Mellon Curator, Art of California

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Oakland Museum of California (OMCA), Oakland, USA

Position Type: Regular, Full-time
Salary: $89,300 annually
Location: Oakland, California

Overview

The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) seeks a Mellon Curator of the Art of California to celebrate, document, and interpret the region’s rich artistic heritage. This role focuses on underrepresented stories, resilience, empowerment, and community connection through exhibitions and programming, with an emphasis on Oakland’s unique narratives.

Key Responsibilities

Conduct research on OMCA collections and develop special exhibitions and gallery installations.
Leverage collections to create diverse, interdisciplinary, and community-centered visitor experiences.
Identify and interpret collection objects and stories for core gallery reinstallation.
Collaborate on programming aligned with OMCA’s mission and strategic goals.
Contribute to collections care, deaccessioning plans, and ethical standards for collections management.

Qualifications

Experience: 5+ years curating exhibitions with strong scholarship and community relevance.
Education: Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in relevant fields; expertise in contemporary art, ethnic studies, gender studies, or underrepresented cultural histories is highly encouraged.
Broad knowledge of curatorial trends, exhibition development, and community engagement.
Proficiency in English; additional languages (e.g., Spanish or Mandarin) are desirable.
Team leadership skills, strong communication abilities, and museum ethics knowledge.
Familiarity with collection databases and proficiency in Google Suite.

Work Environment

Flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends.
Indoor and outdoor museum settings with occasional travel between OMCA locations.

About OMCA

OMCA is committed to diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and equity, reflecting its community’s rich cultural heritage. The Museum values an inclusive workplace and encourages candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply.