Associate Curator, Exhibitions

The Studio Museum in Harlem is the nexus for artists of African descent locally, nationally and internationally and for work that has been inspired and influenced by Black culture. It is a site for the dynamic exchange of ideas about art and society.

As the Museum prepares for a major expansion, the Associate Curator, Exhibitions works in tandem with the Associate Curator, Permanent Collection to execute programming and collection stewardship goals articulated by the Director and Chief Curator and the Director of Collection and Exhibitions.

The Associate Curator, Exhibitions and Associate Curator, Permanent Collection work together with the Director of Collection and Exhibitions to manage the daily implementation of collection policies and exhibition organization in support of our mission as collection stewards.  The Associate Curator, Exhibitions will focus primarily on expanding and maintaining robust relationships with our artist community. Central to their work is the oversight of the flagship Artist in Residence program. They will be responsible for sustaining crucial support for the artists cohort in alignment with our mission. External relationship building is essential to advancing our mission and collection stewardship. The Associate Curator, Exhibitions is additionally expected to contribute to the ongoing development, cataloging and display of work from the collection through research and acquisition support. Their timely and current development of exhibitions and educational programs spotlighting contemporary artists is an important contribution to and a resource for our Education and Public Programs Community Engagement teams.

The Associate Curator must be comfortable in a collaborative, experimental and culturally diverse setting, as well as possess the openness, flexibility and diplomacy required for meaningful collaboration with contemporary artists and a wide range of core external and internal stakeholders. The ideal candidate will be equipped to think broadly and innovatively about the Museum’s artist centered mission, while independently managing a wide range of administrative responsibilities.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Together with the Associate Curator, Permanent Collection; supervise curatorial staff, including the Assistant Curator & Exhibition Coordinator, Curatorial Assistant, Exhibitions, Curatorial Assistant, Permanent Collection and Curatorial Fellows as assigned by the Director and Chief Curator and Director of Collection and Exhibitions.
• Mentorship of junior staff as a key component of departmental supervisory work in support of the Museum’s history as an organization with a focus on teaching, learning, and training of the next generation of rising curators and scholars
• Collaborate closely with the Museum’s Registrar toward planning and project coordination and execution
• Manage, lead and supervise the Museum’s eponymous Artist in Residence program
• Facilitate cross-institutional coordination of Studio Museum’s various partnership programs as assigned by the Director and Chief Curator and Director of Collection and Exhibitions
• Conduct original research and organize exhibitions
• Contribute to the Museum’s ongoing acquisition plans in support of expanding the institution’s dynamic permanent collection in collaboration with the Associate Curator, Permanent Collection and other key stakeholders including the Director and Chief Curator and Director of Collection and Exhibitions
• Produce didactic texts and exhibition related publications
• Develop exhibition budgets and suggestions for the exhibition calendar for consideration by Director and Chief Curator and Director of Collection and Exhibitions
• Spearhead projects as assigned and related to the Museum’s exhibitions
• Collaborate across multiple departments as needed, including and not limited to the Director’s Office, Registrar, Communications, Community Engagement and Public Programs, Education, Development, Finance , Retail and Information Technology
• Engage multiple audiences and stakeholders, both internal and external, across a variety of platforms while cultivating and maintaining relationships with a diverse constituency of artists, trustees, members of the press, professional associations and local non-profit organizations
• Be an ambassador for the Museum’s ongoing work, mission, community, and institutional vision
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Strong background in contemporary art by artists of African and Afro-Latinx descent required
• Demonstrated commitment to the Museum’s mission
• Must have an international knowledge of the current art scene, including important emerging talent and be an active figure in the cultural community
• Must be able to speak and write persuasively on the role of culturally specific institutions in the museum field
• Master’s degree in Art History, with an emphasis on mid-century to Contemporary Art, American Art and/or African-American Art, history or culture.
• Advanced degree preferred
• Minimum of 5-7 years’ curatorial experience in a museum setting
• Supervisory experience and demonstrated project management skills
• Exceptional internal and forward-facing communication skills with excellent speaking, writing and research abilities
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to innovate within the role in this moment of institutional transition and transformation.

Salary:

Salary commensurate with experience, skills and knowledge. A competitive benefits package is provided, including medical, dental, life and long-term disability insurance, retirement account, and substantial vacation.

Application:

Please forward application materials in one PDF to jobs@studiomuseum.org. All applications must be received by September 30th, no later than 5pm.

The subject line of the email should include the applicant’s name and the position for which they are applying (e.g., “Applicant’s Name–Associate Curator, Exhibitions”).

Application materials must include:

• Resume
• Cover letter summarizing the applicant’s most relevant work experience, educational background and familiarity with art by artists of African descent as well as the candidate’s sense of their own potential contribution to the Museum and its mission
• Three writing samples:
  • Two samples should focus on artists of African and/or Afro-Latinx descent or artworks by an artist of African and/or Afro-Latinx descent active between 1970 to the present
• The names, titles and contact information of three professional references able to speak to the candidate’s skills, experience, character and commitment

Please note that while careful consideration will be given to each submission, the Museum will only be able to contact those applicants whose knowledge, skills and work experience best fit the requirements of the position. No phone calls or faxes, please.