Tag: curatorial

JOB: New Joint Curatorial Position at SFMOMA and MoAD

SFMOMA AND MoAD ANNOUNCE JOINT CURATORIAL POSITION AS PART OF ONGOING PARTNERSHIP FOCUSED ON ART OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA

New Role Will Advance Scholarship and Public Engagement with African Diasporic Art and Culture and Generate New Pipeline for

Curatorial Talent

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (February 28, 2023)—The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) and the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) announced today the creation of a joint curatorial position as part of a broader partnership that will support scholarship and public engagement with African Diasporic art and culture. SFMOMA and MoAD first collaborated in 2015 on the exhibition Portraits and Other Likenesses and have since sought opportunities to deepen their connection and share expertise and resources. The establishment of this position, titled Assistant Curator of the Art of the African Diaspora, solidifies the institutions’ partnership in support of a shared ambition to elevate artistic and curatorial talents, especially in the Bay Area, and will result in the creation of a robust range of co-created exhibitions, artist projects and public programs.

In addition to expanding each museums’ work to present and study art of the African Diaspora, the role is envisioned as a platform to cultivate new curatorial talent and advance the pipeline of BIPOC curators within the museum field. The full-time position has a rotating three-year term, consistently ensuring new and distinct voices, perspectives and approaches are brought to the development of subject programming and to the work of both Bay Area institutions more broadly. The creation and structure of the position acknowledges the need for more sustainable and distinct entry- to mid-level positions in the field that support young and emerging voices and that provide the experience necessary to grow into leadership roles. The job description will be posted next month, March 2023, with the goal of announcing the inaugural curator in summer 2023.

The partnership bolsters both museums’ ability to tell a more expansive art history, supports audience engagement and cultivates connections within the Yerba Buena cultural district where both institutions are located. The new Assistant Curator of the Art of the African Diaspora will work with leadership and teams across both institutions and play a critical role in developing collaborative exhibitions, public programs, artist-led projects for both institutions. Their work will be grounded in research, with a particular focus on bringing to the fore new and underrepresented artistic voices and presentation approaches. Additionally, the curator will help further diversify SFMOMA’s collection (MoAD is not a collecting institution). New acquisitions, as well as existing collection works, will enrich MoAD exhibitions, while MoAD’s close ties to the community will help SFMOMA reach new audiences. In this way, the partnership also establishes a dynamic model for cross-institutional collaboration that leverages different institutional strengths to support shared goals.

“MoAD is excited to partner with SFMOMA to expand the visibility and opportunities for art and artists of the African Diaspora. We are eager to share our unique ability to create deep and sustained community relationships to expand the audiences at both institutions,” said Monetta White, executive director and CEO of MoAD. “Through our Emerging Artists Program, guest curators and residencies, MoAD has amplified Black creative talent since our inception in 2005 and we are grateful to be able to scale these efforts alongside the team at SFMOMA. We look forward to increasing opportunities for Black museum professionals within major art institutions and bringing innovative voices and perspectives to the Yerba Buena cultural district unseen before. We hope this partnership inspires others across the country to be a part of cultivating and supporting more BIPOC leaders in the art world.”

The creation of the joint curatorial positions follows several other significant appointments at MoAD. In October 2022, the institution announced art historian, curator and rising star Key Jo Lee as chief of curatorial affairs and public programs, a newly created leadership position supported by a grant from the Mellon Foundation. In January, MoAD also announced Jocelyn Jackson as its new chef-in-residence and Dr. Artel Great, an acclaimed San Francisco filmmaker, author and scholar, as cultural-critic-in-residence, a newly established position and the first of its kind at a contemporary art museum. MoAD’s growing team elevates the Museum’s presence as a global leader in presenting and celebrating art from a uniquely African Diasporic perspective.

