Position Available

Curator of Fine Arts

The California Historical Society, the State's official historical society, is a non-profit
educational institution dedicated to the history of California and the West. The Society's
holding include a fine arts collection, research library, and photography collection. The art
collections is comprised of over 5,000 objects ranging from key paintings to decorative
arts and historical artifacts reflecting significant artistic statements and important events in
California's early history. The Society, housed in a historic building in the heart of San
Francisco's Yerba Buena Gardens cultural district, also presents a diverse program of
exhibitions, organized both in-house and by outside organizations, that interpret California
history.

The Society seeks an individual to oversee the Fine Arts Department and Collections;
provide leadership for the development of the the exhibition program, including attendant
publications and activities; and curate exhibitions (approximately two per year). The
responsibilities also include managing the fine arts collection; working with the Collections
Committee of the Board of Trustees; promoting the collections and encouraging their
growth; developing fundraising and grant possibilities for exhibitions and collections in
concert with the Development Department; processing loans from the collections; and
fielding requests from the public for information about the collection and/or the art of
California.

Candidates should possess a master's degree in art history, history, museum studies or a
related field, and have a thorough working knowledge of California history. Experience in
exhibition and publication production, collections management, and computers is
required. We are looking for a person with strong leadership skills, a sense of vision, and
an ability to work cooperatively with staff, trustees, and the public.

Salary is $35,000 full-time; part-time negotiable, with the following benefits: medical,
dental, sick leave, and vacation.

To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, and the names of three references by
November 30, 1997 to:

California Historical Society
678 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA  94105
Attn: Curator of Fine Arts Position