Category: Museum Anthropology Blog

Decolonizing Creative Practice

Arizona State University (Tempe, Arizona) | March 13, 2024 | 6:00 pm (MST)

In-person and livestreamed

Presented by the Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies

Join the Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies for a dynamic conversation with theater practitioners Larissa FastHorse, author of the critically acclaimed The Thanksgiving Play, Michael John Garcés, award winning playwright and director, and Ty Defoe, interdisciplinary artist and Grammy winner. FastHorse, Defoe, and Garcés work together to develop creative practices that can enter Indigenous communities in a supportive and non-extractive way. They will discuss how this practice can sometimes produce a theatrical-based product, but it is the process of creating that is the focus of their work.

Larissa FastHorse (Sicangu Lakota Nation) is a 2020 MacArthur Fellow, award-winning writer/choreographer, and co-founder of Indigenous Direction, the nation’s leading consulting company for Indigenous arts and audiences. Larissa will be represented across the country in the 2023-2024 season with a revised book of the beloved Jerome Robbins Broadway musical, Peter Pan. She made her Broadway debut in the 2022-2023 season with her satirical comedy, The Thanksgiving Play making her the first known female, Native playwright to be produced on Broadway (second only to the great Lynne Riggs in the 1930s). The Thanksgiving Play has been one of the top ten most-produced plays in America for the last two seasons. She is the first Native American playwright in the history of American theater on that list.

Larissa is also one of the top twenty most-produced playwrights of last season. Additionally produced plays include For The People, The Democracy Project, What Would Crazy Horse Do?, Landless and Cow Pie Bingo, Average Family, Teaching Disco Squaredancing to Our Elders: a Class Presentation, Vanishing Point and Cherokee Family Reunion. In the Fall of 2023, Larissa is a professor of practice (literature) at Arizona State University’s Department of English.

Ty Defoe  (Giizhig) is from the Oneida and Ojibwe Nations. He is an interdisciplinary-hyphenated artist, activist, writer, cultural worker, and shape-shifter. As a two-spirit person Ty aspires to an integral approach to artistic projects, social justice, indigeneity, and environmentalism. Ty gained recognition in many circles around the world including a Grammy Award. Ty is a professor of practice (literature) at Arizona State University’s Department of English.

Ty is a co-founder of Indigenous Direction (w/ Larissa FastHorse). His writing publications can be viewed in the Pitkin Review, Woody Guthrie Anthology, The Thorny Locust Magazine, and Howl Round. He has received degrees from CalArts, Goddard College, NYU’s Tisch. A Theater Communications Group Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Fellow alumni and an artEquity facilitator. He guest appeared on Netflix show, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt as Young Anthony Black Elk and recently made his Broadway debut in Young Jean Lee’s Straight White Men (dir. by Anna Shapiro). Member of Dramatist Guild, Actor’s Equity, SDC, ASCAP, and First Nations Theater Guild. He lives in NYC and loves the color clear.

Michael John Garcés is a recipient of the Doris Duke Artist Award, the Princess Grace Statue, the Alan Schneider Director Award, TCG/New Generations Grant, and the Nonprofit Excellence Award from the Center of Nonprofit Management. He serves as Executive Vice President of the board of the Stage Directors and Choreography Society. Michael is a Professor of Practice (literature) at Arizona State University’s Department of English.  He is the former artistic director of Cornerstone Theater Company.

Plays he has written include 36 Yesses and Magic Fruit (Cornerstone); TOWN (Theatre Horizon); and south (Great Plains Theatre Commons). Directing credits include For the People by Ty Defoe and Larissa FastHorse (The Guthrie Theatre); Highland Park is Here by Mark Valdez (Cornerstone and Latino Theatre Company’s “Re:Encuentro 2021”); The Play You Want by Bernardo Cubria (The Road Theatre); Seize the King by Will Power (The Alliance); the just and the blind by Marc Bamuthi Joseph and composer Daniel Bernard Roumain (Carnegie Hall and The Kennedy Center); and a trilogy of plays in collaboration with Larissa FastHorse for Cornerstone: Urban Rez, Native Nation and Wicoun.

Livestream information

This event will be livestreamed by ASU Live. The recording will be available to watch on the ACMRS YouTube channel afterwards.

More here. 

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS) and through the Cultural Resources Diversity Internship Program, is seeking an Archeology Member to assist in the project partnership between Colonial National Historical Park and the Northeast Archeological Resources Program that uses archeology to discover and interpret evidence of the lives of Africans and African Americans enslaved at the Travis Plantation.

For more information about ACE, please visit: www.usaconservation.org.

Start Date: May 13, 2024

Estimated End Date: August 2, 2024

*a 12-week minimum commitment is required *

The Cultural Resources Diversity Internship Program (CRDIP) is a professional development internship that introduces students and recent graduates, from backgrounds historically underrepresented in the National Parks, to career opportunities within Cultural Resource Management in the NPS. CRDIP participants will have the opportunity to attend several professional development webinars as well as write blogs or create videos about their projects throughout their term. To learn more: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/tellingallamericansstories/join-us.htm

This position is classified as a DHA (Direct Hire Authority) Internship. DHA positions target exceptional, current upper-level undergraduate or graduate students that are interested in pursuing careers with the NPS. DHA positions will be rigorous internships that develop the participant’s technical and creative thinking abilities, leadership skills, and problem-solving capabilities.

DHA applicants will be involved in cultural resource management projects that generate data and/or research that must be analyzed and presented to various stakeholders at the end of the internship. After successful completion of the internship and all DHA program requirements, and after graduation from the member’s degree program, the intern will be eligible to receive DHA non-competitive hiring eligibility.

Location: Colonial National Historical Park- Yorktown, VA

On May 13, 1607, Jamestown was established as the first permanent English settlement in North America. Three cultures came together – European, Virginia Indian and African-to create a new society that would eventually seek independence from Great Britain. On October 19, 1781, American and French troops defeated the British at Yorktown in the last major battle of the American Revolutionary War.

Having a personal vehicle is not required, but highly recommended for commuting and to access groceries and other needs on days off. For more information about the park, please visit: https://www.nps.gov/colo/index.htm

Position Overview: The Archeology Member will serve as a project archeological assistant on the Travis Site Archeological Project, an ongoing archeological research effort on Jamestown Island in Colonial National Historical Park. The Civil Rights Initiative-funded project is a partnership between the Northeast Archeological Resources Program (NARP) and Colonial National Historical Park (COLO). The project, in its third of four years, uses archeology to discover and interpret evidence of the lives of Africans and African Americans enslaved at the Travis Plantation. The intense and rigorous project will hone the ACE member’s excavation and lab skills with a field session of two weeks followed by post-field laboratory work and analysis of excavation results.

The project includes an active public and community engagement component in collaboration with the park’s interpretive staff and the College of William and Mary. