Role: Assistant Curator of the Art of the African Diaspora
Institution(s): San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) & Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD)
Location: San Francisco, CA (SFMOMA: 151 3rd Street; MoAD: 685 Mission Street)
Schedule: Full-time, 35 hours/week, hybrid (at least 3 days onsite), 3-year assignment
Salary: $76,703 – $92,882 annually
Application deadline: Not specified in posting
This position will be working as part of a collaboration with the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD), MoAD is a contemporary art museum that celebrates Black cultures, ignites challenging conversations, and inspires learning through the global lens of the African Diaspora. MoAD is one of the only few museums in the United States dedicated to the celebration and interpretation of art, artists, and cultures from the African Diaspora. The museum presents exhibitions highlighting contemporary art and artist of African descent and engages its audience through education and public programs that interpret and enhance the understanding of Black art.
MoAD is based in the San Francisco Bay Area and plays a vital role in the local arts community. MoAD is uniquely positioned as one of the few museums in the world focused exclusively on African Diaspora culture and on presenting the rich cultural heritage of the people of Africa and of African descendant cultures across the globe.
General Job Overview
Reporting to the Curator and Head of Painting & Sculpture at SFMOMA, the Assistant Curator of the Art of the African Diaspora will specialize in African diasporic art and culture, bringing unique expertise in the art of Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas to an innovative cross-institutional curatorial collaboration between the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) and the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD). Jointly selected by SFMOMA and MoAD, neighboring institutions within San Francisco’s downtown Yerba Buena cultural district, the Assistant Curator of the Art of the African Diaspora will be an SFMOMA employee who reports to the and will also work closely with the Chief of Curatorial Affairs and Public Programs at MoAD as part of this collaborative project. Performance reviews will be conducted by SFMOMA as part of SFMOMA’s standard annual employee performance evaluation process. The position will assist in the selection, research, development, planning, production, and interpretation of permanent collection and special exhibitions at MoAD and SFMOMA.
The inaugural position will be funded by SFMOMA as a full-time SFMOMA staff role for a 3-year at-will term. The position will help lead major, multi-year collaborative projects for SFMOMA and MoAD. The Assistant Curator will devote a significant portion of their time (up to 50%) to supporting MoAD. In the course of their work, they will support curatorial projects shared by both museums, expand SFMOMA’s collections and programs, innovate MoAD’s public and academic programs, and help to foster connections between the two institutions on areas of overlapping programmatic interest.
Early in their tenure, the Assistant Curator of the Art of the African Diaspora will familiarize themselves with SFMOMA’s collection, MoAD’s Emerging Artist Program, and the exhibition histories of both museums. During their tenure, the candidate will help to develop a synthesized programmatic approach that will help connect the museums with current and prospective visitors and strengthen relationships with artists and art organizations. This position is a key component to a cross-institutional collaboration between institutions.
Responsibilities & Duties
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Conceives and organizes collaborative projects for SFMOMA and MoAD that may include collection-based and special exhibitions at both institutions, exhibitions drawn from SFMOMA’s collection for MOAD, touring exhibitions, co-commissions, performance/events, and educational programming/curricula.
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Contributes to the selection, research, development, exhibition, and interpretation of the permanent collection and special exhibitions. Prepares didactic and publication materials; installs collection and special exhibitions.
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Facilitates interdepartmental communication regarding exhibitions, working closely with departments of Exhibitions, Registration, Installation, Conservation, Publications, Communications, Marketing, and Design. Heads and/or facilitates external communication with artists, collectors, lenders, dealers, and staff members from other museums.
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Assists curators in the research and development of the SFMOMA collection associated with art from the African Diaspora. Further develops the depth, quality, and diversity of the SFMOMA collection through recommendations and presentations of purchases and gifts.
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Assists MoAD’s chief of curatorial affairs with exhibitions research and development, including sourcing artworks and ephemera for loans.
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Conducts gallery and studio visits, and follows the development of emerging as well as established artists, to maintain awareness of contemporary African diasporic artists.
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Acts as spokesperson for the MoAD + SFMOMA collaborative project. Presents lectures, educational information, and walk-throughs to visitors, docents, or other special groups.
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Assists with drafting and producing correspondence, loan forms, manuscripts, exhibition wall labels, memoranda, and other materials related to the permanent collection and special exhibitions. Maintains computer database of checklists for exhibitions. Assists with acquisition and exhibition research including, but not limited to, research and compilation of biographies, chronologies, and exhibition histories, and specific documentation of individual works.
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Partners with the Education department on programs relevant to special exhibitions, collection shows, and other projects and professional development opportunities including research, publications, lectures, and panel discussions at SFMOMA and MoAD.
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Performs other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications & Skills
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Master’s degree in African, African American, or African Diaspora Studies; Art History; or Cultural Studies with emphasis in visual culture or contemporary art of the African Diaspora. Fluency in other language(s) in addition to English a strong asset.
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Minimum of three (3) years of curatorial experience in an arts or educational institution, organization, or museum.
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Knowledge of African diasporic art history and terminology.
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Superb writing, public speaking, and diplomatic skills are essential.
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Demonstrated creativity, innovation, and ability to maximize resources.
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Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet deadlines.
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Excellent planning, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
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Ability to prioritize and organize multiple activities and supervise staff members around a common project.
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Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively in a diverse, dynamic team setting and to balance multiple competing priorities.
Working Conditions
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Must be able to visually examine works of art.
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Must be able to participate in installation and research onsite at SFMOMA and MoAD.
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Location: San Francisco; 151 3rd Street (SFMOMA) & 685 Mission Street (MoAD)