“With the establishment of this partnership, we are advancing work on several institutional priorities. This includes deepening SFMOMA’s relationships with organizations in our community to support mutual audience-building through the development of compelling and highly relevant exhibitions and programs. At the same time, this new role and partnership is part of our commitment to enhance SFMOMA’s holdings of art of the African Diaspora and its presentation within our galleries. This is a key collecting area for SFMOMA and we look forward to welcoming the expertise of our new curator in this essential work,” said Christopher Bedford, SFMOMA’s Helen and Charles Schwab Director. “I am grateful for Monetta White’s partnership and am excited to work with her and the MoAD team toward our shared vision.”

This collaboration builds on prior exhibitions and projects at SFMOMA focused on art and artists from the African Diaspora, including monographic presentations of works by Glenn Ligon, Kara Walker, Wangechi Mutu and Toyin Ojih Odutola; commissions by Julie Mehretu, Kerry James Marshall, Emory Douglas and Sadie Barnette; and generous gifts such as those from the Joyner/Giuffrida Collection, which includes objects by Elizabeth Catlett, Beauford Delaney, Norman Lewis and Richard Mayhew. The partnership signals an important step in SFMOMA’s commitment to diversifying its collection which was reaffirmed with the museum’s 2018 Strategic Plan; the 2019 deaccession and sale of Mark Rothko’s Untitled (1960) and its comprehensive DEI Strategic Plan, launched in March 2022. Following the appointment of Christopher Bedford, SFMOMA identified African Diasporic art and culture as an essential pillar of its strategic work to transform its collection and public programs as well as deepen its connections with the community.

About San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

151 Third Street

San Francisco, CA 94103

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is one of the largest museums of modern and contemporary art in the United States and a thriving cultural center for the Bay Area. Our remarkable collection of painting, sculpture, photography, architecture, design and media arts is housed in a LEED Gold-certified building designed by the global architects Snøhetta and Mario Botta. In addition to our seven gallery floors, SFMOMA now offers more than 62,000 square feet of free art-filled public space open to all.

Visit sfmoma.org or call 415.357.4000 for more information.

** Follow us on Twitter for updates and announcements: @SFMOMA_Press

About Museum of the African Diaspora

685 Mission Street

San Francisco, CA 94105

The Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) is a contemporary art museum whose mission is to celebrate Black cultures, ignite challenging conversations, and inspire learning through the global lens of the African Diaspora. MoAD is one of only a few museums in the United States dedicated to the celebration and interpretation of art, artists, and cultures from the African Diaspora. The Museum presents exhibitions highlighting contemporary art and artists of African descent and engages its audience through education and public programs that interpret and enhance the understanding of Black art. Founded in 2005, the Museum continues to be a unique, cultural arts staple in the San Francisco Bay Area community.

For more information about MoAD, visit the museum’s website at moadsf.org.

Advertisement

California State Parks Museum Curator Assessment

California State Parks Museum Curator Assessment now available through February 28!

Take the first step towards a career as a Museum Curator with the California Department of Parks and Recreation! The California State Parks are caretakers for over 3,000 historic buildings, more than 11,000 known California Native American ancestral and historic archaeological sites, and multiple museums including the California State Railroad Museum, Hearst Castle, and Regional Indian Museums, including the State Indian Museum (transitioning to the California Indian Heritage Center). We are seeking individuals who are passionate about helping to steward and maintain the California State Parks’ rich and varied collections, which encompass Native American cultural belongings, objects of fine art and material culture, paleontological and geological collections, historic resources, and architectural features. We are excited about the opportunity to reach candidates who bring diverse perspectives to museum collections management work. The monthly salary range for this position is $4,519 to $5,589.
The minimum qualifications for the Museum Curator I assessment include one year of professional experience in museum work, experience with management, and a college degree in a relevant field such as anthropology, archaeology, art history, history, museum studies, or natural sciences.

Please follow the steps below to submit your application for the Museum Curator I assessment:
Step 1: Create a CalCareers account
Step 2: Complete your application template (STD678)
Be sure to include the following:
• Exam Title: Museum Curator I
• Exam Code: 3PR05
Step 3: Email your application to Exams@parks.ca.gov with the Exam Code 3PR05 in the subject line
Step 4: After reviewing your application, our Exams Team will email you a link to take the online Assessment.

