Curator, Exhibitions

Employment Opportunity – Curator, Exhibitions

The Rubin Museum of Art is dedicated to creating a dynamic environment that stimulates learning, promotes understanding, and inspires personal connections to the idea, cultures, and art of the Himalayas, India and neighboring regions. Now beginning its second decade, the Rubin Museum welcomes over 175,000 visitors annually and has over 4,000 members. The yearly pace is lively with more than six changing exhibitions, over 250 films, concerts, and on-stage conversations, and a robust roster of other educational initiatives.

The Rubin Museum’s preeminent collection includes over 3,200 objects spanning more than 1,500 years to the present day. Included are works of art of great quality and depth from the Tibetan plateau, with examples from surrounding regions including Nepal, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and Mongolia.

The Rubin Museum is looking for a highly creative and innovative Exhibitions Curator to join our team. In addition to a general knowledge of the arts of Asia, the best qualified applicant will have a demonstrated track record of developing (or overseeing the development of) exhibitions of complex and/or little-understood subject matter designed to attract diverse audiences at varying levels of interest and understanding. In particular, this position will have primary responsibility for developing a series of annual exhibitions, each focusing on one of the senses (sight, touch, smell, etc.)

The incumbent will work collaboratively and closely with the Director of Exhibitions, Collections & Research, other Curatorial staff, and the staff of other departments. The incumbent will report to the Director of Exhibitions, Collections & Research.

Responsibilities:

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Oversees exhibition development process for the Six Senses series.
• Develops, or oversees the development of, other temporary and traveling exhibitions.
• Investigates and recommends exhibitions organized by other institutions for presentation at the Rubin Museum.
• Conceives, plans, and realizes exhibitions including object selection, general layout and object adjacencies within the exhibition, and the creation and/or approval of all didactic components.
• Works with relevant departments to assure that the exhibition themes and ideas set forth are accomplished professionally, with attention to both quality and detail, in a timely and efficient manner, and within budget parameters.
• Develops written interpretive materials, in a wide variety of forms and for a diverse audience, which ranges from newcomers to specialists. Complete exhibition didactic information including introductory and section texts, summaries and object labels, and other interpretative materials such as exhibition brochures, and scholarly articles.
• Works closely with Education department to develop interpretive materials for exhibitions including audio tours and educational areas.
• Works with Guest Curators including: maintaining frequent communication; assists in developing object lists; oversees deadlines for deliverables; reviews proposals, exhibition worksheets and texts; works with in-house departments to develop exhibition and meet department deadlines; and gives exhibition tours and guide trainings if Guest Curator is unavailable.
• Actively collaborates with Development Department on fundraising initiatives as appropriate.

Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience in developing and executing imaginative and innovative exhibitions on complex subjects designed to appeal to broad audiences.
• Advanced degree preferred.

• Experience in a curatorial position in an art museum or similar institution, with a demonstrated record of accomplishment, and/or considerable experience in developing and presenting exhibitions of works of art.
• Innovative thinker and facile communicator.
• High level of organizational, planning and research skills.
• Strong communicator with excellent written, oral and interpersonal communication skills.
• Flexibility and proven ability to juggle multiple projects.
• Good sense of humor.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite applications (Word, Excel PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Familiarity with collections databases a plus (PastPerfect and AIMS).

The Rubin Museum offers a competitive benefits package.

Please provide the following as part of your application:

• Complete resume, including salary history and salary requirements.
• A cover letter addressing both your interest in the Rubin Museum and your qualifications for this position. No generic statements please.

Application:

• Indicate Curator, Exhibitions on the Subject Line of email or in the body of cover letter.
• Applications in electronic format preferred, and accepted at jobs@rmanyc.org.
• Mailed applications – Manager, Human Resources, Rubin Museum of Art, 150 West 17^th Street, New York, NY 10011.