Assistant Curator of African Art

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Institution: The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met)
Location: New York, USA
Contract: Full-Time
Salary: USD $87,000–92,000 per year
Deadline: 2 September 2026

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is seeking an Assistant Curator of African Art to join the Department of African Art within the recently renovated Michael C. Rockefeller Wing. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to one of the world’s leading collections of African art through research, exhibitions, acquisitions, publications, and public engagement.

Working under the guidance of the Curator in Charge, the successful candidate will help shape the presentation and interpretation of the museum’s African art collection while conducting original research and collaborating with conservators, scientists, educators, and international partners. The position also includes developing exhibitions, expanding collection documentation, supporting donor relations, and contributing to public programming.

This role is ideal for museum professionals with expertise in African art who are passionate about advancing scholarship and making museum collections accessible to diverse audiences.

Key Responsibilities

Research & Collection Development

Conduct original research on African art and contribute new scholarship to the museum’s permanent collection.
Maintain and expand collection records within the TMS database and online catalogue.
Develop proposals for strategic acquisitions.
Support scholarly access to the collection for researchers and partner institutions.
Collaborate with conservators and scientists on collection research.

Exhibitions & Interpretation

Support and develop temporary exhibitions under the guidance of the Curator in Charge.
Plan and coordinate rotations of artworks displayed in the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing.
Prepare gallery texts, labels, catalogue essays, blogs, and digital content.
Present collection research to museum visitors through lectures and public talks.

Professional Engagement

Represent the museum at conferences, professional meetings, and academic events.
Develop and maintain relationships with museums, universities, and research institutions worldwide.
Support fundraising initiatives, grant applications, donor relations, and annual gift reports.
Mentor interns and fellows.
Provide collection training for educators and museum docents.

Candidate Profile

The Met is looking for a museum professional with strong academic expertise in African art and demonstrated experience working with museum collections, exhibitions, and scholarly research. The successful candidate will combine excellent research skills with the ability to communicate effectively with both specialist and public audiences.

You should be comfortable managing multiple projects simultaneously while collaborating across curatorial, conservation, education, and scientific departments.

Requirements

Master’s degree specialising in African Art or a related field.
PhD or equivalent qualification preferred.
Demonstrated experience researching and curating museum collections.
Strong publication and scholarly research record.
Language skills relevant to the area of expertise.
Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
Experience with museum collection management systems, preferably TMS.
Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently as well as collaboratively.