If you are an art aficionado with an organizational streak, the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library has a unique career opportunity that might just be your next calling. The library is on the lookout for a Program Coordinator - Fine Arts, a position that melds the meticulousness required for art collection management with the social skills needed to interact with community members and art institutions. The job promises a starting salary between $46,654 and $60,632, with a full spread of benefits offered to the successful candidate, according to the Hillsborough County's announcement.
The core of the role involves a blend of art management and administrative responsibilities. According to the job overview, the coordinator will develop, and evaluate art programs, offer their technical expertise to staff and the community, and manage the library’s systemwide fine art collection. Not just a custodian of the existing collection, this individual will also participate in acquisitions, working with the Friends of the Library, and partner organizations to augment the library's cultural offerings. Additionally, the chosen one will oversee the curation of branch library gallery spaces, ensuring that the art is presented and preserved with the utmost care.
But this isn't a gig for just any art lover. The ideal candidate is expected to come to the table with a Master’s Degree in Museum Studies or a related field, as well as two years of hands-on experience in a museum or gallery setting. The role is as much about communication as it is about art, with responsibilities that include designing displays, writing marketing copy, and perhaps most crucially, the ability to articulate the library's vision for its fine art collection to a wider audience.
Strong organizational skills are non-negotiable, in a role that will involve everything from maintaining inventory lists to cataloging acquisitions. The successful applicant will be expected to update library records with digital images and detailed descriptions of the artworks. They'll also flex their creative muscles by conceptualizing exhibit displays, and collaborating on the development of art-related policies and procedures. Grant writing and the administrative work that accompanies traveling exhibits will also be on the to-do list, making this role critical to the cultural reach of the library's fine art collection.
This role demands keen attention to detail, covering art preservation, condition reporting, emergency planning, and pest control. If you have both art knowledge and strong organizational skills, you could play a key role in the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library’s mission to support and protect the fine arts. Applications are now open for this challenging and rewarding position.
