The Albert B. Alkek Library at Texas State University is seeking a Music Curator for the Texas Music Collection at The Wittliff Collections. Reporting to the Director of the Wittliff Collections, the Music Curator is responsible for a wide variety of duties designed to develop and strengthen the holdings and public outreach programs of Texas Music.
Founded in 1986, the Wittliff Collections are devoted to collecting and preserving the creative legacy of the Southwest and to fostering “the spirit of place” in the wider world through the acquisition of significant archives and works of the Southwest’s literature, music and film, as well as the photography of the Southwest and Mexico. The Wittliff Collections welcome visitors, tours, and classes, host lectures, readings, and symposia, assist researchers, and present major exhibitions year-round from their holdings in over 6,600 square feet of gallery space.
Texas State’s 38,808 students choose from 98 bachelor’s, 90 master’s and 12 doctoral degree programs offered by the following colleges: Applied Arts, McCoy College of Business Administration, Education, Fine Arts and Communication, Health Professions, Liberal Arts, Science and Engineering, University College and The Graduate College. As an Emerging Research University, Texas State offers opportunities for discovery and innovation to faculty and students.
Job Duties
Work collaboratively with the Director and the Founding Donor along with Texas musicians and other relevant parties to build the Texas Music Collection, including acquiring relevant artifacts and archives via purchase and donation from artists, estates, etc. Curate exhibitions and develop public programming by proposing exhibition ideas, researching the Texas Music Collection for appropriate exhibition material, designing and writing interpretative labels, mounting the exhibition, assisting with public relations efforts and exhibition brochures, and developing public events to be held in conjunction with the exhibitions. Collaborate with curators at other museums or institutions on selection and loan of Texas Music material for off-site exhibitions. Conduct tours of the Texas Music gallery for a wide variety of visitors including donors, writers, classes, faculty, and others. Acquire secondary source materials essential for the study of Texas Music, including books, sound recordings, and videos. Assist as needed to work with university presses to help publish books relating to Texas Music. Provide instruction on Texas Music collections to university classes. Collaborate with the archivists as needed to identify and resolve appraisal, preservation and/or access concerns relating to the Texas Music Collection. Working with the Wittliff Collections Marketing Coordinator, contribute to newsletters, brochures, press releases, social media and all other marketing materials about the Texas Music Collection. Host public events and programs and conduct press interviews. Engage in professional activities in accordance with Texas State University’s standards for promotion for professional librarians and curators.
Required Qualifications
Master’s degree in a relevant field; knowledge of the full breadth of Texas music history and its importance in Texas culture; practical work experience and a broadly established network of relationships within the music industry; knowledge of the music business in Texas; written and oral communication skills to compose and convey professional communications representing the Texas Music Collection in correspondence, exhibitions, brochures, public tours and talks; interpersonal skills to establish rapport with a variety of people, including donors, visitors, students, faculty and staff and to build trust and maintain positive relationships among Texas musicians and donors; software/computing skills including Microsoft Word and Excel and basic desktop and internet applications.
Preferred Qualifications
Knowledge of preservation needs for recorded sound.