University of Tennessee Chattanooga

Job Description

The Department of Art at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) invites applications for the Curator and Director of the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA). The ICA showcases exhibitions featuring local and national artists and prioritizes work that aligns with the Department of Art’s broader educational objectives: to provide a rigorous and accessible learning environment for students to develop creative processes and intellectual models for contemporary art practice and scholarship in the history of art and visual culture. The Curator and Director will build connections across the department to foster a symbiotic relationship between gallery programming, collections management, and department mission, vision, and curricula.

Named for UTC Guerry Professor of Art Emeritus George Ayers Cress, The Cress Gallery of Art became the ICA at UTC in 2020. The ICA’s mission is to propel a culture of creativity and artistic inquiry in the Department of Art and on the campus of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. By extension, the ICA at UTC is a unique resource in the Chattanooga arts community, complementing the work of local and regional art institutions such as Stove Works, the Hunter Museum of American Art, the Association of Visual Arts, and ArtsBuild.

This position is an opportunity for a curator with a strong, pedagogically-oriented vision who is eager to engage both the Department of Art and the broader arts community with programming responsive to contemporary issues. The ICA supports a year-round schedule including temporary special exhibitions with visiting regional and national contemporary artists as well as student shows: the annual Juried Student Exhibition, Scholarship Exhibition, and the department’s BFA Thesis Exhibition. The curator also has the opportunity to feature works from UTC’s Permanent Collection and Art faculty.

This is a 12-month staff appointment reporting to the Head of the Department of Art, beginning in July 2026. Salary range is $77,000-80,000/year. The position includes a full benefits package along with access to professional development funds within the department and competitive college- and university-level grants for research and professional development.

Responsibilities

• Oversight of daily operations of the ICA.
• Curation of a range of exhibitions, including thesis exhibitions, student juried exhibitions, exhibitions featuring materials from the Permanent collection, and original exhibitions featuring a range of contemporary artists.
• Management of all aspects of exhibition programming (research, liaising with artists and other arts institutions, installation, public programs, and promotion).
• Maintenance of records for the ICA and inventory for the Permanent Collection; Determining and implementing best practices in the archival care of items in the Permanent Collection; Processing new acquisitions.
• Engagement in fundraising efforts for the gallery in collaboration with UTC’s Office of Development.
• Management of the operating budget for the ICA and Permanent Collection; maintaining budget records and generating fiscal reports.
• Hiring and supervising student gallery workers.
• Fostering student engagement and providing opportunities for research and learning.
• Teaching one undergraduate course per year in the Department of Art.
• Participation in departmental meetings and commitment to building a symbiotic relationship between the gallery and the department at large.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Art, Curatorial Practice, Visual Studies, Art History, or related field.
• Established record of curatorial experience.
• Demonstrated experience in fundraising, donor relations, and/or grant writing.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working at a University or College gallery or museum.
• At least 3 years of curatorial experience.

Application Materials

To apply, please include the following materials as separate PDF files:

• A cover letter describing professional background, interest in the position, and why you are interested in working in a University gallery (1–2 pages)
• CV
• Curator’s statement relevant to a university setting
• PDF of materials that demonstrate experience curating original exhibitions, including sample catalogues, promotional materials, exhibition reviews, and/or other relevant support materials. If possible, include documentation of curatorial experience within a university/college setting.
• Names and complete contact information for three references (references will only be contacted for finalists)

Applications received by January 23, 2026 will receive full consideration. The position will remain open until filled. Questions regarding the position can be made by emailing the chair of the committee, Professor Amber Hickey: amber-hickey@utc.edu.

Work Location:

• University of Tennessee – Chattanooga, TN Campus
• This is a fully on-site position.

Compensation and Benefits:

• UT Market Range: MR120
• Anticipated hiring salary: $77,000 - $80,000
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure
• Find more information on UT Benefits

About the Department

The Department of Art at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) has 16 full-time faculty and approximately 300 majors pursuing BA degrees in Art History, Studio Art, and Art Education, as well as BFA degrees in Art with concentrations in Design Research and Practice, Painting and Drawing, Photography and Media Art, and Sculpture. UTC is an accredited member institution of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

About Us

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is in the heart of one of Tennessee’s largest and most dynamic cities. As a national model for metropolitan universities, UTC collaborates with its many regional partners to offer an experiential learning environment with outstanding teaching scholars in 128 undergraduate degree programs and 55 graduate programs—at both the master's and doctoral levels. UTC and Chattanooga—nationally recognized for its downtown redevelopment and wealth of outdoor recreation—are inextricably linked, and the University is central to the workforce and economic development efforts of the region and the state.

Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Engineering and Computer Science; Health, Education and Professional Studies; and the Honors College are home to an array of award-winning programs from Nursing to Computer Science, Entrepreneurship to Veteran Student Support. Innovation is a strategic focus, and UTC research and development in smart city technology is an industry leader. UTC is the first and only university in the country with access to a managed, commercial quantum computing network, and we are introducing an artificial intelligence initiative involving entities across campus and engaging partners throughout the region.

From our deep ties to the city of Chattanooga to our national reputation for innovation and hands-on learning, UTC stands out as a university where students thrive, faculty inspire, and partnerships create real impact.