Assistant Curator African American Art

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Full Time
Professional
Philadelphia, PA, US
4 days ago
Requisition ID: 1307

TO ASSISTANT CURATOR AFRICAN AMERICAN ART

The Assistant Curator will be a key member of the Barnes Foundation’s Collections and Exhibitions team, working closely with colleagues in and across departments to advance the Barnes’s mission. The Assistant Curator will help to develop and deliver exhibitions and collection-related content including interpretive materials for use in-gallery and on social media; contributions to Barnes Foundation catalogues; and talks and lectures (in person and online). The candidate’s research and communication skills will help to connect the Foundation with current and prospective visitors.

To reflect the Barnes’ holdings and mission, the Assistant Curator will bring to the role a particular knowledge of one of the following fields: early twentieth century African American art; contemporary art of the African diaspora; or African art in the late nineteenth century. The candidate will have an interest in conducting and publishing research on the permanent collection more broadly, and on the Barnes Foundation’s institutional history.

Established as an educational institution, the Barnes Foundation carries out its mission by promoting appreciation of the arts and horticultural science, through the preservation, presentation, and interpretation of the collections of Albert C. and Laura L. Barnes.

Celebrated for its exceptional breadth, depth, and quality, the Barnes Foundation’s art collection includes works by some of the greatest European and American masters of impressionism, post-impressionist, and early modern art, as well as African sculpture, Pennsylvania German decorative arts, Native American textiles, metalwork, and more.

The Foundation engages diverse audiences through its exceptional collections and related high-quality programs that reflect a broad range of periods and cultures and build on the founders’ innovative educational vision of transforming lives through the arts and horticulture.

Responsibilities:

Job Specific Competencies:

Contributes to the development, management and promotion of loan exhibitions and new commissions at various levels. Works in collaboration with Conservation, Publications, and external curators as appropriate.
Studies the collection and disseminates knowledge through printed and/or online publications including labels, content for barnesfoc.us (the Foundation’s online touring tool) and social media. Contributes to Barnes Foundation catalogues.
Shares content and ideas with colleagues in Public Programs and Community Engagement in support of their efforts to build diverse audiences for the Barnes on campus and beyond.
Collaborates with Advancement staff to identify appropriate funding opportunities, cultivate potential individual and corporate prospects, steward the Barnes’s strong donor base, and assist with grant applications
In support of the department of Research, Interpretation and Education, provides lectures, classes, tours, and other presentations for various audiences including the Barnes staff, visitors, members, donors, and the scholarly community.

Skills and Knowledge:

Minimum of Master’s degree in art history or related field.
Minimum of 2 years of related professional experience in a cultural or educational institution or organization.
Knowledge of best practices and procedures for collections management and care in cultural institutions.

Competitive Benefits Include: Group health, dental and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; short- and long-term disability and group life insurance; 403(b) with matching contributions; Employee Assistance Program; voluntary benefits; as well as paid vacation, personal time, sick time and holidays.

Please include a cover letter and an updated resume with your application, along with salary expectations.

The Barnes Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer and we’re committed to diversity and equal opportunity in our recruitment and hiring. Qualified candidates of all backgrounds are welcome and encouraged to apply for this position. Employees have rights under other laws including, but not limited to, the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Employee Polygraph Protection Act. We participate in E-Verify.

Successful applicants for employment with the Barnes Foundation must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the date of hire as a condition of employment, subject to requests for accommodation.