Curator, Textile Arts of Americas

This content is exclusive for CfC members.

Please or register to see all our content.

Full Job Description

The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum seeks a creative, highly motivated individual with strong organizational skills, professional demeanor, and great attention to detail for the endowed curatorship position dedicated to the textile arts of the Americas. This position will perform responsibilities related to strengthening the museum’s collections of textiles of the indigenous cultures from Central and South Americas, particularly from pre-Hispanic period; advancing knowledge through the critical inquiry and study of the collections; disseminating knowledge through exhibitions, publications, and lectures that build academic and popular interest; expanding participation by GW faculty and students, and build collaborations with peer institutions. Curator is a full-time position and reports to the senior curator. Title and salary will be commensurate with experience. • Exhibitions The curator will identify and develop concepts for future research and exhibitions through collection assessment, and primary and secondary research. The curator will assist with the development and implementation of exhibitions and their catalogues and will conceptualize original ideas for audiences that include the university community and the general public. Strong dialogue with GW faculty and students, and wider scholarly community in this process is a must. Identify areas for future research and exhibition through collection assessment and research; Develop new exhibition concepts and proposals to present to the staff Exhibitions Task Force and occasionally to the Board, Assess and recommend loan exhibitions related to the textile arts of Americas; Assist with institutional exhibition planning/schedule; Curate and/or coordinate exhibitions; Provide curatorial support as in-house curator to loan exhibitions related to the textile arts of Americas. • Collections working with museum colleagues and stakeholders, and experts from the art world, the curator will strengthen, through accessioning and deaccessioning, the museum’s holdings of textiles from pre-Hispanic Central and South America as well as textiles of the indigenous cultures from the region. The curator will develop and maintain relationships with collectors, donors and prospective donors, and dealers, including auction houses, to build the collections and acquisition funds, as well as solicit work from collectors. Contribute to collections documentation by identifying areas of collection for research and conducting through documentation and research in those areas; Strengthen Collections Database (Museum+) and Collections online project as an institutional resource by inputting the new data developed through collections documentation as well as retrospective data-entry; Assess collections for future areas of accession and deaccession; Research offers-of-donations and other prospective acquisitions by evaluating private collections for their suitability for The Textile Museum Collections; Present results of research to staff Collections Management Task Force and Collections Committee of GW/TM Board for approval of new accessions; Document new accessions; Develop and maintain relationships with collectors, donors and prospective donors, and dealers, including auction houses; Support continuing efforts to provide research access to textile arts of Americas in the collections for qualified researchers. • Research & Publications The curator will undertake primary and secondary collections-based research, and disseminate knowledge through exhibitions, publications, and lectures that build academic and popular interest. Through engaging with the scholarly community and contributing other museum-generated scholarly initiatives, the curator will contribute to strengthening the museum’s scholarly role and visibility. Research and write articles, reviews, and book-length manuscripts for publication; Represent the GW/TM in the scholarly community and maintain an active professional role and visibility by engaging in collegial exchange and dialogue as well as attending and participating in pertinent symposia, colloquia, and conferences and giving presentations and lectures as appropriate; Support and contribute to the efforts to develop strategies for dissemination of scholarly information, including electronic means; Support and contribute to development and execution of strategies to strengthen institution’s scholarly role and visibility; Provide scholarly input for the GW/TM projects, such as the Collections Online. • Educational, Professional, and Public service Collaborating with GW academic departments and beyond, the curator will assist the museum’s education team in developing lectures, discussions, workshops, screenings, and other special events to build an audience for the museum’s collections of textiles from central and south America within the university and the general public. Sharing his/her specialized knowledge on Indigenous American art and textiles through public and scholarly lectures, publications, and other means with diverse museum audiences is a must. Share specialized knowledge with diverse GW/TM audiences; Prepare and present public lectures and exhibition tours; Develop teaching resources and train docents; Conduct monthly public curatorial consultations (ask-a-curator, ask-a-conservator); Address public inquiries (mail/phone/email requests); Share knowledge as appropriate with Board, The Textile Museum Council, docents, and staff; Work with Education Department on programming related to the textile arts of Americas; Contribute to planning/implementation of the GW/TM development events as appropriate. • GWU Engagement and Administrative A portion of the curator’s duties includes developing opportunities for student and faculty research, especially through museum career training, collaborative academic projects, and teaching. The curator will also contribute and maintain the departmental activities and archives. Assist in training, utilization, and supervision of curatorial staff, interns, and volunteers; Contribute to the GW/TM planning and budgeting process by preparing and monitoring pertinent projects and corresponding budgets; Support GW/TM long-term planning and fund-raising efforts Participate in staff Research, Publication, Library and Education (RPLE), Exhibitions, Collections Management Task Forces, as well as other ad-hoc committees established for specific projects; Attend and report during the Board committee meetings

Minimum Qualifications:
Qualified candidates will hold a Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization plus 2 years of relevant professional experience, or, a Master’s degree or higher in a relevant area of study. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position. Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Additional Required Licenses/Certifications/Posting Specific Minimum Qualifications: Preferred Qualifications:

MA and knowledge of textiles and textile structures from pre-Hispanic American textiles and/or textiles of the indigenous cultures from Central and South Americas required; PhD preferred in Art History or related field.
Two or more years of museum experience or experience working directly with art objects desired. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written, oral, and visual);
organized and detail oriented; ability to work collaboratively with staff, students, and faculty, as well as diverse museum audiences. On-site time includes days/evenings/weekends as appropriate. Some travel required.

The following knowledge, skills, and abilities are also desirable:

Knowledge of pre-Hispanic American textiles and textiles of the indigenous cultures from Central and South Americas including the means of textile creation;
Rich understanding of art history; interest in foreign cultures;
Excellent research and writing skills for both scholarly and public audiences, and verbal and interpersonal communications;
A self-starter with the ability to operate with purpose, urgency and accuracy both independently and as part of a team in a dynamic environment with concurrent deadlines and rapidly changing priorities;
Ability to share projects and form alliances with institutions;
Comfortable communicating with Board Members, faculty, university executives, and VIPs; professional demeanor and ability to interact with all levels within the organization;
Exceptional time management, project management and organizational skills;
Detail oriented with ability to prioritize, manage and multitask; ability to coordinate complex schedules and analyze and solve problems;
Experience in nonprofit or higher education setting a plus, as well as willingness to work non-traditional business hours on occasion.

Typical Hiring Range $52,959.04 – $72,845.69 How is pay for new employees determined at GW?

Campus Location:
Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C.

College/School/Department:
Columbian College of Arts & Sciences (CCAS)

Family
Museum & Performing Arts

Sub-Family
Museum and Arts

Stream
Individual Contributor

Level
Level 2

Full-Time/Part-Time:
Full-Time

Hours Per Week:
40

Work Schedule:
Monday – Friday: 8:30am – 5:30pm

Will this job require the employee to work on site?
No

Employee Onsite Status
Hybrid

Telework:
Yes

Required Background Check:
Criminal History Screening, Education/Degree/Certifications Verification, Social Security Number Trace, and Sex Offender Registry Search

Special Instructions to Applicants:
Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status

This position will work a Hybrid schedule between remote and on-campus

Internal Applicants Only?
No

Posting Number:
S009956

Job Open Date:
07/27/0021

Job Close Date:

If temporary, grant funded or limited term appointment, position funded until:

Background Screening
Successful Completion of a Background Screening will be required as a condition of hire.

EEO Statement:
The university is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that does not unlawfully discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.