Curator of Indigenous Art at the Brooklyn Museum

Job Title: Curator

Job Status: Full-time

Description

The primary role of this position is to strengthen the development, research, presentation, interpretation, renown, and growth of the Brooklyn Museum’s collection of North American Indigenous historical and contemporary art. The curator will enhance the Museum’s dedication to the art and histories of Indigenous artists and communities—including Lenape (Delaware) displaced peoples—through transformative engagement in a variety of modes, including exhibitions and publications, public programs, and social media. Please see here for more information on the collection.

Responsibilities:

  • Proposes, organizes, and coordinates innovative, canon-expanding exhibitions of Indigenous art that draw from the Museum’s holdings, as well as from other institutions and private collections, for presentation at the Museum and for travel to other venues
  • Performs advanced scholarly research on the collection and on prospective acquisitions and loans
  • Participates in the reinterpretation of the collection
  • Pursues broader research in areas of expertise for inclusion in studies, scholarly journals, lectures, symposia and colloquia, or exhibitions; consults sources in multiple languages
  • Coordinates with Exhibitions; Publications, Interpretation, and Editorial Services; Conservation; Exhibition Design; Collections Management; and the Registrar to meet exhibition production deadlines
  • Leads initiatives or supports the expansion and deepening of the Museum’s collection of Indigenous art through the acquisition of works of art of the highest quality, cultural significance, and relevance to the Museum’s collecting policies
  • Coordinates NAGPRA repatriation visits with the departments of Collections Management, Libraries and Archives, and the Registrar, and prepares and presents repatriation reports with recommendations to the Board of Trustees
  • Advocates for and assists in the development of public and educational programming to increase the visibility of the collection and generate public interest; engages with the public for tours and talks as relevant
  • Collaborates with our social media team, Public Programs, and Development staff to promote new acquisitions and collection-related activities and increase media attention and audience engagement
  • Participates in the management of collections owned by and on loan to the Museum
  • Provides accurate and informative responses to inquiries from outside scholars, colleagues, and the public concerning works in the collection and to other requests in areas of expertise
  • Works with the Conservation team on collection care and display
  • Executes administrative responsibilities as needed

 

Requirements

Qualifications:

  • Demonstrated three to five years of relevant work experience as a curator in established arts organizations; a robust record of important exhibitions and publications; demonstrable success conceptualizing, designing, and implementing curatorial strategies; as well as an understanding of collection stewardship
  • MA in a relevant field

Additional qualifications:

  • General knowledge of art history and a minimum of one year of specialized experience in the history of Indigenous art, from historical to contemporary Native American art, traditional modes as well as new media, possibly including film, video, installation, and performance
  • Knowledge of critical histories and theories of race, class, ability, and gender in the production, reception, and institutionalization of art
  • Strong communicator (verbal and written), collaborator, and strategic thinker who is able to effectively engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including staff, donors, Trustees, community members, and other partners
  • Ability to make connections across collections and build effective cross-departmental relationships
  • Understanding of, and demonstrated commitment to, the diverse communities served by the Museum—locally, nationally, and internationally
  • Knowledge of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and the procedures for handling repatriation visits and claims respectfully and in compliance with the law
  • Experience in cultivating high-level donors and developing grant applications at arts organizations, with demonstrable success in generating support for acquisition, exhibition, and collection projects
  • High level of integrity with ethics and values that are aligned with those of the Museum

Start date: Immediately

Department: Art Division

Reports to: Director of Curatorial Affairs or Senior Curator, if applicable

Position type: Full-time

Union status: Non-union

FLSA status: Exempt

Schedule: 35 hours per week, Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm

Apply online

If you have questions about our online application system, please get in touch with us at job.application.questions@brooklynmuseum.org.

At the Brooklyn Museum, we value all types of experience. For us, a successful candidate has many of the qualities listed in our job postings, and the desire and capacity to learn the rest on the job. So if much, but not all, of a job posting describes you, then we welcome your application.