Assistant Curator of American Textiles
Job Details
Organisation: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Department: The American Wing
Location: The Met Fifth Avenue, New York, United States
Contract: Full-time
Salary: $87,000–$92,000 per year
Application deadline: 11 September 2026
Job reference: JR-44139
About the Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents more than 5,000 years of art from around the world. Its collections are displayed across two sites in New York City: The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters.
The Museum is committed to fostering a collaborative and respectful workplace shaped by its core values of respect, inclusivity, collaboration, excellence and integrity.
About the American Wing
Founded in 1924, the American Wing holds approximately 20,000 works of art and design by African American, Asian American, Euro-American, Latin American and Native American makers.
Primarily spanning the mid-17th to the early 20th century, with selected contemporary works, the collection includes paintings, sculptures, drawings, furniture, textiles, regalia, ceramics, basketry, glass, silver, metalwork, jewellery, historic interiors and architectural fragments.
The collection is presented across approximately 75 galleries. The department comprises a curatorial team of 12, alongside administrative and collection colleagues, and regularly develops exhibitions and installations offering new approaches to North American artistic expression.
About the Role
The Met is seeking an Assistant Curator of American Textiles with expertise in art and culture from the 18th to the mid-20th century.
Working with colleagues across the Museum, the successful candidate will contribute to the research, cataloguing, interpretation and development of the American Wing’s textile collection. They will also propose installations and publications and support the presentation of expansive and inclusive narratives within a broadly conceived collection of American art.
Responsibilities
The Assistant Curator of American Textiles will:
- Contribute to the ongoing research, assessment and refinement of the American textile collection.
- Identify opportunities to introduce new ideas and narratives through installations and gallery rotations.
- Research and write interpretive materials, including gallery texts and printed and online publications.
- Assist with and propose gallery installations, including projects accompanied by publications.
- Recommend works for acquisition in collaboration with conservators, curators, collection managers and collectors.
- Cultivate and steward donors supporting acquisitions and fundraising, including members of departmental support groups.
- Contribute to programming for departmental support groups and the American Wing Visiting Committee.
- Lead tours of departmental exhibitions and installations.
- Develop and deliver training sessions for American Wing volunteer guides.
- Support the Museum’s educational mission through public lectures, gallery talks, classes and the mentoring of interns and fellows.
- Contribute to public and patron programmes and help build relationships with local communities and international audiences.
- Maintain positive working relationships with museum colleagues, scholarly communities, dealers, collectors and diverse audiences.
- Respond to public enquiries.
- Undertake other duties as assigned.
Requirements
Applicants should have:
- A master’s degree specialising in American textiles; a PhD or ABD status is preferred.
- An understanding of textile structures, materials and techniques, alongside experience handling textiles.
- Three to five years of relevant museum experience involving curatorial duties and responsibilities.
- A demonstrated record of scholarly research and publication.
- Experience contributing to symposia, lectures or other forms of public engagement.
- Demonstrated achievement in contemporary curatorial practice.
- A strong interest in object-centred research, presentation and interpretation.
- The ability to create and maintain precise, well-researched collection records.
- A commitment to exploring wide-ranging approaches to American art and culture.
- Demonstrated engagement with diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility initiatives within museum and professional communities.
- Excellent written, verbal, visual and interpersonal communication skills.
- The ability to work independently and collaboratively within a complex organisation.
- A commitment to contributing to an inclusive and affirmative working environment.
- Excellent computer skills and familiarity with TMS, Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office.
Salary and Benefits
The annual salary range for this role is $87,000–$92,000. The final offer may depend on the successful candidate’s experience, education, specialist qualifications and other relevant factors.
Eligible employees may receive benefits including:
- Medical, dental, vision and life insurance.
- A 403(b) basic retirement plan and optional matching plan.
- Annual leave, sick leave and 13 Museum holidays.
- Long-term disability coverage.
- Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts.
- Commuter benefits.
- Free financial-planning services.
- Financial support for relevant courses, seminars and training.
- A 25% discount in Museum shops.
- Access to a subsidised staff cafeteria.
- A Museums Council pass providing free admission to participating museums and cultural institutions.
Location Requirements
At the start of employment, the successful candidate must live within commuting distance of the Museum. This includes locations in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut or Pennsylvania from which the employee can travel to and from the Museum within a single day.
