Reporting Relationship: Reports to Deputy Director, Collections & Curatorial Strategies Opening Date: July 12, 2021
Closing Date: August 13, 2021
About The Newark Museum of Art:
We welcome everyone with inclusive experiences that spark curiosity and foster community.
We acknowledge the traditional homelands of the Lenape, also known as the Delaware, upon which The Newark Museum of Art resides.
Founded in 1909 and located in New Jersey, The Newark Museum of Art (NMOA) is the state’s largest museum and ranks twelfth nationally in terms of collection size. Global and diasporic, the collection includes more than 100,000 artworks, as well as significant holdings of science and natural history. From the classical world to the art of today, NMOA boasts exceptional examples and depth in the Arts of Global Africa, Arts of Global Asia, Arts of the Americas, including Native American art, Arts of the Ancient Mediterranean, and Decorative Arts. The American collection features works by major artists such as John Singer Sargent, Childe Hassam, Mary Cassatt, Sam Gilliam, Georgia O’Keeffe, Carmen Herrera, Jeffrey Gibson, and Mickalene Thomas.
NMOA’s visitor- and community-centric approach responds to the evolving needs and interests of the diverse audiences it serves by offering exhibitions, programming, a research library, paid internships, and local and global partnerships. A four-acre campus comprises the 1885 Ballantine House, a National Historic Landmark; the Alice Ransom Dreyfuss Memorial Garden; and Horizon Plaza. Under the leadership of Director/CEO Linda C. Harrison, NMOA has launched an era of transformation to create an engaged citizenry by reimagining the role of the art museum for the 21st century.
Position Summary: The Newark Museum of Art’s collection of the Arts of Global Africa comprises some 6,000 artworks from across the African continent and its diaspora; from ancient to the art of today; and across media. The first object to enter the collection—a Zulu beadwork apron—occurred in 1917. Ever since, the Museum has foregrounded the collection in exhibitions and by actively acquiring works through gift and purchase. Notably in 2017, the Arts of Global Africa galleries opened, featuring an array of objects organized thematically, from unrecorded artists to Simone Leigh. The Museum is committed to inclusively presenting its historic holdings in dialogue with its contemporary, trans-continental, global collection.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
• Oversee all aspects of the Arts of Global Africa collection with a visitor-centric ethos.
• Shape the future of the collection through strategic acquisitions, deaccessions, and restitution.
• Advocate for innovative approaches to activating the collection and introducing fresh narratives.
– Research and interpret the collection to develop gallery rotations, installations, and publications, in collaboration with cross-functional teams.
– Conceptualize and produce original, canon-expanding exhibitions for presentation at the Museum and for potential travel to other venues.
• Partner with local, regional, global entities to build authentic institutional relationships.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
The ideal candidate will possess a combination of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:
• Advanced degree in art history or a related discipline, such as Africana studies, anthropology, or history with strong knowledge of historical and contemporary material.
• 5-7 years of experience at a museum, arts non-profit, or other cultural organization, as well as a record of publication.
• Knowledge of and experience with successful community engagement strategies.
• Ability to cultivate constituents and stakeholders.
• Ability to collaborate and build consensus with the Development, Learning & Engagement, and Marketing teams.
• While not a mandatory requirement, the Museum welcomes candidates with backgrounds or lived experiences in cultures within or adjacent to those of Arts of Africa.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills working with a diverse set of partners.
• Outstanding oral presentation and written communication skills.
• Experience writing visitor-friendly interpretive texts for multiple audiences.
• Proven ability to take ownership of projects and to manage several priorities with competing deadlines.
• Demonstrated excellent project management experience.
• Participation in the Museum’s evening and weekend events, as well as local and overnight travel sometimes required.
Salary Range: $70,000
The Newark Museum of Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In addition, we aspire to make the Museum and our environment – staff, audiences, artists, programs, and exhibitions – reflective of the diversity of the city of Newark and to capture the spirit of access, inclusion, and equity in all we do. We strongly encourage and welcome applicants from our BIPOC, disabled, and LGBTQIA communities as they must be centered in the work we do.
Apply:
Please send your cover letter and CV to humanresources@newarkmuseumart.org
Due to the volume of submissions, only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.
