of publications by obtaining images and image rights.
• Manage database entry and manage condition reports and files.
• Provide onsite assistance to curators and the Exhibitions Manager throughout the installation and deinstallation periods. 
• Under the direction of the Exhibitions Manager, schedule and instruct other MCA staff members that participate in de/installation related projects.
• Coordinate installation photography and its distribution to appropriate internal and external parties.
• Process incoming auction donations for the MCA Gala and coordinate framing.
• Handle general inquiries for the Exhibitions department.

Art Lending Library (Octopus Initiative)

• Act as registrar for the Octopus Initiative inventory of art works.
• Oversee the Lending Library, including the logistics of incoming and outgoing artwork and correspondence with lottery winners.
• Manage the inventory database maintenance with external vendors.
• Coordinate all Octopus Initiative activities, including corporate-lending, new commissions, and other programs.
• Oversee the safe and timely return of art works

Collaboration

• Support the coordination of artist visits, itineraries, and hospitality.
• Assist in technical training for Visitors Services staff for exhibitions.
• Represent the Exhibitions Department in interdepartmental meetings and with the public as needed.  Serve as a liaison for other Museum departments.
• Act as primary liaison with commissioned Octopus Initiative artists and galleries.
• Liaise with the public to facilitate participation in the Octopus Initiative program.

Financial

• Work with the Senior Curator and Exhibitions Manager to establish and adhere to departmental operating budgets. 
• Process receipts and invoices. 

What You Bring to Us

• 4- year degree in Art History or Arts Administration required, or in a related field, or any equivalent combination of education and/or experience.  
• Requires minimum of 3 to 5 years of experience in museum, gallery, or nonprofit organization, with 1-2 years of experience of registrarial responsibilities.  Experience with project management and contemporary art is strongly preferred.  
• Proven computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite is necessary; collections database knowledge preferred.  
• Requires excellent organizational skills, written and oral communication skills, attention to detail, and ability to prioritize work and tasks. Requires adaptability to produce and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, multi-task and changing environment, and the ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a staff member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made upon request to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to speak, understand, and communicate in English effectively, in person and in writing. Ability to hear adequately in person and by phone, in personal and group settings.
• Ability to work with, and process information from, a variety of individuals and media (e.g. computers, projected images, printed materials, and sitting and/or standing up to 6 hours per day. 
• Mobility necessary to access various offices and a wide variety of meeting and museum settings. Mobility necessary to perform a variety of tasks that involve standing, walking, sitting, stooping, kneeling, bending and twisting, occasionally climbing stairs or using an elevator, possibly reaching chest high and overhead for materials.
• Ability to reach for, move and/or lift up to 25 pounds and the use of hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls.

About Us

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA Denver) is a nonprofit organization providing an innovative forum for contemporary art that inspires and challenges, creating understanding and dialog about the art of our time. MCA Denver is paving a new path for a 21st century museum that is Both/And: We are both advancing the field of contemporary art and providing a platform for creative expression, in the broadest sense of the term.  We present both world-class exhibitions and quirky events, serious lectures and epic parties.  We are both sophisticated and unpretentious. We welcome all audiences, celebrate all voices, and share all stories to provide one-of-a-kind experiences for our community. 

Our Core Values

We are:

Adventurous – We are risk-takers. We are creative, open, curious, and sometimes weird.

Excellent – We strive to be the best in our field, we have high expectations, we believe in being resilient, creative problem-solvers, and professionals.

Human Centric – We are collaborative. We strive for emotional intelligence, and we value relationships.

Inclusive – We are welcoming to all audiences, voices, and stories. We believe in being authentic and inclusive.  We actively seek and engage with diverse perspectives.

MCA Denver is committed in policy, principle, and practice to maintaining an environment that prohibits discriminatory behavior and provides equal opportunity for all persons. MCA Denver affirms its commitment to provide a welcoming and respectful work and educational environment, in which all individuals within the museum community may benefit from each other’s experiences and foster mutual respect and appreciation of divergent views. All employment decisions at MCA Denver are based on business needs, job requirements and individual applicant qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, or belief, ancestry, age, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), family or parental status, or any other status protected by law. MCA Denver will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.

Our History

MCA Denver was founded in 1996 by philanthropist Sue Cannon and a group of committed volunteers and artists who responded to the community’s need for a contemporary art museum in Denver. In 2007, we opened our new, 27,000-square foot, environmentally sustainable facility in the Riverfront neighborhood of lodo Denver. Our building has five galleries on two floors as well as dedicated education spaces, a gift shop, an innovative art lending library, and a rooftop bar and café.  In 2021, MCA Denver will be opening a satellite location at the Holiday Theater in Denver’s Northside.  This 380-seat auditorium will be the site of some of the museum’s programming and events beginning the Spring of 2022.

Visit us at https://mcadenver.org to learn more.

Application Process

• This is an exempt, salary position. The salary range is $50,000 to $54,000 commensurate with experience and includes our standard benefits package, including a medical plan, dental plan, basic term life insurance, short term disability, 403b retirement, holiday pay and generous paid time off.
• Please submit your interest via our applicant portal https://mcadenver.org/exhibitions-coordinator
• Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but priority consideration will be given to those received by August 28, 2022.