Organizer Information
The Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art sits on Pepperdine University's Malibu campus and was dedicated on September 12, 1992. It was founded with a $1.5 million gift from Frederick R. Weisman, a noted art collector and philanthropist. Weisman, a self-trained art enthusiast with a successful business background, was introduced to Pepperdine when Nora Halpern, the longtime curator of his personal collection, became director of what was then the Pepperdine University Art Gallery; recognizing the university's commitment to educating the whole person aligned with his own ideals about art's accessibility, he gave the gift that led to the gallery being renamed in his honor. Since its dedication, the museum has showcased modern and contemporary art by internationally recognized artists, with a particular focus on art made in California, presenting exhibitions on artists including Claes Oldenburg, Roy Lichtenstein, Wayne Thiebaud, and Andy Warhol, among others. The museum operates under Pepperdine's Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts.
Title & Description
Museum Curator — Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art
This is a full-time curatorial position responsible for providing creative vision for the exhibition of the museum's permanent collection and traveling exhibitions. The Museum Curator reports to the Museum Director and works in close collaboration with the director, museum staff, and university leadership across the preparation, installation, and promotion of both the permanent collection and traveling shows.
The role combines exhibition curation, grant management, collection strategy, and donor-facing patron engagement. The curator serves as the lead on exhibitions drawn from the permanent collection, temporary exhibitions (original and traveling), and shows organized by external sources, while also reviewing incoming exhibition proposals for artistic merit, mission fit, budget, and scheduling. The position is explicitly tied to Pepperdine's institutional mission, values, and Christian vision, and the posting states the role requires soundly committed alignment with that mission.
The Role Overview
- Position Type: Full-Time, on-site
- Contract Type: Regular, Exempt, 40 hours per week
- Salary: $70,304.00–$75,000.00 per year (Yearly Salary)
- Reports To: Museum Director
- Department / Programme: Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art, Pepperdine University
- Working Hours: 40 hours per week
- Job Function: Curator
- Min Education: Master's Degree
Position & Tasks
- Exhibition Curation — Serve as the curator for exhibitions of the permanent collection, temporary exhibitions (both original and traveling), and exhibitions organized by external sources
- Exhibition Curation — Review exhibition proposals for artistic merit, mission fit, budget, and scheduling factors
- Grant Management — Execute and oversee tasks associated with grant-funded projects, including the Passages project funded by the Lilly Endowment
- Exhibit Installation & Management — In close collaboration with the Museum Director, manage all aspects of exhibit installation, including reviewing and editing interpretive materials
- Exhibit Installation & Management — Communicate with artists, institutions, and collectors for loan contracts, checklists, and schedules
- Promotion — Champion the museum as a welcoming place by serving as a positive museum representative through participation in programs with constituents
- Promotion — Collaborate with the Museum Director and the university marketing team to prepare and distribute promotional materials
- Patron Engagement — Actively support donor cultivation initiatives by providing tours, research, and expertise for museum patrons
- Patron Engagement — Interact with visitors in a clear, courteous, and respectful way
- Collection & Strategy — In close collaboration with the Museum Director, maintain and implement research and collection strategies that support the university's mission, vision, and values
- Collection & Strategy — Research and identify works for potential acquisition, provide professional recommendations, and ensure appropriate collection documentation and preservation practices are followed
- General — Perform other duties as assigned
- General — Uphold University mission through work performed
Categories
- Curatorial Practice
- Modern & Contemporary Art
- Museum Studies
- Exhibition Making
- Collection Management
- California Art
- Grant Administration
- Arts Administration
Eligibility
- MA in museum studies, art history, or a related field required
- An appreciation for and commitment to the university's Christian mission and a desire to actively contribute to that mission is required
- One or more years of demonstrated excellence in conceiving and organizing successful exhibitions for wide audiences required
- Expertise in Modern/Contemporary, European, or Asian art required, with demonstrated knowledge of the museum's collecting areas
- Knowledge of museum collection care, conservation, and research tools/methods required
- Sound judgment, emotional intelligence, and strong verbal/written communication required
- Excellent interpersonal skills; well-organized, self-directed, motivated, and able to work independently or collaboratively
- Effective management of complex issues; flexible and adaptable
- Ability to lift up to 40 pounds
- Proficiency with Google Workspace, Zoom, and Adobe Acrobat
- Preferred but not mandatory: three or more years of demonstrated exhibition curatorial experience, including budget tracking, grant-funded projects, and patron engagement
- Preferred but not mandatory: knowledge of accessibility guidelines and best practices
- Preferred but not mandatory: proficiency with Marq, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, and TMS
- Offers of employment are contingent on successful completion of a criminal, education, and employment background screening; applicants must disclose any criminal convictions after a conditional offer, and qualified individuals with criminal histories will be considered in compliance with applicable laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance
- No geographic restriction on nationality stated, though the role is on-site in Malibu, California
Program Benefits
- Salary range $70,304.00–$75,000.00 per year
- A "robust and highly competitive benefits package" in addition to base pay (specific benefit items not itemized in the source)
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: Ongoing
Location
Malibu, California, United States
Additional Details
- Pepperdine University is religiously affiliated with the Churches of Christ, and the posting states the university reserves the right, under applicable law, to seek, hire, and promote persons who support its Christian mission, including a preference for co-religionists who support that mission.
- The posting notes Pepperdine's general Equal Employment Opportunity commitment alongside this faith-based hiring provision, and asks candidates to show respect for workplace differences and the ability to work effectively across backgrounds.
- Background screening (criminal, education, employment) is a condition of any offer, with specific disclosure obligations around criminal convictions after a conditional offer is extended.