Submit your application for the Museum Curator I Assessment by February 28!

About the Assessment
Completing this assessment is a requirement to become a California State Parks Museum Curator I. This means that to apply for any entry-level Museum Curator position statewide, a candidate must first take the assessment. The exam is weighted 100% on a training and experience evaluation. Evaluation will be based on your knowledge, skills, and ability, as demonstrated by your education/experience.

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed on the exam bulletin.

Questions?
Connect with us at recruiting@parks.ca.gov. We are happy to help!

JOB: Curator of Fine Arts Galleries @ Bowling Green State University

Curator of Fine Arts Center Galleries
School of Art

Bowling Green State University is a tier-one, public university serving 19,000 students on two campuses in northwest Ohio. The University has nationally recognized programs and research in the natural and social sciences, education, arts, business, health and wellness, humanities and applied technologies. BGSU seeks talented individuals to join our community in Bowling Green, Ohio, recognized as one of the “Best College Towns of America.”

The Curator of Fine Arts Center Galleries is responsible for all aspects of the administrative and physical operation of the Fine Arts Center Galleries, the Medici Collection, and the Fine Arts Center Permanent Collection. The position performs many functions, including, but not limited to: planning, policies and procedures, operating (including running tours), marketing, budgeting, emergencies, complaints, and development for the three art galleries and the programs and exhibitions that take place within them. The position holder directs, curates exhibitions, creates the financial plan, writes grant proposals, writes and edits catalogues, educates the public, registers new art into the Galleries, heads public relations for the programs, fabricates exhibitions, trains, schedules and manages employees and volunteers, controls the budget and is responsible for the development and implementation of 10-12 exhibitions and accompanying programming each year.  Deadline to apply:   October 18, 2022

Full-time, twelve-month Administrative Staff position available. For a complete job description & to apply for this position visit https://bgsu.hiretouch.com/ or contact the Office of Human Resources. BGSU.AA/EEO/Disabilities/Veterans. In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Bowling Green State University, please call 419-372-8421.

JOB: Lecturer, Museum Studies @ UPittsburgh/Carnegie Museum of Natural History

The Department of History of Art and Architecture (HAA) at the University of Pittsburgh and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History (CMNH) located on the Oakland campus of the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh (CMP) are strongly committed to excellence in research, and to inclusive curatorial and teaching practices that promote collaboration, diversity, and public engagement. To further our leadership in these areas we seek to hire a Lecturer in Museum Studies who will work both as a scholar-teacher in HAA’s dynamic art history department and as a curator with the unique cross-disciplinary collections of Carnegie Museums. This appointment is jointly funded by the University of Pittsburgh and the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh for the purpose of creating collaborations between HAA, CMNH, and other museums in the Pittsburgh region. The appointment is for three years, starting September 1, 2022 and is outside the tenure stream, but may be renewable pending budget authorization from both the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Salary and benefits are competitive.

The successful candidate will teach six credits per year (one 3-credit course per semester) in HAA’s thriving undergraduate museum studies program, which draws students not only from art history and studio arts, but also from history, anthropology, and other disciplines in the Arts & Sciences. Their teaching will support the practicum requirement in the Museum Studies major and minor, with courses that engage collections at CMNH as well as Pitt, including the University Art Gallery and the University Library System. They will collaborate with HAA’s Academic Curator to advance important partnerships between HAA and CMNH. They will also work collaboratively with undergraduate students and faculty from HAA and other departments at the university interested in teaching with and researching the collections at CMNH; and will facilitate internships and other experiential learning opportunities for students.  

The successful candidate will also devote 50% of the position time to serving as Assistant/ Associate Curator (depending on qualifications) in CMNH focusing on topics related to environmental humanities, decolonization, and indigenization. Their activities are expected to challenge, diversify and deepen perspectives, narratives and approaches to natural history museum’s collections and exhibitions.  They will be expected to participate in collections or institutional based research, planning, and implementation of relevant innovative exhibitions and programs as part of public engagement, some of these working with undergraduates in HAA’s museum studies program, and potentially in partnership with other museum venues, including other museums within CMP and the University Art Gallery.  

