Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art

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We are creating an exciting new position of Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, seeking a specialist in African American and/or African diaspora artists to strengthen the development, research, presentation, interpretation, renown, and growth of the Museum’s collection. This new curatorial position will reinforce and enhance our dedication to art and histories of Black and brown artists and communities through transformative engagement with exhibitions, collection installations, public programs, social media, publications, digital strategies, and collection expansion. Their work will engage and amplify the voices of Museum audiences to present diverse beliefs, cultures, and experiences, ensuring that we achieve our goal of becoming a conduit for open sharing and learning, and a place for courageous conversations. The curator will join our team in building community stakeholders to create connections that inform our program and support our mission.

Qualifications:
A successful candidate will meet many of these requirements, and have the desire and capacity to learn the rest on the job.

M.A. in a relevant field, Ph.D. preferred
3 to 5 years of relevant work experience as a curator with established arts organizations, including a robust record of important exhibitions and publications and demonstrable success conceptualizing, designing, and implementing curatorial strategies, as well as an understanding of collection stewardship
Demonstrated commitment to crafting groundbreaking exhibitions that are developed collaboratively with broad input and that expand the art historical canon, tell important stories, and celebrate artists of great import
A passion for art of the African diaspora, especially those from areas representing our local communities, such as Caribbean cultures
Knowledge of modern and contemporary art in general
At least one year of specialized experience in the history of art by African American and African diasporic artists (painting, sculpture, and new media, possibly including film or video, installation, and performance art)
Knowledge of critical histories and theories of race, class, ability, and gender in the production, reception, and institutionalization of art
Strong verbal and written communication skills, including social media aptitude and compelling public speaking abilities
Excellent collaborative partner, community builder, and strategic thinker who thrives on inclusive and creative processes and has the ability to engage with a wide range of stakeholders including staff, artists, donors, Trustees, community members, academic institutions, social justice organizers, and other partners
Ability to make connections across collections and to build effective cross-departmental relationships
Understanding of, and demonstrated commitment to, diverse communities served—locally, nationally, and internationally—with a recognized history of championing the principals of DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion, and access) in curatorial practice
High-level cultivation and grant development experience at arts organizations, with proven success in generating support for acquisition, exhibition, and collection projects
High level of integrity, with ethics and values that are institutionally aligned

Responsibilities:

Propose, organize, and coordinate innovative, canon-expanding exhibitions of modern and contemporary art that draw from the Museum’s holdings, as well as from other institutions and private collections, for exhibitions at the Brooklyn Museum and for travel to other venues
Perform advanced scholarly art historical research on the collection and on prospective acquisitions and loans
Participate in the reinterpretation of the collection
Pursue broader research in areas of expertise for inclusion in studies, scholarly journals, lectures, symposia and colloquia, or exhibitions; consult sources primarily in English and at least one other language
Coordinate with our Exhibitions, Publications, Conservation, Exhibition and Graphic Design, and
Collections Management departments, as well as the Registrar, to meet exhibition production schedule deadlines
Working with the Director, Deputy Director for Art, Director of Curatorial Affairs, Board of Trustees, and curators across all collections, lead initiatives or support the expansion and deepening of the Museum’s collections of art by African American and African diasporic artists through the acquisition of works of art of the highest quality, cultural significance, and relevance to the Museum’s collecting policies
Advocate for and assist in developing public and educational programming to increase visibility of the collection and generate public interest, and engage with the public for tours and talks as relevant
Act as a passionate advocate for the Museum’s mission and collections by collaborating with our social media team, and Public Programs and Development staff, to promote new acquisitions and collection-related activities, and increase media attention and audience engagement
Help manage related collections, including paintings, sculpture, mixed media, and new media owned by and on loan to the Museum
Provide accurate and informative responses to inquiries from outside scholars, colleagues, and the public concerning works in the collection or other requests in areas of expertise
Work with the Conservation team on collection care and display

Start date: Immediately

Department: Art Division

Reports to: Director of Curatorial Affairs or senior curator, if applicable

Position type: Full-time

Union status: Non-union

FLSA status: Exempt

Schedule: 35 hours per week, Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm

If you have questions about our online application system, please get in touch with us at job.application.questions@brooklynmuseum.org.