The Marianna and Juan A. Sabater Curator of Latinx Art at the Smithsonian American Art Museum

Job Title: The Marianna and Juan A. Sabater Curator of Latinx Art

Job Status: Full-time

Location: Washington, D.C. 

Salary: $74,950 – $97,430

Introduction

Come join a team of dedicated curatorial staff at an exceptional time in the history of the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM). The museum’s leading Latinx art collection represents a profound commitment to building a great national collection reflecting the rich contributions of Latinos to our country, from the colonial period to the present. Artists featured in the collection reflect the diversity of Latino communities in the United States, including artists of Afro-Latinx, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Dominican descent, as well as other Latin American groups with deep roots in the United States.

Job Summary

The Marianna and Juan A. Sabater curator will work with the museum’s collection of approximately 1,100 works by Latinx artists under the supervision of the Head Curator. The Curatorial Office consists of 8 to 12 curators and curatorial fellows and 6 support staff. Responsibilities include collections development and intellectual management of collection objects, collections, and exhibition related research in the field of Latinx and American art, developing exhibitions and installations and writing attendant object and gallery texts, and public service in the form of lectures to popular and scholarly audiences.  Incumbent will actively participate in the reinstallation and reinterpretation of the museum’s collection to more fully present the multiple people, voices, and cultures that constitute the United States.

Major Duties

  • In the course of work, develops an in-depth understanding of the objects and their place in American art in a wide context.
  • Identifies and proposes potential acquisitions across media that amplify the collection.
  • Uses knowledge of collections and museum exhibitions to locate and organize information for incorporation into popular and scholarly publications, articles, and SAAM brochures.
  • Conducts research on the permanent collection to help establish a complete database on each work.
  • Reviews works regarding loan requests, examines collections for conditions requiring conservation, and performs cataloging of collections.
  • Works with Head Curator and senior staff to develop exhibition topics.
  • Participates in the preparation and staging of exhibitions and exhibition catalogs.
  • Responsible for completeness and accuracy of exhibition graphics and wall text.
  • Presents gallery talks and lectures related to the museum collections.
  • Responds to routine inquiries from the public.

Benefits

The Smithsonian Institution offers a comprehensive benefits package for trust employees. Please see https://www.si.edu/OHR/benefits  for a complete description.

The Smithsonian Institution ensures its employees (federal and trust), applicants, and affiliated persons (interns, research associates, fellows, and volunteers) are protected from discrimination and unfair treatment in the workplace regardless of their race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, gender stereotyping, pregnancy, and sexual orientation), age, disability, genetic information, marital status, parental status, or political affiliation and are free from reprisal against protected activities. In addition, other Smithsonian policy prohibits discrimination based on membership in an employee organization or other non-merit factors, and political affiliation.”

The Smithsonian provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the contact person listed in this announcement. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

 

Requirements

Key Eligibility Requirements

  • Pass pre-employment background investigation
  • Complete a probationary period
  • Maintain a bank account for direct deposit/electronic transfer
  • Schedule flexibility for frequent travel

Basic Qualification Requirements

  1. Master’s degree in an applicable subject-matter field (Latinx art or visual culture) from an accredited college or university. Ph.D. encouraged.

OR

  1. Combination of education and experience in courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, PLUS experience or additional education.

OR

  1. Three years of related experience that provided knowledge of the fundamental principles and theories of Latinx art comparable to that normally acquired through successful completion of the 4-year course of study as described in A above.

Education Requirements

The applications that meet the basic qualifications will be evaluated further against the following criteria:

  1. Knowledge of Latinx art and visual culture
  2. Knowledge of curatorial functions
  3. Skill in written and digital communication
  4. Skill in oral communication

Preferred Qualifications

  1. Ability to assess collections
  2. Bilingual (Spanish and English)

Required Application Documents

  • Resume – MUST contain the job title (including the occupational series and grade if it is Federal), duties, starting and ending dates (month and year), hours worked per week, and salary
  • Cover letter
  • Academic writing sample
  • Contact information for at least 2 professional references

HOW TO APPLY

Email all required documents with the subject line “Curator of Latinx Art” to SAAM-jobs@si.edu  no later than Friday, July 29th, 2022. Late applications will not be considered. 

Contact:

Dan Weinwurm, SAAM Personnel Manager

SAAM-jobs@si.edu

202-633-8346