Category: Museum Anthropology Blog

Nonprofits Under Threat: What’s in the House Tax Bill and How You Can Help

After 16 hours of debate, the House Ways and Means Committee voted this morning to approve draft tax legislation, which is the core of a major tax reconciliation package that Republicans hope to enact by summer. The tax bill includes several harmful provisions opposed by NCN that would, if enacted, threaten the entire nonprofit sector. The bill grants unprecedented authority to the executive branch to revoke nonprofit tax-exempt status from organizations without full evidence or due process, and it increases taxes on foundations and other nonprofits. The bill also includes a provision supported by NCN to incentivize charitable giving by creating a non-itemizer deduction. For more information, read NCN’s full analysis of the tax bill and its impact on charitable nonprofits. The bill now heads to the House floor for a vote as soon as the week of May 19. After passage in the House, the bill will go to the Senate for consideration. Congressional leaders set a goal of July 4 for final passage of the tax bill.

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is one of the largest museums of modern and contemporary art in the United States and a thriving cultural center for the Bay Area. We cannot imagine life without art; it inspires and connects us every day. Now more than ever, these connections matter and are aligned with our values.

Inclusive: We strive to be a museum of many voices in dialogue.

Passionate: We believe working with art is more than a job or trusteeship – it’s a way of life.

Brave: We are committed to approaching our work with courage and a sense of adventure, always ready to explore new perspectives.

Empathic: We aim to act like a person, not an institution.

SFMOMA is a place for the infinitely curious to explore, support, and experience the art of our time. We believe that modern and contemporary art can influence the way we think, view the world, and embrace the many voices and perspectives around us. We aspire to foster an environment that elicits joy, nurtures a sense of belonging and purpose—where difference is seen as a strength, and every one is appreciated for their whole self.

Partnership Project with MoAD

This position will be working as part of a partnership project with the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD). MoAD is a contemporary art museum that celebrates Black cultures, ignites challenging conversations, and inspires learning through the global lens of the African Diaspora. MoAD is one of the only few museums in the United States dedicated to the celebration and interpretation of art, artists, and cultures from the African Diaspora. The museum presents exhibitions highlighting contemporary art and artist of African descent and engages its audience through education and public programs that interpret and enhance the understanding of Black art. MoAD is based in the San Francisco Bay Area and plays a vital role in the local arts community. MoAD is uniquely positioned as one of the few museums in the world focused exclusively on African Diaspora culture and on presenting the rich cultural heritage of the people of Africa and of African descendant cultures across the globe.

General Job Overview

The Assistant Curator of the Art of the African Diaspora will specialize in African diasporic art and culture, bringing unique expertise in the art of Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas to an innovative cross-institutional curatorial collaboration between the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) and the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD). Selected by SFMOMA in consultation and partnership with MoAD, neighboring institutions within San Francisco’s downtown Yerba Buena cultural district, the Assistant Curator of the Art of the African Diaspora will be an SFMOMA employee. Performance reviews will be conducted by SFMOMA as part of SFMOMA’s standard annual employee performance evaluation process. The position will assist in the selection, research, development, planning, production, and interpretation of permanent collection and special exhibitions at SFMOMA and MoAD.

The inaugural position will be funded by SFMOMA as a full-time SFMOMA staff role for a 3-year at-will term. The position will help lead major, multi-year collaborative projects for SFMOMA and MoAD. The Assistant Curator will devote a significant portion of their time (up to 50%) to supporting MoAD projects. In the course of their work, they will support curatorial projects shared by both museums, expand SFMOMA’s collections and programs, innovate MoAD’s public and academic programs, and help to foster connections between the two institutions on areas of overlapping programmatic interest.

Early in their tenure, the Assistant Curator of the Art of the African Diaspora will familiarize themselves with SFMOMA’s collection, MoAD’s Emerging Artist Program, and the exhibition histories of both museums. During their tenure, the candidate will help to develop a synthesized programmatic approach that will help connect the museums with current and prospective visitors and strengthen relationships with artists and art organizations. This position is a key component of the MoAD + SFMOMA partnership project.

The Assistant Curator is also involved in supporting the accessions process at SFMOMA, including writing defenses for proposed acquisitions, drafting scripts for presentations, and coordinating the installation of proposed acquisitions. Additionally, the Assistant Curator conceives, organizes, generates texts for galleries and publications and installs special and permanent collection exhibitions, as assigned. These exhibitions require that the Assistant Curator collaborate with coworkers drawn from the Registration, Conservation, Publications, Research and Exhibitions departments.

The Assistant Curator will support MoAD’s robust exhibitions calendar including the conception, research, organization and development of interpretive tools and texts. In nearly every element of their work, they will collaborate closely with colleagues across the museum in Public and Academic Engagement, Youth and Family Engagement, as well as the Marketing and Development departments.

Responsibilities & Duties

• Conceives and organizes collaborative projects for SFMOMA and MoAD that may include collection- based and special exhibitions at both institutions, exhibitions drawn from SFMOMA’s collection for MOAD, touring exhibitions, co-commissions, performance/events, and educational programming/curricula.
• Contributes to the selection, research, development, exhibition, and interpretation of the permanent collection and special exhibitions. Prepares didactic and publication materials; installs collection and special exhibitions.
• Facilitates interdepartmental communication regarding exhibitions, working closely with departments of Exhibitions, Registration, Installation, Conservation, Publications, Communications, Marketing, and Design. Heads and/or facilitates external communication with artists, collectors, lenders, dealers, and staff members from other museums.
• Assists curators in the research and development of the SFMOMA collection associated with art from the African Diaspora. Further develops the depth, quality, and diversity of the SFMOMA collection through recommendations and presentations of purchases and gifts.
• Assists MoAD’s chief of curatorial affairs with exhibitions research and development, including sourcing artworks and ephemera for loans.
• Conducts gallery and studio visits, and follows the development of emerging as well as established artists, to maintain awareness of contemporary African diasporic artists.
• Acts as spokesperson for the MoAD + SFMOMA collaborative project. Presents lectures, educational information, and walk-throughs to visitors, docents, or other special groups.
• Assists with drafting and producing correspondence, loan forms, manuscripts, exhibition wall labels, memoranda, and other materials related to the permanent collection and special exhibitions. Maintains computer database of checklists for exhibitions. Assists with acquisition and exhibition research including, but not limited to, research and compilation of biographies, chronologies, and exhibition histories, and specific documentation of individual works.
• Partners with the Education department on programs relevant to special exhibitions, collection shows, and other projects and professional development opportunities including research, publications, lectures, and panel discussions at SFMOMA and MoAD.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

More here. 

The Ohio State University at Newark invites applications for Director of the Newark Earthworks Center at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor with tenure. We seek a scholar whose research employs Native American and Indigenous Studies methodologies, foregrounding Indigenous peoples’ intellectual traditions, histories, aesthetics, geographies, and other ways of knowing. We welcome applications from publicly engaged scholars with leadership and administrative experience whose research and teaching demonstrates accountability to Indigenous communities.

The Newark Earthworks Center is an academic research center at The Ohio State University, housed on the Newark campus. The mission of the Newark Earthworks Center is to promote and support research, teaching and engagement by faculty, students, scholars, Indigenous peoples, and other stakeholders with an interest in the ancestral and contemporary Indigenous places, peoples, cultures and experiences within and around Ohio.

In addition to serving in the leadership role, the director will also be a dedicated teacher and productive scholar. The departmental home of the position is open. Possibilities include, but are not limited to, Anthropology, Comparative Studies, English, Geography, History, and History of Art. At The Ohio State University, while faculty teach primarily on their home campus, all faculty members’ Tenure-Initiating Units are based in Columbus.

This hire follows a concentrated emphasis of hiring faculty in Indigenous studies at Ohio State’s Columbus campus over the past several years. The director will have the opportunity to collaborate with the American Indian Studies program in the Center for Ethnic Studies in developing programming.

The director will have a unique opportunity to contribute to the efforts of World Heritage Ohio to celebrate Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The new director will be expected to develop a clear research focus, based on the NEC mission and the recognition of the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks as a serial World Heritage Site (2023); to collaborate across disciplines, universities, and other Indigenous World Heritage sites; and to communicate the NEC mission effectively with media and constituencies.

Performance Objectives
• Lead the Newark Earthworks Center, building its profile as an academic research center and its profile on campus and across Licking County, connecting with stakeholders beyond the campus, and bringing attention to the Midwest Indigenous cultures who created the earthworks at the core of the Center’s mission;
• Expand meaningful research and outreach opportunities for students on the campus;
• Develop impactful, productive scholarship consistent with the ongoing missing of the Newark Earthworks Center;
• Cultivate productive relationships with tribal governments;
• Collaborate with scholars across departments and engage diverse constituencies (including Indigenous communities) inside and outside of the university;
• Teach and advise graduate and undergraduate students; and
• Seek out external funding that emphasizes the strengths of the NEC’s research and outreach efforts (as directed by the Office Academic Affairs).

Additional Information:

Qualifications
Required
• A PhD in Indigenous Studies or American Indian Studies or PhD in an allied field (including but not limited to Anthropology, Comparative Studies, English, Geography, History, and History of Art), with a research specialization in Indigenous or American Indian Studies;
• Prior academic experience at a research-intensive university;
• Demonstrated track record of academic leadership, management and collaboration;
• A record of teaching excellence.

Tenure faculty (regardless of rank) – persons with the titles of professor, associate professor, assistant professor and instructor who serve on appointments totaling 50% or more service to the university and who are eligible for tenure or who have obtained tenure. Duties and responsibilities are assigned in accordance with the workload guidelines laid out in the pattern of administration of each faculty member’s tenure initiation unit (TIU) and, as appropriate, regional campus; obligations will include research, service and/or teaching or clinical practice.  These faculty will have earned doctorate or other terminal degree in the relevant field of study or possession of equivalent experience.

More here. 

About the Project

This PhD funded by AHRC via the Scottish Graduate School in Arts and Humanities (SGSAH) investigates the colonial consumption and the display of Australia at the National Museum of Scotland (NMS) during the ‘long nineteenth century’ (c.1768-1904). This was a period of intense colonial activity and expansion, reflected in museum practices of collecting and classification. Crucially, it covers the formation and transformation of the national museum from an Industrial Museum, into a Museum of Science and Art, and the separation of once-conjoined collections in disciplinary, curatorial and institutional terms. NMS offers extensive primary materials reflecting early colonial-era Scottish engagements with First Australians and their environments. Its collection of approximately 3900 objects from Australia contains a significant proportion of First Australian cultural artefacts and important natural specimens with associated documentary archives, including correspondence, accession records, curatorial files, and other institutional records.

The project investigates three primary questions:

1. What do the NMS’s expansive cross-disciplinary collections reveal about the role of Scots in colonial expansion in Australia and their understanding of the so-called ‘Terra nullius’?
2. How did the disciplinary-based interpretation of these collections shape the display of Australia in Scotland in terms of its people and the environment?
3. What might the repercussions of historic collecting and interpretive choices mean for mediating knowledge about first Australians within museums today?

As a collaborative doctoral award, the student will gain first-hand experience of work outside the university environment as well as enhanced research skills. In addition to training opportunities provided by the University of Aberdeen and in-house by NMS, the student will have access to training and development provided via SGSAH including access to funding to support museum-based and archival research internationally.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to develop their theoretical and organisational approach in consultation with their supervisory team as the project develops. It is anticipated that their research will challenge historic representations of First Australians’ cultures and environments and provide a roadmap for the future care and display of the collections. The findings will be incorporated into the NMS online searchable databases, improving information and access for First Australians about their dispersed material heritage, and laying the groundwork for future decolonial and collaborative initiatives.

Supervision will be provided by:

• Professor Alison Brown, Department of Anthropology, University of Aberdeen (lead supervisor)
• Dr Rachel Smith, Department of Anthropology, University of Aberdeen (second academic supervisor)
• Dr Alison Clark, Global Arts, Cultures & Design, National Museums Scotland (partner supervisor)

Informal enquiries are encouraged. Please direct academic or general project enquiries to alison.brown@abdn.ac.uk or rachel.smith1@abdn.ac.uk. Questions relating to NMS/Collections should be addressed to a.clark@nms.ac.uk at NMS.

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Candidate Background:

We are looking for a motivated student who is keen to capitalise on this opportunity to develop their ideas, skills, and research independence in a highly supportive environment. Candidates should have an enthusiasm both for museum work and academic research and a willingness to work collaboratively with the supervision team, museum colleagues, and Indigenous communities, as appropriate. Experience of working with museum collections and/or archives is desirable, though training in these areas will also be provided according to the student’s needs. Demonstrable familiarity with First Australian history, culture and contemporary issues is also desirable.

Applicants should have a first or upper-second class honours degree in a relevant arts and humanities or social science subject, for example, Anthropology, History, Art History, or Indigenous Studies. They should also normally hold, or be working towards, a Masters degree, for example, in Museum Studies, Cultural Geography, Environmental Humanities or similar, and a commitment to interdisciplinary research. Any potential applicants without a Masters degree but with significant relevant professional/lived experience are advised to outline their skills, experience and knowledge in their cover letter stating how this experience is commensurate with a Masters-level qualification. We actively encourage applications from diverse career paths and backgrounds and across all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation and transgender status, amongst other protected characteristics.

The student will be based in Aberdeen but will be expected to spend a considerable period of time in Edinburgh, undertaking research at NMS and related archives. As there may be opportunities for international research travel to consult related collections and archives, it is essential that the student be prepared to travel in connection with this award.

More here.

Impact of Recent Executive Orders and Federal Policy Changes:
A National Pulse Survey of Arts and Culture Organizations and Creative Businesses

Since his inauguration, President Trump has signed more than 100 executive orders, and his administration is taking aggressive steps to reduce or eliminate the footprint of many federal agencies. These actions have direct implications for creative businesses, jobs, and the quality of life for people in American communities ranging from small rural to large urban, including the arts and culture sector. This short survey of arts and culture organizations is completely anonymous. It gathers critical information to demonstrate the human, programmatic, and financial impacts of these decisions. It takes an average of 6 minutes to participate.

All types of arts, culture, history/heritage, and humanities ORGANIZATIONS are welcome to participate.

• Nonprofit organizations across all disciplines
• Government arts agencies, departments, divisions, programs, and facilities
• For-profit and commercial arts-related and creative businesses
• Arts (and artist) service, advocacy, funding, and/or fundraising organizations
• College/university programs, facilities, and venues
• Tribal arts and culture organizations
• Programs that operate under the umbrella of a parent organization or fiscal agent
• Unincorporated programs/collectives

Take the survey here.

Title	Curatorial Assistant
Posting Number	S01404JP
Department	Arctic Museum Arctic Studies
Job Summary	Bowdoin’s Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum is dedicated entirely to all things Arctic. It is named after Arctic explorers and Bowdoin graduates Robert E. Peary (Class of 1877) and Donald B. MacMillan (Class of 1898). In 1967 Bowdoin opened the Arctic Museum. MacMillan, who worked in the Arctic from 1908 to 1954, added to the museum’s growing collections, donating his expedition equipment, anthropological objects, films, photographs, natural history specimens, archival papers, and library to the college. Under the direction of the Director and Curator, the Curatorial Assistant is responsible for (1) encouraging and facilitating K-12 school groups’ use of the Arctic Museum exhibits and helping manage docent-led tours; (2) undertaking a major project related to one of the Arctic Museum’s initiatives; and (3) maintaining the Arctic Museum’s social media presence. In addition, the Curatorial Assistant will perform routine tasks throughout the museum, including assisting with exhibition installations, docent training, routine collection care, community outreach, and research support. This is an entry-level, two-year post-baccalaureate appointment.
Education/Skills Requirements	A Bachelor’s degree is required, with a major in Anthropology, History, Arctic Studies, Native American Studies, Earth and Ocean Systems, or Environmental Studies is strongly preferred. Excellent research and writing skills required, as well as an ability to engage with the public.
Experience Requirements and/or Equivalents	Experience working in museums preferred. Familiarity with Arctic environments and Inuit cultures preferred. Ability to work with MS Office required, Adobe CS desirable. Skilled in social media account management.
Standard Work Days and Hours	This is a full-time position working 37.5 hours/52 weeks per year, (0.94 FTE) with occasional evening or weekends as required. Standard administrative hours are 8:30 am – 5:00 pm. This is an on-site role, and candidates must be able to work in person on Bowdoin College Campus in Brunswick, Maine. The hourly range for this position is expected to be: $20.50 –$21.50/per hour. Compensation based on your skills and experience. BENEFITS AND PERKS A variety of health insurance plans (Medical – effective date of hire, Vision, Dental) Generous Retirement Plan – 10.12% annual compensation contribution (Eligible after 1 year of service and age 26), no match or vesting required! Life and Disability Insurance Paid Time Off: 10 days of vacation (1st year), 15 days (2nd year), 12 days of personal/sick time (PTO accruals based on hours worked). Paid Holidays and Special Days Off: https://www.bowdoin.edu/hr/our-workplace/college-holidays-and-special-days-off.html Paid Parental Leave (Available after one year of service) Access to many of the College’s facilities including the gym and pool (Including household members) Free fitness and wellness classes! And more: https://www.bowdoin.edu/hr/benefits-perks/index.html
About Bowdoin	Bowdoin embraces diversity in all forms, and the College is home to talented students, faculty and staff—with a variety of racial, ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds; religious beliefs; and gender identities, among other factors. We encourage applications from candidates committed to the support of an inclusive campus community and those who will enrich and contribute to the College’s multifaceted diversity. We value a community in which individuals of all backgrounds are warmly welcomed and encouraged to succeed. Founded in 1794, Bowdoin has maintained its commitment to the liberal arts for well over 200 years. Bowdoin’s reputation as a preeminent liberal arts college rests on the excellence of its faculty, students, and staff; intimate size; strong sense of community; and connections to the people, history, and natural beauty of Maine. Bowdoin’s campus is situated in a beautiful natural setting. Located in Brunswick, Maine, a town of approximately 20,000, the College is a short drive from the Maine coast, twenty-five miles from Portland and 120 miles from Boston.
Shift
Employment Category	Full Time Year Round
FTE	0.94
Benefits Eligible	Yes
Pay Type	Hourly
Background Check Package Requirements	Support Staff + MVR
Is driving a vehicle (e.g. Bowdoin vehicle or off road vehicle, rental car, personal car) an essential function of this job?	Yes
Is a pre-placement physical required for this position?	No
Posting Date	04/04/2025
Applications Accepted Until
Open Until Filled	No
Type of Posting	Internal/External
Special Instructions to Applicants	If selected as a finalist, you will be required to submit information for three references, including name, email address, phone number and how you know the reference as well as a writing sample.
EEO Information	Bowdoin College complies with applicable provisions of federal and state laws that prohibit unlawful discrimination in employment, admission, or access to its educational or extracurricular programs, activities, or facilities based on race, color, ethnicity, ancestry and national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, age, marital status, place of birth, genetic predisposition, veteran status, or against qualified individuals with physical or mental disabilities on the basis of disability, or any other legally protected statuses.

More here. 

Description

About the Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world for everyone to experience and enjoy. The Museum lives in two iconic sites in New York City—The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters. Millions of people also take part in The Met experience online.

Since its founding in 1870, The Met has always aspired to be more than a treasury of rare and beautiful objects. We are committed to fostering a collaborative and respectful work environment with a staff as diverse as the audiences we engage. Our staff members are art lovers who are passionate about working toward a common goal: creating the most dynamic and inspiring art museum in the world.

At The Met, every staff member – from security officers to researchers to scientists and beyond – lives by our core values of respect, inclusivity, collaboration, excellence, and integrity.

Respect: Engage one another with collegiality, empathy, and kindness, always.

Inclusivity: Ensure that all are and feel welcome and valued.

Collaboration: Reach across boundaries to exchange ideas and work together toward our shared mission.

Excellence: Lead the cultural world in quality and expertise—and inspire curiosity and creativity.

Integrity: Hold ourselves to the highest moral standards, admit when we fall short, and then evolve.

About the Department

Founded in 1924, the American Wing is the only western collecting area of The Met’s seventeen curatorial departments to regularly blend art and design in our more than 75 galleries. With a collection of roughly 20,000 works by African American, Asian American, Euro-American, Latin American, and Native American makers—ranging primarily from the mid-17th to early -20th century, with select contemporary expressions—the American Wing represents one of the largest and most comprehensive holdings of North American artistic expression in the world. These dynamic collections include paintings, sculptures, drawings, furniture, textiles, regalia, ceramics, basketry, glass, silver, metalwork, jewelry, as well as historic interiors and architectural fragments, produced by highly trained staff and self-taught artists, both identified and unrecorded, comprising an expansively defined American art department housed within a global museum.

GENERAL STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES

As the Research Associate for Native American art, you will support the Associate Curator of Native American Art in the research and documentation of The Met’s Native American holdings. You will contribute to ongoing collection and exhibition development as well as assist with various related administrative duties, including bibliography and database work. You will also collaborate with the American Wing’s NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act) Coordinator and Community Liaison to assist in planning community visits and related activities.

This is a position with an established end-date or time frame. Time frames will begin upon hire: 1 Year, with the possibility of renewal.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES

Curatorial

• Investigate and document diverse works to be featured in loan exhibitions and collection installations, including provenance, bibliography, and exhibition-history research
• Create and maintain checklists and associated files
• Draft and edit content for exhibitions and publications in collaboration with curator
• Assist curator in interfacing with various Museum departments involved in project development and realization, including Exhibitions, Registration, Conservation, Design, Digital, Editorial, Communications, Development, and Education
• Assist curator with provenance research for potential purchase and gift acquisitions, as well as incoming and outgoing loans for exhibitions
• Prepare PowerPoint materials for lectures in support of projects; deliver gallery talks and tours as needed
• Coordinate and assist with procurement of rights for images, video, music, and other content for exhibitions and related publications
• Assist with on-site gallery installations
• Other duties as assigned

NAGPRA-Related

• Assist NAGPRA Coordinator & Community Liaison with provenance research as needed
• Assist with logistics of community visits and repatriation arrangements as needed
• Assist with data entry of information resulting from consultations, community visits, and other communications as needed

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS

• M.A. in Native American Art History, Native/Indigenous Studies, Museum Studies, or Anthropology
• Advanced knowledge of Native American art and culture
• Familiarity with NAGPRA compliance and repatriation protocols, also the Duty of Care under new regulations published on Jan. 12, 2024
• Past experience in curatorial museum work
• Familiarity with research resources
• Familiarity with relational databases for museum collections management, TMS preferred
• Highly organized and detail-oriented
• Independent research skills
• Past experience working with Native American Nations, Tribes, Pueblos, Organizations, and communities
• Demonstrated commitment to ethical stewardship of Native American and Indigenous communities
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Proven ability to work well both independently and as a member of a team

COMPENSATION RANGE:

• Pay Range: $72,000.00 – $74,000.00 / Annually
• The advertised pay scale reflects the good faith minimum and maximum salary range for this role. The advertised pay scale is not a promise of a particular wage for any specific employee. The specific compensation offered to a candidate may be dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, education, special licensing or qualifications, and other factors.

More here. 

Description

Fenimore Art Museum, located in Cooperstown, New York, is seeking an experienced and highly motivated candidate for the full-time position of Eugene and Clare Thaw Curator of American Indian Art. The curator will be responsible for the research, curation, development, and management of the collection as well as Native American Graves and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) requirements. This position is endowed through the Eugene and Clare Thaw Curator Endowment Fund and reports to the President & CEO.

About the collection

The Eugene and Clare Thaw Collection of American Indian Art is comprised of almost 900 objects housed in a gallery specifically designed for the art. Each object reaffirms the Thaws’ and the museum’s commitment to the beauty and artistry of American Indian art. The art was collected from across North America: The Northeast, the Plains, California & the Great Basin, the Southwest, and the Northwest Coast. The curator will be responsible for the display in the main American Indian art gallery, maintaining the open storage gallery, and contributing to other exhibitions as appropriate. In addition to the pieces in the Thaw Collection, there are approximately 100 works of American Indian Art in the collections of Fenimore Art Museum and Fenimore Farm. The curator will also be responsible for those pieces.

Duties and Responsibilities

Conduct research on permanent collections to populate database entries on each work. In the course of work, develop an in-depth understanding of the objects and their place in American Indian art in a wider context.

Use knowledge of collections and museum exhibitions to locate and organize information for incorporation into popular publications and articles.

Work with curatorial and exhibitions staff to develop exhibition topics. Participate in the preparation and staging of exhibitions and exhibition catalogs.

Manage NAGPRA research and consultations in accordance with the law.

Serve, on occasion, as Fenimore Art Museum liaison to guest curators, lenders, and outside institutions for the purpose of coordinating the preparation, staging and touring of exhibitions.

Serve on the Collections Advisory Committee and advise the President & CEO on matters pertaining to the collection.

Review loan requests for artworks in the collection and present same to the Collections Advisory Committee.

Identify and present potential acquisitions of historic or contemporary American Indian Art.

Examine collections for conditions requiring conservation and perform cataloging of collections.

Present gallery talks and lectures related to the Museum collections. Respond to routine inquiries from the public.

Prepare reports on activities for the Museum and Library Committee of the Board of Trustees.

Manage a departmental budget.

Supervise, on occasion, interns and research fellows working with the collection.

Represent Fenimore Art Museum and the Thaw Collection at conferences and other gatherings\.

Maintain cordial and productive relationships with Native communities, particularly the Haudenosaunee.

Travel may be necessary and is funded through the endowment.

 

Requirements

Qualification Requirements

Candidates will be knowledgeable in the field of American Indian art history and will further specialize in one or more areas of expertise within that field.

Experience with the principles and methods of art historical research and the organization and preparation of exhibitions and publications.

Candidates will be familiar with the basics of museum practice and understand the interrelationships between museum offices and responsibilities.

Candidates will show evidence of excellent writing and public speaking skills.

Candidates will understand the requirements of NAGPRA.  Experience with tribal consultations is preferred.

An MA in a relevant field and five years of experience preferred.

Experience with The Museum System (TMS), preferred.

More here. 

OVERVIEW: Come join a mission driven institution and be a central contributor to the Department of Conservation at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI). The NMAI seeks a Program Coordinator to support the Andrew W. Mellon fellowship and NMAI Conservation internship programs.  NMAI Conservation is dedicated to advancing conservation exposure and training through the implementation of NMAI’s mission through developing and supporting conservation collaborations and partnerships with Native and Indigenous communities and allied organizations.

The incumbent will be responsible for a wide variety of functions in support of fellowship and internship programs and general activities of the Conservation Department. The incumbent will serve as program coordinator, providing program support for NMAI Conservation fellowship and internship programs.  This includes assisting with onsite fellowship and internship activities, supporting applicants through the application and selection process, providing support for recruitment and outreach activities, and performing general administrative tasks in support of these programs. The incumbent will also assist in outreach and engagement efforts with Indigenous communities and allied organizations as part of the overarching work of the Conservation Department.

This position is located at the NMAI in the Cultural Resources Center in Suitland, MD. Occasional travel to other NMAI locations or partnering institutions and Indigenous communities may be required.

Please note, this is a trust position and applications are not through USA Jobs; an uploaded CV or resume and cover letter are required at the job application website. Your cover letter should address how your resume and experience connect to the requirements of the position. A resume can be more than two pages given that it should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job, starting and ending dates of job (month and year), and average number of hours worked per week.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides scheduling, coordination, and other administrative support for fellowship and internship program activities.
• Assists in maintaining and tracking program budgets.
• Establishes and maintains systems to organize program correspondence and files.
• Leads and refines communication and documentation strategies for fellowship and internship programs
• Conceptualize, propose, implement, document, and evaluate outreach and engagement projects and programs and takes on projects as assigned by the supervisor of the Conservation Department
• Works collaboratively with other staff in the Conservation Department and cross-departmentally to host artist, community members and Tribal Museum/Cultural Center partners virtually and in person.
• Supports procurement and invitational travel to host Indigenous communities and community members at the museum.
• Assist with documenting collaborative engagements in the Collections Information and Digital Asset Management systems.
• Works collaboratively to create and implement a digital strategy for conservation through sharing digital conservation resources and outreach through social media.
• Help organize and conduct conservation workshops.
• Serve as a resource for fellows/Interns in navigating SI and federal systems and professional development.
• Coordinate department activities with other collections departments, internally and externally.
• Assists on an as-needed basis the work of the Conservation Department.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Experience in engagement with Indigenous community members and/or tribal institutions.
• Excellent writing, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to interact with diverse peoples with tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to plan, coordinate, and prioritize multiple projects independently and with a high degree of efficiency and accuracy.
• Experience in administrative practices and procedures such as establishing and maintaining systems to organize information and communications, project and financial tracking, meeting facilitation, and scheduling.
• The ability to work independently and in a team; the incumbent will support the Conservation Department in service of the Mellon Fellowship/Internships and community engagement activity.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience

• Proficiency in the functions of Microsoft Office software, including Excel, Word, Power Point, and virtual meeting platforms with the ability to learn new automated systems.
• Knowledge of Indigenous perspectives on museums and the collections in their care.
• Working proficiency in a second language (Indigenous, Spanish, etc.).

Applicants, who wish to qualify based on education completed outside the United States, must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.

Information and how to apply at the website:  Administration Specialist – Suitland, MD | National Museum of the American Indian Careers