Associate Curator / Curator, Asian Art at the RISD Museum

Location: Providence, Rhode Island, US
Contract: Full-time, permanent
Hours: 35 hours per week
Workplace: Hybrid eligible
Salary: Not specified
Priority application deadline: 23 October 2026
Grade: Associate Curator 535EX; Curator 550EX

RISD Museum is seeking an Associate Curator or Curator of Asian Art to lead the development, care and interpretation of its Asian art collection.

As the department’s sole curatorial-track position, the successful candidate will oversee the collection and interpret it through exhibitions, publications, teaching and educational programmes aligned with the Museum’s strategic priorities.

The appointment will be made at Associate Curator or Curator level according to the candidate’s curatorial experience, professional qualifications, exhibitions and scholarly publications.

Responsibilities

Collection Development

The Associate Curator / Curator will:

• Develop the Asian art collection;
• Maintain current knowledge of the art market, including the availability and value of objects;
• Build relationships with dealers, donors and prospective donors;
• Recommend acquisitions, gifts and deaccessions through the Director and Chief Curator; and
• Help identify, cultivate and engage supporters of the Museum.

Collection Care and Research

The successful candidate will:

• Oversee the care and documentation of the collection;
• Provide cataloguing information for newly acquired and existing objects;
• Schedule and supervise collection inventories;
• Conduct, record and publish research;
• Establish standards for housing, storage and installation with the Registrar;
• Ensure objects are stored safely and remain accessible;
• Determine conservation priorities and develop relevant budget plans;
• Recommend and supervise conservation treatments;
• Assess loans and establish appropriate standards of care;
• Serve as a courier when requested; and
• Collaborate with Museum Security to protect works of art.

Exhibitions, Interpretation and Teaching

The role will:

• Develop exhibitions, educational programmes and interpretive texts;
• Interpret Asian art through exhibitions, publications and learning activities;
• Work across departments responsible for interpretation and audience engagement;
• Teach with the collection and make it accessible to RISD faculty and students, the wider academic community and the public;
• Promote inclusive approaches to teaching and interpretation; and
• Respond to scholarly and public enquiries.

Fundraising and Project Management

The Associate Curator / Curator will:

• Support the Museum’s fundraising and public-relations activity;
• Prepare grants, budgets and project work plans with relevant colleagues;
• Direct grant-funded projects;
• Manage project budgets and ensure compliance with deadlines and reporting requirements; and
• Provide timely information to the Communications Office.

The level of fundraising responsibility will vary according to whether the appointment is made at Associate Curator or Curator level.

Associate Curator Requirements

Applicants at Associate Curator level should have:

• Three to five years of curatorial or related experience; and
• Initial experience in fundraising and collection development, including supporting sponsorship, grant applications and donor relationships.

Curator Requirements

Applicants at Curator level should have:

• Five to seven years of curatorial or related experience;
• An established professional profile developed through exhibitions, publications and public speaking;
• Significant experience cultivating relationships with trustees, donors and curatorial support groups; and
• A proven record of securing major acquisitions and stewarding substantial philanthropic commitments.

General Qualifications

All applicants should have:

• A record of scholarly publications or exhibitions;
• A master’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience; a PhD is preferred;
• Specialist knowledge of Asian art, with an emphasis on historical objects and periods;
• Fluency in a language relevant to their specialism;
• Strong connoisseurship skills;
• Familiarity with conservation and collection care;
• Excellent research, writing and verbal communication skills;
• Strong interpersonal and organisational skills;
• A collaborative approach; and
• Flexibility.

Expertise in Japanese art, particularly works on paper, and fluency in Japanese are strongly preferred.

About RISD Museum

Established alongside the Rhode Island School of Design in 1877, RISD Museum holds more than 100,000 works of art and design representing cultures from antiquity to the present.

Its seven curatorial departments encompass Ancient Art; Asian Art; Costumes and Textiles; Decorative Arts and Design; Prints, Drawings and Photographs; Painting and Sculpture; and Contemporary Art.

The Museum’s collections support undergraduate and postgraduate research, while its programmes connect RISD with communities throughout Providence.