Curator of Exhibition Programming

Art + Water

www.artpluswater.org

Position Summary

Art + Water seeks a Curator of Exhibition Programming to lead the artistic vision of our exhibitions and related programming as we open a new home for artists at Pier 29. This is a role for someone who can hold two things at once: the long view and the daily work. You’ll shape what we show and why it matters, and you’ll do the hands-on labor of making it real.

The Curator of Exhibition Programming develops and oversees two major exhibitions each year. As Art + Water’s big public statements, they lean hard toward access and relevance. The work should reward a curious eight-year-old and a seasoned critic alike. Alongside these, the Curator of Exhibition Programming will organize quarterly smaller shows in the South Gallery. Two of the four each year draw directly from Art + Water’s community of mentor artists and residents; the other two are open to guest curators, art organizations and invited artists from the wider field, building the partnerships that make our collective art ecosystems thrive.

In addition, this position will develop and oversee Art + Water’s paid Curatorial Fellowship, a ten-month program. The Curator of Exhibition Programming will guide the fellow’s development while connecting their work to the rhythms of our visual arts residency, so that emerging curators learn the craft by doing it.

Fundraising is part of the picture. The Curator of Exhibition Programming will write and manage grants that support exhibition programming, and be part of the leadership team that tells the story to donors of why Art + Water exists at a moment when the Bay Area has lost so much of its arts infrastructure.

Beyond the galleries, the Curator of Exhibition Programming is a public face of Art + Water, a spokesperson and advocate for the organization, a key member of the leadership team, and someone who carries our values into every room they enter.

We’re looking for a visionary who’s also a mentor and a worker. Someone with real curatorial vision and the discipline to execute it, who can move between big ideas and spreadsheets without losing momentum on either. If you believe artists deserve to be treated as public infrastructure, and you want to help build a model that other cities can follow, we’d love to hear from you.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Curatorial Leadership

Lead the creative voice and curatorial direction across all exhibitions and artistic programming.
Facilitate the annual exhibition selection process, including the South Gallery exhibition program.
With the Head of Residency, plan and execute exhibitions and projects that create workforce development opportunities for A+W resident artists.
Oversee the writing and production of publications that accompany exhibitions, in alignment with curatorial intent.
Support artistic selection and curation for the shop.

Operations and Planning

Plan exhibitions end to end, including all production logistics.
Research, negotiate, and execute vendor contracts.
Maintain, track, and review the project plan, including schedule, deliverables, owners, and status updates in a publicly accessible project planning tool.
Develop, revise, and update budgets, timelines, and resource allocation plans for exhibitions and exhibition-related programming.
Monitor calendars, timelines, and deliverables to ensure high-quality, on-time execution.
Create and oversee the volunteer docent program.
Advise on the creative components of exhibition build-out and space design.

Funding and Partnerships

Provide exhibition-specific content for grants, including exhibition descriptions and budgets, and support grant development, reporting, and budget alignment.
Cultivate donor relationships and partnerships in support of specific exhibitions and Art + Water’s curatorial program in general.

Curatorial Fellowship

Develop the framework and curriculum for the new Art + Water Curatorial Fellowship Program.
Oversee the application process, including promotion, interviews, and selection.
Manage the fellow’s day-to-day work and professional development, training them in exhibition ideation, research, wall text, and tour text, and connecting their work to the residency so emerging curators learn by doing.
Serve as mentor and advocate, opening doors within Art + Water and the wider field, and helping the fellow leave the program with a portfolio of at least one fully executed exhibition, a network, and a clearer sense of the curator they want to become.

Team and Culture

Foster a supportive, inclusive, and creative environment rooted in collaboration, equity, and trust.
Provide mentorship and structure for the exhibitions program, supporting morale, well-being, and retention across a small team with an ambitious portfolio.
Serve as the primary point of contact for cross-departmental planning, keeping communication clear across the organization and with leadership.
Partner with the Co-Directors to ensure curatorial vision aligns with strategic priorities and mission.
Uphold and abide by the A+W Values.

Requirements

Required

5 to 7+ years of progressive experience in museum, cultural, academic, or nonprofit work, with at least 2 years in a supervisory role, including experience managing or mentoring junior staff.
Demonstrated track record of curating and producing exhibitions from concept through installation, including artist selection, exhibition narrative and theming, loan agreements, and final walkthrough, with a distinct curatorial point of view and a portfolio of past shows.
Working knowledge of exhibition logistics, including budgeting, shipping and installation, condition reporting, and insurance and valuation of artwork.
Established relationships within the contemporary art field, including artists, galleries, collectors, and peer institutions, and a demonstrated ability to cultivate new artist partnerships.
Experience supporting grant writing, sponsor cultivation, or donor engagement tied to exhibition programming.
Strong writing skills, with experience producing exhibition texts, catalog essays, or artist statements for public audiences.
Bachelor’s degree required.
Commitment to equitable, community-responsive programming, with experience working across diverse artist and audience communities.

Preferred

Advanced degree in art history, curatorial studies, museum studies, or a related field.
Knowledge of the Bay Area arts landscape and its artists, institutions, and audiences.
Experience building a program from the ground up rather than inheriting an established one.
Experience working with artists in a residency or education setting.

How to Apply

Send a resume, a letter about why this role and why now, and a portfolio or list of exhibitions you’ve curated to jobs@artpluswater.org with “Curator of Exhibition Programming” in the subject line.

Applications close September 14, 2026.

Art + Water is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, including people of color, women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, and veterans.

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