Job Summary/Purpose
The Handel and Haydn Society (H&H) will celebrate its 200th anniversary (Bicentennial) in 2015. The Bicentennial will be a celebration of the people of Boston through the lens of H&H’s history. Part of the celebrations will be a six-month exhibit (March until September 2015) at the Boston Public Library (BPL) to deepen the public’s awareness of an incredible 200 years of musical legacy that embodies the cultural heritage and development of the city and the nation, illustrated through the lens of H&H’s history.

H&H wants to reach out to a broad public audience with this project. The exhibit should be inclusive and accessible people of all ages, ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds, regardless of their knowledge of music or of H&H.

The exhibit shall feature: H&H’s extensive archives, dating back to 1815 (includes musical manuscripts; photos; correspondence; administrative, financial, marketing, development, and Board files and artifacts; and program books); interpreted and interactive media, including audio (archival and current), video (e.g., interviews with musicians, patrons, and people whose ancestors were involved with H&H; period instrument and performance demonstrations), and digital interfaces (e.g., interactive historical timelines with visual and audio); interpreted lectures and symposia. It is hoped that a smartphone app-led walking tour, showcasing historical places where H&H and Boston history intersect, will be developed.

The main role of the Curator is to plan, organize and oversee the Handel and Haydn Society’s Bicentennial Exhibition including research, content gathering, text writing, overall oversight of exhibit set up and design (an exhibit designer will be secured for this project). The curator will help shape the experience of the visitor, meet the interpretive goals of the Exhibition, and ensure innovation and quality. H&H will have a project manager on staff who will manage the project and oversee budget and the hiring of experts as needed.

Key Responsibilities

• Works with H&H team and scholars to define scope of the exhibit.
• Conducts research and prepares concept scripts, conceptual designs and detail designs, incorporating all media necessary to interpret the exhibition’s key messages.
• Creates an exhibition with broadly appealing experiences that meet the highest professional standards and ensures audience engagement.
• Compilation of information such as object and image lists, reference photographs/ images into display summaries for the exhibition.

 
Qualifications

• 5 or more years of experience in curatorial or museum studies, community art practices, or related practice. Experience curating exhibits in New England preferred.
• Knowledge of Baroque and Classical Music.
• Experience with content development, online educational models and/or journalistic models.
• Demonstrate an ability to organize, present, and communicate messages effectively through design.
• Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills with catalogue production familiarity, and have strong administrative and organization abilities.
• Strong research skills.
• Knowledgeable of and experience in using the latest technological trends in interpretation, lighting, and sound design.
• Ability to work positively, diplomatically, and creatively with community members, artists, volunteers, staff, and board members.
• Strong computer skills.
• Physical ability to do occasional light lifting.

 
To Apply:

Send cover letter, resume and a one page summary proposal on the exhibit , with the subject line “Bicentennial Exhibit Curator” via email to:

Marie-Hélène Bernard
Executive Director/CEO
Handel and Haydn Society
300 Massachusetts Ave
Boston, MA 02115
mhbernard@handelandhaydn.org

No phone calls please.

The Organization
 
Founded in 1815, the Handel and Haydn Society (H&H) is considered America’s oldest continuously performing arts organization and will celebrate its Bicentennial in 2015. Its Period Instrument Orchestra and Chorus are internationally recognized in the field of historically informed performance, using the instruments and techniques of the composer’s time. Under Artistic Director Harry Christophers’ leadership, H&H’s mission is to enrich life and influence culture by performing Baroque and Classical music at the highest levels of artistic excellence, and by providing engaging, accessible, and broadly inclusive music education and training activities. H&H’s Period Instrument Orchestra and Chorus present live and recorded historically informed performances of this repertoire in ways that stimulate the musical and cultural development of our Greater Boston community and contemporary audiences across the nation and beyond.
H&H’s esteemed tradition of innovation and excellence began in the 19th century with the US premieres of Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s The Creation, Verdi’s Requiem, and Bach’s St. Matthew Passion. Today, H&H is widely known through its concert series, tours, local and national broadcasts, and recordings. Its nine-program series is held at Symphony and Jordan Halls in Boston and Sanders Theatre in Cambridge. H&H’s first recording with Harry Christophers, Mozart Mass in C Minor, was issued in September 2010 on the CORO label, followed by Mozart Requiem in September 2011 and Mozart Coronation Mass in September 2012.
As a major performing organization, educator, resource center, and community partner, H&H strives to entertain and inspire audiences, provide unique educational experiences for students at all levels, and reach all citizens in the community through broad outreach efforts. Established in 1985, H&H’s award-winning Karen S. and George D. Levy Educational Outreach Program reaches 10,000 students each year throughout Greater Boston, many in underserved communities. H&H also maintains partnerships with area cultural and higher education institutions, including Boston Public Library; the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; New England Conservatory; and Harvard University.