Associate Curator, Latinx Art

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As the Museum Curator(Art), you will:

Perform advanced scholarly research on art in the permanent collection, on prospective acquisitions, and on objects for examination in studies, scholarly journals, Gallery publications, lectures, symposia and colloquia, or exhibitions. Conduct research and scholarly exchanges in Spanish and one other language relevant to Latinx art such as Portuguese or French.

Write interpretive texts and make presentations on Latinx contemporary art for a diverse public in innovative ways. Collaborate with the National Gallery’s Center for the Advanced Study in the Visual Arts (The Center) to advance scholarly projects tied to Latinx art and specific areas of expertise. Accelerate the museum’s efforts to situate Latinx art as an important facet of US-American art and within broader histories of art.

Work with other members of the department of Modern and Contemporary Art to ensure that objects entering the collection are properly researched and catalogued, that already existing object records are updated as new information becomes available, and that artists’ biographies in the database are accurate and current. Trace and documents provenances. Keep abreast of bibliography, exhibitions, collecting, publishing and other developments in the field of Latinx art. Draft or contributes research to acquisition proposals. Research provenance of proposed gifts and purchases. Notify management of results of potential acquisitions research and works to resolve any issues or problems encountered.

Support the expansion and deepening of the Gallery’s collections through the acquisition of works of art of the highest quality and relevance to the Gallery’s collecting policies. Assist with development initiatives to build the modern art collection and support relationships with collectors, scholars, and art dealers in order to attract and secure single objects, collections, funds, or other types of gifts to the Gallery. Cultivate and maintain a donor base and collector and dealer contacts for Latinx art.

Propose, organize, and/or assist with exhibitions or undertake by assignment or on own initiative, in consultation with CMC colleagues and executive leadership. Coordinate with the departments of Exhibitions, Conservation, Registrar and Design and Installation to meet exhibition production schedule deadlines and budget requirements.

Work with colleagues in the curatorial and education departments to provide accurate and informative responses to inquiries from outside scholars and the public concerning works in the collection or requests for expert opinions. Provide helpful and illuminating leads for further information. Collaborate with other curatorial departments with a vested interest and responsibility to represent Latinx art, especially American and British Paintings (pre-1900), Modern and Contemporary Prints and Drawings, and the Department of Photographs. Accommodate visitors to the galleries and ensures access for outside scholars to storage and curatorial files. Give presentations, lectures, and tours. Support related public programs developed by educators and curatorial colleagues. Cooperate with all National Gallery departments on programs and administration. Serve on Gallery-wide committees. Work closely with the Gallery’s conservation, education, interpretation, brand content, and digital experience teams.

Help

Conditions of Employment

You must be a United States Citizen.
This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements.
See “Other Information” section regarding Selective Service requirements.

Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight your most relevant and significant work experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to this job opportunity. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Your resume must include the dates of all qualifying experience (from month/year to month/year) and the number of hours worked/volunteered per week.

Qualifications

Candidates must meet the Qualification Standards Handbook requirements for the NF-1015-12.

For this position, specialized experience is at least one year of experience, equivalent in responsibility to the GS-11 level in the Federal service, curating a collection of Latinx art. Three to five years of experience working as a curator organizing exhibitions and permanent collection displays, public service, and donor cultivation, is expected. May include serving as a curatorial fellow at a peer institution; or serving in a position at a peer institution that grants equivalent exposure to curatorial work. Reading and speaking knowledge of Spanish and one other language relevant to Latinx art such as Portuguese or French.

Your application and resume must demonstrate that you possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). Do not provide a separate narrative written statement. Rather, you must show in your résumé how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the KSAs identified below. If asked to do so, cite specific examples of employment or experience contained in your resume and describe how this experience has prepared you to successfully perform the duties of this position. DO NOT write “see resume” in your application!

Those applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements will be evaluated against these factors to determine the best-qualified candidates.

Knowledge of Latinx art. Broad knowledge of world art from all periods; specialized knowledge of modern and contemporary art in general and expert knowledge of the history of Latinx art in all media; knowledge of critical histories and theories of race, class, and gender in the production, reception, and institutionalization of art.
Ability to conduct scholarly research in Latinx art and write and present findings; ability to interpret works of art for a diverse public in innovative ways, orally and in writing. Ability to contribute to scholarly programs in Latinx art, give lectures, tours, and participate in symposia and panels.
Three to five years of progressively responsible, relevant experience as a curator, which includes building permanent collections by gift and purchase, scholarly publishing, organizing exhibitions and permanent collection displays, public service, and donor cultivation. One-year experience equivalent to a grade 11 in federal service is qualifying.
Knowledge of art museum collection management practices, cataloguing; materials and conservation issues; art storage; loans.
Knowledge of museum exhibition procedures and logistics.
Knowledge of collection development methods; ability to write a collection plan that ties into institutional strategic plans; ability to survey the art market and private collections for acquisitions of Latinx art and to make persuasive proposals of works tied to a collection plan; ability to cultivate and maintain a donor base for Latinx art.
Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with fellow staff members, professional colleagues, art collectors, diverse audiences, and other museum contacts, ability to demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and an ability and motivation to collaborate with peers.
Ability to read and speak Spanish and one other language relevant to Latinx art such as Portuguese or French.

“Experience” refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills; and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Time-in-Grade: Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement to receive consideration under merit promotion procedures.

CTAP/ICTAP candidates: To be considered “well qualified” you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

Basic Requirements:

Degree: museum work; or in an applicable subject-matter field.
OR
Combination of education and experience — courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
OR
Four years of experience that provided knowledge comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of the 4-year course of study as shown in A above.

Please carefully review the following list to determine what documentation you need to submit.

Some documents may not apply to all applicants. If you are unsure, click the link for each document type to read more.

ALL APPLICANTS: You must submit a resume supporting your specialized experience and responses to the online questionnaire.

Your resume should list all work experience (paid and unpaid); you should list the full name and address of the each employer.
Your experience listing should show the start and end dates (include month, day, and year); you must also list the average number of hours per week that you worked.
Your resume should also include any education and training you have completed (list the program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
For more information about what to include in your resume, please view this USAJOBS Resume Tutorial video on YouTube.
It is important that your resume is complete and thorough. If any of the above information is not included in your resume, we may not be able to fully credit you for your experience.

If specific educational requirements are indicated for this vacancy: Documentation verifying your educational claims which can include unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned and final grade. Please see the Education section for more information.

Current and former Federal employees: Most recent SF-50 (Standard Form 50 – Notice of Personnel Action).

To properly verify status eligibility, your SF-50 must show the following. If you do not submit an appropriate SF-50, we cannot verify your status eligibility!

Full position title;
appointment type;
occupational series;
pay plan, grade, and step;
tenure code; and
service computation date (SCD).

Displaced Federal employees: To be considered CTAP/ICTAP eligible, you must submit documentation verifying your involuntary separation and CTAP/ICTAP status. Please see the OPM Guide to Career Transition for more information.

Veterans: Veteran eligibility documentation (DD-214, VA Letter, Standard Form (SF) 15 as applicable). Please note: If you are a veteran who has not yet been discharged, you may provide a statement of intent to discharge from your agency which will allow you to apply under the (Veterans Opportunity to Work) VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011.

Persons with Disabilities: Individuals with intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities may apply for appointment through the Schedule A hiring authority. Certified verification of a disability from a licensed medical professional; a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist; or any Federal, state, or District of Columbia agency or U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits is required.