We Are Committed to an Inclusive Workplace
At the Philadelphia Museum of Art, we actively seek to employ a diverse group of people who embody our organizational values. We welcome and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply, especially those from marginalized and underrepresented groups in the museum field, who are inspired by our shared purpose and enjoy working collaboratively with others.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship or immigration status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected status.
How You Will Contribute
The Curator/Associate Curator of Japanese Art has primary responsibility for the care, utilization, and development of the museum’s extensive and world-renowned holdings of Japanese Art. This individual works under the general direction of the Head of the Department of East Asian Art. As a member of the museum’s curatorial staff, the Curator/Associate Curator of Japanese Art is expected to participate in aspects of the work of the Museum to enable it to fulfill its mission and to maintain the highest standards of scholarship, connoisseurship, and professional practices in the field.
Specifically, you will:
- Work under the general direction of the Head of the East Asian Art Department and in cooperation with the staff across the museum to achieve the mission of the institution and its strategic objectives.
Conduct or direct research on the collection or on related topics in accordance with a plan developed in consultation with the Head of the Department of East Asian Art Department. Utilize this research for a variety of purposes including but not limited to the development of exhibitions and public programming and interpretive materials, and for presentation in catalogues, scholarly articles, public lectures and symposia. - Collaboratively work with the Education Division on the development and production of interpretive materials related to the collection and on the content and presentational strategies developed for public programs.
- Work closely with the museum’s conservation, collections management, and design and installation staffs to ensure that the works of art in your care are properly documented, conserved when treatment is needed, stored in a safe and accessible manner, and effectively displayed in the museum’s galleries for the enjoyment and education of the public.
- Organize and/or coordinate special exhibitions, either individually or in collaboration with colleagues from the PMA or peer institutions. This work should be understood as encompassing every aspect of the development and implementation of special exhibitions.
- Identify and recommend works of art in your area of responsibility to be acquired for the collection and periodically assesses the collection to make recommendations for the disposition of works of art that should not be retained.
- Review and provide recommendations on loan requests received by the museum.
- Maintain and enrich the museum’s database of Japanese art collections.
- Work in close cooperation with the museum’s senior staff and development officers to identify and cultivate individuals who can support the development of the collection.
- Participate, as needed, in events organized by the museum for the benefit of its members or various constituent groups.
- Represent the museum to various public constituencies in the city and the region.
- Serve as a representative of the museum in various professional organizations and events and maintains a strong and effective relationship with curators and scholars in the field, especially those at peer institutions in this country and abroad.
- Perform other required duties as assigned by the Head of Department.
Your background and experience include:
- A record of research and curatorial achievement, which includes the development of small and large-scale exhibitions, publications and online resources that address a wide range of audiences, and acquisitions of works of art.
- Experience maintaining best practices in conservation, collections management, loan requests, provenance, and museum ethics.
- A track record of collaboration with a sense of accountability to others.
- Experience mentoring colleagues.
- Experience working with donors, collectors, and museum patrons.
- Proficiency in Japanese is required.
- Organizational acumen and excellent oral communication and writing skills.
- PhD (or equivalent relevant experience) preferred
- Requisite experience at the associate or full curatorial level.
Position and Compensation Details
- The minimum salary for Associate Curator is $65,000.
- The minimum salary for Curator is $85,000.
- This position is full-time, exempt and 35 hours per week.
COVID-19 vaccination required.
Application Timeline
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting in early November 2021. We encourage candidates to apply early as the position will close once we have a robust applicant pool or a candidate has been selected.