Salary and benefits will be shared by the University of Pittsburgh and the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh. Annual evaluations of the employee will be conducted by the Chair of HAA and the Director of Research and Collections at CMNH. 

To apply, visit join.pitt.edu. The requisition number for this position is 22000781.

Minimum requirements:  

  • PhD in hand or expected by June 2022 in art history, museum studies, anthropology, or allied fields
  • Some university-level teaching experience in the history of art, museum studies, anthropology, or an allied field
  • Curatorial experience in a museum or gallery

Preferred requirements:  

  • A demonstrable record of engagement in public humanities, and ability to connect specialized knowledge to broad intellectual frameworks that cut across disciplines and engage diverse publics
  • Experience as the instructor of record for a university-level course in the history of art, museum studies, anthropology, or an allied field
  • Ability to communicate and collaborate across multiple stakeholders and divisions within institutions
  • Engagement with active learning pedagogies and mentoring undergraduate students
  • Engagement with initiatives that advance social justice, equity, inclusion, accessibility and diversity
  • Expertise in one or more of the following intellectual domains: race and gender, indigeneity, history of museums, natural history, the Anthropocene

Applications should include: 

  • Cover letter addressed to Prof. Mrinalini Rajagopalan, Chair, HAA Department, that discusses the applicant’s research, teaching and museum experience, describing applicant’s approach to curation and public humanities, areas of research interest, and a brief description of past curatorial experience with museum programing or exhibitions and how the applicant would embrace the opportunities afforded by this joint appointment. 
  • Current CV. Include a list of courses taught.
  • Statement of teaching philosophy, including strategies to integrate student coursework and internships into museum activities and evidence of teaching effectiveness through sample student work or student/ mentor evaluations. (1 – 2 pages)
  • Diversity statement (1–2 pages) in which you share how your past, planned, or potential contributions and experiences relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion will advance the University of Pittsburgh’s and CMP’s commitments to inclusive excellence.
  • Contact information (full name, title, institutional affiliation, and email) for three persons able to provide confidential professional letters of recommendation. We do not need the letters themselves at this first stage of application, only the contact information.

Review of applications will begin on March 18, 2022 and will continue until the position is filled. Applications must be uploaded through the University of Pittsburgh’s Talent Center website. Questions may be directed to Karoline Swiontek, Administrative Officer, HAA Department (karoline@pitt.edu). 

Information on HAA and CMNH:  

Both the department and the museum are committed to the study and understanding of art and material culture across the world from the ancient to the contemporary periods. 

HAA has a strong record of research productivity in the arts and architecture of East Asia, South Asia, the ancient Mediterranean, Europe from the Middle Ages to the present, the Americas, and global contemporary art. The department’s Museum Studies program provides undergraduates with classes in the history and theory of museology, project-based training, and professional placements. Our graduate and undergraduate students benefit from the resources of the University Art Gallery and the Frick Fine Arts Library, which have their own collections, and a Visual Media Workshop that serves as a hub for Digital Humanities research and collaboration at the University of Pittsburgh: http://www.haa.pitt.edu.  

CMNH is part of CMP which encompasses four distinct museums: Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Science Center, and The Andy Warhol Museum: http://www.carnegiemuseums.org.  The Natural History Museum’s collection of over 22 million artifacts and specimens, includes 1.6 million ethnological and historical specimens and archaeological artifacts with major research collections from South America (Amazonia), Central America, North America (Arctic, Southwest, Plains, Northwest Coast), Central Africa, Asia (China and Japan), and Australia.  The museum currently has major projects underway exploring the Anthropocene and gender and sexuality in nature, in addition to renovating the ancient Egyptian galleries. It is also in the early stages of re-visioning and intervening into its galleries about North American Indigenous cultures. 

The Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences is committed to building and fostering a culturally diverse environment. Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of individuals and constituencies in support of a diverse community are required.

