Research Associate at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Job Title: Research Associate

Job Status: Full-time/End dated

About The Metropolitan Museum Of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art collects, studies, conserves, and presents significant works of art across all times and cultures in order to connect people to creativity, knowledge, and ideas.

The Met presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world for everyone to experience and enjoy. The Museum lives in two iconic sites in New York City—The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters. Since it was founded in 1870, The Met has always aspired to be more than a treasury of rare and beautiful objects. Every day, art comes alive in the Museum’s galleries and through its exhibitions and events, revealing both new ideas and unexpected connections across time and across cultures.

PARTNERSHIP WITH WORLD MONUMENTS FUND

The partnership between the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) and World Monuments Fund (WMF) for the development of re-envisioned African art galleries presents a unique and timely opportunity to contextualize material creations within the Met collection, present rich narratives about the associated communities and places, and highlight the refined skills and worldviews integral to Africa’s diverse cultural heritage. The accomplishments of this partnership will enrich the visitor experience through introducing narratives about major cultural sites and the efforts by local communities to conserve them for posterity.

POSITION BACKGROUND

This full-time one-year end dated position will assist in developing new content critical to the renovation of the African galleries—the first since the inauguration of the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing in 1982. In addition, the Research Associate will play a role in the significant reframing of this unique collection through its reintroduction with a narrative path that is both chronological and geographical.

The Research Associate will gather the content relating to a selection of sites that will be highlighted in the African art galleries to foreground and raise awareness about the importance and richness of African creativity and cultural heritage. The goal is to have major artistic landmarks positioned at key sightlines, which will lead visitors across times and places. The display will evocatively draw upon specific architectural vernaculars, while architectural elements will anchor the visitor within specific geographies.

This role will be based in World Monument Fund’s Headquarters and The Met, both in New York City. The Research Associate will report to Alisa LaGamma, PhD, the Met’s Curator in Charge; and will work closely with the WMF’s team- Judith Walker, Vice President, Communications, Jonathan Bell, Vice President of Programs, Stephen Battle, Principal Project Director, leading and specializing in Africa projects.

GENERAL STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

In this recontextualization of the collection, the Research Associate will assemble content relating to each of a series of singular landmark conservation projects ranging from the architectural significance of the site, to the preservation measures developed, and interviews with their caretakers that will be translated into digital content for the Africa galleries. The Research Associate will document current efforts by local communities to maintain these living traditions and the vernacular architecture, acknowledging the diverse challenges presented by the maintenance and conservation of distinct cultural landscapes. The hire will work closely with the curatorial team of the MCR Wing, the Design and Digital departments at the Met and the WMF’s staff, collaborating with the Programs and Communications departments to develop this new content.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

  • Participate in conceptual design and development of content for each site. Knowledge of the heritage field would be an asset
  • Carry out research to identify visual and textual material that can be used in storytelling
  • Draft written overviews of the historical context, architectural significance, and cultural context of the sites, for use in-gallery and online. Writing with a strong emphasis on the works’ historical and interdisciplinary contexts. Giving voice and making visible the continent’s artistic dynamism through prompts to additional online content with aim to contribute to a refreshed understanding of Africa’s artists’ cultural achievements.
  • Under the direction of WMF’s Principal Project Director, coordinate, liaise with officials and local partners to schedule and coordinate visits, and oversee required logistics
  • Accompany some site visits to conduct research and capture digital content for use in project deliverables
  • Under WMF’s Principal Project Director, assist in conducting on-site interviews in coordination with remote Met producers
  • Ability to photograph and film at the site visits as needed
  • Assist in developing the project’s digital content and web pages

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience and Skills:

  • Strong research skills such as data collection, and analyzing information from multiple sources
  • Strong skills in photography/videography including but not limited to capturing architecture and landscape
  • Excellent organizational and planning skills; strong attention to detail
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, and to exercise initiative
  • Must be willing to travel to Africa and conduct visits to project sites, under uncomfortable conditions
  • Proficiency with and ability to independently operate camera equipment
  • Working experience in Africa at country or regional level

Knowledge and Education:

  • Knowledge of architectural history and/or MA in architecture or architectural history preferred
  • Fluency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
  • Solid working knowledge of French language preferred
  • Demonstrated knowledge of African culture & history preferred

Benefits Offerings

The Museum provides competitive compensation, and generous benefits and perks for all eligible employees. Note: Benefits Offering may differ based on Employee Status.

  • Medical, dental, vision and life insurance
  • 403(b) basic retirement plan and optional matching retirement plan with an outstanding employer match
  • Considerable paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and 13 Museum holidays
  • Long-term disability coverage
  • Flexible Spending Accounts & Health Savings Account (pre-tax income for eligible health care expenses)
  • Commuter benefits (pre-tax income for parking or mass transit expenses)
  • Free financial-planning services
  • Financial assistance for relevant coursework, seminars, and training programs
  • 25% discount for staff in Museum shops
  • A subsidized staff cafeteria
  • Access to the Museums Council pass, which grants free admission to various museums and cultural institutions

To Apply:

Apply via LinkedIn

Research shows that women and people from underrepresented groups often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We recognize that it is highly unlikely that someone meets 100% of the qualifications for a role. If much of this job description describes you, then please apply for this role.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art provides equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, pregnancy, alienage or citizenship status, marital status or domestic partner status, genetic information, genetic predisposition or carrier status, gender identity, HIV status, military status and any other category protected by law in all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training and apprenticeship, promotion, upgrading, demotion, downgrading, transfer, lay-off and termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment.