Research Associate (Tang Modern Wing) Modern & Contemporary Art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Job Title: Research Associate

Job Status: Full-time

Description

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.

GENERAL STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

The Research Associate’s principal responsibility is to undertake research relating to the permanent collection of the Department of Modern and Contemporary Art. The permanent collection comprises more than 12,000 objects in all media and covers a period from about 1890 to the present. As the department enters the conceptual planning phase for the new Tang Modern Wing, support is needed for the curatorial team engaged in the significant rethinking of the installation of the permanent collection.

The Research Associate will work closely with the department Chairman and curatorial team to conduct research on the collection, compile data, prepare supporting materials, and PowerPoint presentations. They will also track the collection’s evolution over the past century or so and contribute to the understanding of the collection’s historical character and how it has been shaped over the past decade under the current Chairman’s vision. Additionally, they will be responsible for the coordination and recording of discussion sessions and workshops for the Modern and Contemporary Art team, including curators from other departments.

The candidate must demonstrate an awareness of how both universities and museums with deep collections are responding to the imperative discourses of the moment including but not limited to decolonization, racial and social justice, feminism, and ecology. In addition, they must be up to date with how the current discussions taking place in the field around the reframing of established ‘canonical’ art history across world regions, artistic media and historical time frames are being evidenced in international museum and gallery spaces.

Please note:  this is an exempt, full-time, end-dated position with an expected estimated end-date of April 2025 (approximately 3 years after onboarding/start-date).

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

  • Conduct research on selected areas of the department’s collection
  • Liaise with department researchers and collection managers
  • Liaise with other relevant Museum curatorial departments
  • Prepare PowerPoint materials for presentations and dossiers research
  • Assist in scheduling and organizing discussion workshops for department curators
  • Create a record for of meetings, discussion sessions, and presentations 
  • Other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS:

Fully vaccinated with an FDA or WHO authorized vaccine (or approved for an exemption as a reasonable accommodation due to a disability, sincerely held religious belief, or pregnancy, or because you are a victim of domestic violence, stalking, or sex offenses).

Experience and Skills:

  • At least 3-5 years of prior research experience and working with museum collections
  • Track record of outstanding research skills
  • Excellent written and spoken communications skills
  • Proven strong organizational skills and meticulous attention to logistical details

Knowledge and Education:

  • Degree in Art History with a specialization in Modern and Contemporary art
  • Proficiency in at least two languages
  • Excellent computer skills, knowledge of TMS essential 

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Applicants are asked to please provide a Cover Letter / Statement of Intent in addition to your resume, expressing your interest in the position before the application deadline of 10:00 AM (EST) on Monday, March 21, 2022. Applications can be submitted via the posting on LinkedIn. Alternatively, applications can be submitted via email to Careers@MetMuseum.org – please reference position “Research Associate, Tang Modern Wing – Modern & Contemporary“ in the subject line of the email. Applications received with the requested Cover Letter / Statement of Intent will be given priority.

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.