The University of Pittsburgh is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and values equality of opportunity, human dignity and diversity. EOE, including disability/vets 

The University of Pittsburgh requires all Pitt constituents (employees and students) on all campuses to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or have an approved exemption. Visit coronavirus.pitt.edu to learn more about this requirement.

JOB: Curator/Director @ Univ. of Connecticut

The University of Connecticut has opened a search for a Curator and Director of the Contemporary Art Galleries, who would also serve as an Assistant Professor in Residence in the Department of Art + Art History. We are especially interested in candidates whose curatorial activities, research, and teaching actively confront the dehumanizing legacies of racism and colonialism in relation to the arts and visual culture.

https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/21031

Inquiries can be directed to Emily Larned (Search Chair, emily.larned@uconn.edu), or Charlene Haukom (Department Administrator, charlene.haukom@uconn.edu). 

RFQ: Curatorial Assistance Services, Architecture and Design, at NMAAHC

CURATORIAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES (ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN)
OFFICE OF CURATORIAL AFFAIRS
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE

This Request for Quote (RFQ) is issued by the Smithsonian Institution (SI) National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC).

SCOPE OF WORK

NMAAHC needs professional, non-personal, work-for-hire services to provide curatorial research assistance for the Office of Curatorial Affairs (OCA) in support of the curator of Architecture and Design. The purpose of this contract is to assist the curator of Architecture and Design in performing and undertaking curatorial activities. The contractor will assist with research and writing related to collections, exhibitions, publications, public programs, and digital products. The contractor scope of work includes assisting the curator with tasks related to collecting archives and other materials from black architects; collecting contemporary design, including furniture; collecting graphic design; collecting architectural sketches and drawings; collecting ephemera from conferences and exhibitions focused on black architects and designers; collecting and preserving design-related materials in digital-only format. The contractor may also contribute to new interpretive and educational content in this area.

The Contractor will work with the curator to research architects and designers; research architectural representations; write about architects and designers; engage in correspondence about curatorial projects; provide administrative and clerical support; provide exhibition, publications, and program support; assist with digital collecting and other collections offers, acquisitions, and loans; provide scholarly research and other program and research support as assigned by the curator of Architecture and Design. The span of these responsibilities, specified below, encompasses research and writing background papers, information management and tracking, high-level communication with donors, and frequent communication with museum curators and museum specialists.

The period of performance will be on or about March 1, 2022 to February 28, 2023.

Contact Michelle Wilkinson(WilkinsonM@si.edu) for bid package.  Please indicate your interest by 5:00 PM, January 24, 2021.

JOB: Chief Curator at International African American Museum, Charleston

WE ARE RECRUITING A CHIEF CURATOR
The International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina seeks a dynamic and effective museum professional to serve as Chief Curator. Located on Gadsden’s Wharf, the museum is scheduled to open in early 2022.

The ideal candidate for this position is a collaborative and forward-thinking, senior-leader with at least seven to ten years of progressive experience in a museum curatorial department; broad experience as an administrator and
manager; and experience with strategic planning and team building.
This is a full-time, permanent position.

All inquiries, nominations and applications may be directed to resumes@iaamuseum.org. Applications will not be accepted unless submitted in compliance with the guidelines in this position description. For more information about the International African American Museum, please visit http://www.iaamuseum.org.

THE POSITION
The Chief Curator will provide leadership Exhibitions
and strategic direction for the intellectual and interpretive strategies of the museum’s curatorial program including the research, design, and implementation of innovative exhibition strategies; care, management, and development of artifact, archival, and digital collections; development and production of dynamic educational and public programs, and facilitating access to genealogical resources; and oversight and guidance for the Center for Family History, the museum’s genealogy center.

The successful candidate is a gifted leader, compelling communicator—both in writing and spoken word—an outstanding researcher, and able administrator, and a strong advocate for the museum. She or he will infuse energy into innovative and creative initiatives, and leverage collections, resources, and partnerships. It is essential that they be equally comfortable organizing major exhibitions, and/or using the platform to address timely and provocative topics such as racial identity or issues of social justice.

A member of the Museum’s senior leadership team, the Chief Curator reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Curator will oversee these critical aspects of Museum operations:
• In partnership with the Museum’s CEO and senior leadership team, the Chief Curator guides and will manage the installation of the Museum’s opening exhibitions. This will include shaping messaging, implementing final object and graphic selection, media and film development, script writing/editing, and scholarly reviews.
• A major part of this role includes collaborating with and managing all exhibition consultants.
• The Chief Curator will develop and implement a long-term vision for the Museum’s exhibition program that utilizes a collaborative and integrated approach that significantly enhances the quality of the visitor experience, attracts positive press, and earns respect from the general public and community of historians.
• The Chief Curator will also conduct and/ or supervise the development of in-house produced exhibitions including research, artifact and image selection, digital/media production, and script writing.
• The Chief Curator will work in collaboration with the Education and Engagement department to support audience assessment, community engagement, and curricula development.

Collections Management
• The Chief Curator will develop a multidisciplinary, long-term collections strategy providing stewardship and accountability for the museum’s future collections including artifacts, works of art, archival and digital resources.
• The Chief Curator oversees and coordinates all aspects of collections management activities including acquisitions, loans, storage, security, documentation, conservation, inventory, installation/deinstallation, and digitization.
• The Chief Curator will also develop, implement, and maintain collections management systems and databases including applicable training, policy, protocols, and procedures.
Research
• The Chief Curator conducts, directs, and encourages original, independent scholarly research on African American history and culture. The curator defines topics of genuine significance and ensure alignment with the museum’s strategic goals and priorities.
The Chief Curator determines the feasibility of the topic for exhibition, publication, and/ or public programming for both general and specialized audiences.
• The Chief Curator initiates, reviews, and/
or evaluates proposals for new research projects or major shifts in existing research or curatorial initiatives. The curator will also render decisions on proposals and provide leadership and guidance on their improvement and/or implementation.
Management
• The Chief Curator recruits, trains, and supervises the museum’s curatorial department staff and consultants.
• The Chief Curator has oversight of the Center for Family History.

Qualifications
• At minimum, a Master’s degree in African American history or related field; knowledge of South Carolina history and a working understanding of African American genealogy is preferred but not required.
• A recognized expert in the field with at least three years senior management experience; minimum seven years applied and progressive museum curatorial experience.
• Evidence of and commitment to original scholarship with a proven record of initiating, curating, and delivering well received exhibitions, publications, and, to a lesser degree, public programs.
• An understanding of visitor-centered approaches to content development.
• Senior-level management and leadership experience with a track record of success in managing people, operations, policies, and budgets.
• Highly developed research, writing, and oral communication skills; the presence
and credibility to serve as an effective museum spokesperson with visitors, outside communities, supporters and donors, the public, and the media.
• A positive, proactive, and collegial work ethic.

Application Requirements
Applications should be submitted to resumes@iaamuseum.org. Applications
will only be accepted electronically.
A complete application will include a resume detailing relevant educational and work experience, and a cover letter describing the applicant’s interest in the position and three professional references. The position will remain open until filled.

 

JOB: Assoc. Curator, American Art @ Harvard Art Museums

Please use this link to apply: Theodore E. Stebbins Jr. Associate Curator of American Art

Theodore E. Stebbins, Jr., Associate Curator of American Art
Harvard Art Museums

Duties & Responsibilities
The Harvard Art Museums seeks a rising intellectual authority on pre-1900 American art. Tasked with organizing innovative exhibition and scholarly projects, the Theodore E. Stebbins Jr. Associate Curator of American Art will work with a range of partners and collaborators. Engaging with scholarly and public debate on the Harvard University campus and beyond, the curator will help to complicate the art-historical narrative and propose fresh perspectives on the definition of American art for the 21st century.

The Theodore E. Stebbins Jr. Associate Curator of American Art will assume the full range of curatorial responsibilities for the important collection of American art pre-1900 at the Museums, including crafting an ambitious exhibition, research, and publication program, and working closely with students and faculty to foster significant and sustained curricular use of the collection for both undergraduate and graduate teaching. The curator functions successfully within a team environment and promotes dialogue, engagement, and collaboration with colleagues within the division and with curatorial departments that have overlapping collections holdings and expertise, as well as the Straus Center for Conservation and Technical Study. The curator will also collaborate on selected projects, acquisitions, and displays of the collection with relevant curators of works-on-paper collections and European paintings in the Division of European and American Art, as well as with colleagues in the Division of Modern and Contemporary Art.

The curator works to promote and strengthen the presence of American art at the Museums and in the wider world, and works closely with fellows, interns, and junior staff towards this end. The curator recommends purchases and solicits gifts for the collection, works to diversify the collection, and assumes an active role in soliciting funds for museum purposes, including acquisitions, exhibitions, and publications, from individuals, foundations, federal agencies, and other sources.

The Collection:

Areas of recent growth in the pre-1900 American art collection include still life paintings by William Michael Harnett and members of the Peale family, as well as the acquisition of a rare portrait by Julien Hudson, a nineteenth-century painter of African descent working in New Orleans, and the purchase of an early stoneware jar by Dave Drake. Shown in galleries that mix media and schools of art from Europe and America, the American art collection at Harvard is both justly-celebrated in its own right and understood as part of a larger story of artistic expression in the west and beyond. Harvard University began acquiring American art in the seventeenth century, and the Museums contain nearly 3,000 paintings, sculptures, and works of decorative arts made in the Americas. The collection of late-seventeenth-century Boston silver is particularly significant, and the Museums represent almost every phase in John Singleton Copley’s painting career. Some of these works are part of the 1,300-strong University Portrait Collection, now overseen by curators at the Harvard Art Museums. The bequest of Grenville Winthrop in 1943 added a group of major works by nineteenth-century artists including Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, and James McNeill Whistler. The wider Harvard Art Museums hold strengths in nineteenth-century portrait photography, and American modernism, abstract expressionism, and color-field painting. While the Curator of American Art does not directly oversee these last areas, they may advise from the point of view of these objects’ relationship to the story of art-making in America. Works by indigenous artists from the Americas are held by Harvard’s Peabody Museum, and offer the potential for curatorial collaboration between the two institutions.

Basic Qualifications

Candidates MUST meet the following basic qualifications in order to be considered for this role:

Ph.D. in art history or related field; minimum of three years’ progressively responsible curatorial experience, teaching, or field-related experience. [All candidates who may be interested in the Stebbins curatorial position in American art and AT LEAST meet the basic qualifications should consider submitting an application.]

Additional Qualifications
Demonstrated record of scholarship and achievement in the field of American art pre-1900, and commitment to collaborating and playing an active role in a lively and rigorous university setting.

Demonstrated record of teaching, working with students, and/or mentoring preferred.

Demonstrated record of successfully working with donors, collectors, and museum patrons preferred.

Commitment to equity and inclusion in museum practice and to engaging with a wide range of audiences and constituencies.

Additional Information
The Associate-level position is a 5-year term position with the possibility of extension and promotion.

JOB: Two Positions @ Whitney Museum of American Art

Assistant to the Chief Curator

A position is available for a full-time assistant reporting directly to the Nancy and Steve Crown Family Chief Curator. The incumbent will support the administration of a creative, fast-paced office, working as part of a team to ensure the smooth functioning of day-to-day operations.

Responsibilities include: assistance with all administrative matters related to the chief curator’s office and the curatorial department, including management of the chief curator’s calendar, drafting correspondence, travel and expense reports; organization of meetings (internal, external and patron groups); PowerPoints and other presentations; supervision of interns; maintaining curatorial departmental files and record-keeping, including tracking of budgets; supporting processes related to acquisitions and gifts; sorting mail and ordering supplies; communication with external contacts, including artists, trustees, donors, galleries, etc., as well as other museum departments such as Exhibitions and Collections Management, Advancement, Registration, and Research Resources. The incumbent will work closely with the director of curatorial affairs and the curatorial assistant to the chief curator to carry out these duties.

