Category: Museum Anthropology Blog

Advocacy Alert

The US DOI has requested Public Comment on potential regulatory changes related to their programs and regulations. Of relevance to museum anthropologists, targets include the National NAGPRA Program (under the National Park Service) and Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). Please consider commenting to share your views on potential changes to this transformative program and legislation. Written comments are due by July 21, 2025 at 11:59PM.

https://www.regulations.gov/document/DOI-2025-0005-0001

To find what comments have been made already regarding NAGPRA, open the “Document Comments” tab header and search for “NAGPRA.”

YNM invites you to apply to the 2025 CARE Workshop and Community Fellowship!

CARE will be hosted at School for Advanced Research in Santa Fe, New Mexico from September 22 – 24.

Please review the information below for program details and eligibility.

Deadline to Apply will be 11:59 pm Wednesday July 23, 2025.

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The workshop consists of 6 days: 3 days in-person and 3 days online.

The in-person sessions will take place on September 22 – 24 and will be hosted at the School for Advanced Research in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The online sessions will be scheduled in collaboration with the fellows.

Fellow Mentors

2022 was the first year for CARE and fellows from that first cohort returned to mentor the 2023 cohort. This year, fellows from 2024 cohort will return to mentor the 2025 cohort and mentors from 2024 will return to lead sessions.

Our hope is to continue this tradition of building CARE from within the CARE community. Interested fellows from 2025 will have an opportunity to return in 2026 to lead and mentor the 2026 cohort.

Returning Fellow Mentors play a meaningful role in growing the CARE community and are provided with funding.

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Eligibility

The program is suited to participants such as:

Tribal Historic Preservation Officers

Tribal cultural department staff

Students and community members focusing on cultural heritage care

NAGPRA practitioners

Members of non-federally recognized tribes are encouraged to apply.

More here. 

Requirements

Employment Status: Full-Time | Exempt

Location: On-Site | in person

Department: Curatorial

Reporting Responsibility: Curator of Native American Art

Major Duties

•        Provide administrative support for community engagement and collaborative projects, including formatting correspondence, scheduling meetings, tracking expenses, and making travel arrangements
•         Process and maintain paper and electronic records related to the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions
•         Process and maintain paper and electronic records related to the Native American art collection and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA)
•         Organize files for the Curatorial and Collections Departments
•         Create and manage checklist information for temporary exhibitions and gallery rotations
•         Conduct research on acquisitions, permanent collection objects, and other topics as needed; present that research through reports, presentations, and papers as appropriate
•         Assist in the writing and production of gallery labels
•         Respond to internal and external research requests and public inquiries about the Museum’s Native American art collection and individual works of art
•         Assist with member and public programs related to the Native American art collection or temporary exhibitions, including giving presentations and tours
•         Assist in the development and coordination of information for marketing and communications, including print, social media, and web-based materials
•         When interfacing with the public, ensure all visitors to the Museum have a positive experience
•         Remain knowledgeable about Museum activities, services, and layout and be willing to assist any visitor
•         Adhere to policies and procedures as outlined in the Employee Handbook
•         Other duties related to your department as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

•        Associate degree or Bachelor’s degree in Native American studies, art history, or related field
•         Previous experience in an art museum or other arts or cultural institution, or demonstrated equivalent experience
•         Previous experience working with Indigenous communities
•         Exemplary oral and written communication skills
•         Strong attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines
•         Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint) and general office procedures and tools
•         Discretion in handling confidential information
•         Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues across Museum departments

Preferred Qualifications

•         Experience learning one or more Indigenous languages and/or knowledge of Indigenous language revitalization initiatives
•         Familiarity with NAGPRA legislation and guidelines
•         Familiarity with standard museum collection management system, The Museum System (TMS)
•         Experience with art handling practices

Physical Qualifications

Mobility:

•         Ability to navigate museum galleries, storage areas, and off-site locations to assess, install, and care for artwork, as well as to attend meetings and events in various museum areas

Stationary Tasks:

•         Ability to remain seated for prolonged periods when conducting research, writing, or attending meetings
•         Comfort with prolonged standing as needed for overseeing installations or leading gallery tours

Body Movements:

•         Occasional bending, reaching, and kneeling to handle or inspect artworks and collections
•         Dexterity to handle fragile and delicate objects with care

Physical Stamina:

•         Capacity to work long hours during exhibition installations or special events, including evenings and weekends

Visual & Communication:

•         Strong visual acuity required for assessing artwork condition, color, and detail

More here. 

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.