Job requirements:  Bachelor’s degree and 2+ years administrative experience, museum or gallery a plus. Background in art history preferred. Outstanding organizational ability and rigorous attention to detail; excellent written and oral skills; good working knowledge of office practices and procedures; ability to work independently and manage multiple deadlines simultaneously. Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office, Excel, and PowerPoint; training in TMS preferred, but not required. Diplomacy, confidentiality, and teamwork skills are crucial.

Please send resume, cover letter and salary requirements to:  hr@whitney.org and state “Assistant to Chief Curator” in the subject line.

 

Curatorial Project Researcher

A part-time, temporary position for a Curatorial Project Researcher, reporting to the DeMartini Family Curator and Director of the Collection, is available immediately. The incumbent will work with the Director and a team of curators on a large-scale research project focused on postwar American art with a particular emphasis on Pop, conducting intensive research as well as supporting the administration and organization of the project.

Responsibilities include: scholarly research on artists; management of checklists, databases, and files; scheduling and preparing materials and presentations for meetings; corresponding with external contacts as well as museum departments such as Conservation, Exhibitions and Collections Management, and Research Resources; daily administrative support (telephone, travel arrangements, processing invoices, and other general office and clerical duties).

Job requirements: B.A. in art history (M.A. a plus); 2 years museum/gallery experience; working knowledge of 20th- and 21st-century art history with a focus in postwar American art; specialization in Pop preferred; excellent writing, research, and communication skills, with rigorous attention to detail; clerical and organizational skills, including experience with TMS, Microsoft Office, Excel, and PowerPoint; ability to handle several tasks simultaneously and meet deadlines.

Please send resume, cover letter and salary requirements to:  hr@whitney.org.  Note “Curatorial Project Researcher” in the subject line.  Health insurance is not provided for this assignment.

 

About the Whitney

The Whitney Museum of American Art, founded in 1930 by the artist and philanthropist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, houses the foremost collection of American art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. From her vision arose the Whitney Museum of American Art, which has been championing the most innovative art of the United States for 86 years. The core of the Whitney’s mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit American art of our time and serve a wide variety of audiences in celebration of the complexity and diversity of art and culture in the United States. Through this mission and a steadfast commitment to artists themselves, the Whitney has long been a powerful force in support of modern and contemporary art and continues to help define what is innovative and influential in American art today.

The Whitney Museum of American Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Museum does not discriminate because of age, sex, religion, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital status, partnership status, veteran status, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, or any other factor prohibited by law. The Museum hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled. The Museum encourages all qualified candidates to apply for vacant positions at all levels. This description shall not be construed as a contract of any sort for a specific period of employment.

Curatorial Assistant, Contemporary Art @ Whitney Museum of American Art

A full-time Curatorial Assistant position, reporting to the Nancy and Fred Poses Associate Curator, is available. The incumbent will work on some of the Whitney’s most exciting and challenging contemporary projects, including exhibitions, acquisitions, and publications. A strong interest in contemporary art is essential, and production-oriented experience a plus.

Responsibilities include: assistance in the planning and installation of exhibitions and projects, including management of checklists, schedules, and databases; daily administrative support (telephone, management of the Curator’s calendar; maintenance of records, drafting correspondence, preparation of presentations, travel arrangements, processing invoices, and other general office and clerical duties); scholarly research on artists and acquisitions; preparation and writing of didactic texts; serving as liaison with the Curator’s internal and external contacts, including artists, trustees, donors, scholars, and museum departments such as Conservation, Exhibitions and Collections Management, Publications, and Research Resources.

Job requirements: B.A. in art history (M.A. a plus) and 2 years institutional work history, or equivalent experience; skills related to TMS, Raiser’s Edge, Microsoft Office, Excel, and PowerPoint; outstanding organizational, writing, research, and communication skills, with attention to detail; facility in representing the Whitney at events at the Museum and beyond; ability to handle several projects simultaneously, work well as a member of a team, and meet deadlines.

Please send resume, cover letter and salary requirements to: hr@whitney.org and state “Curatorial Assistant Contemporary” in the subject line.

For more information see http://whitney.org/About/JobPostings

%d bloggers like this: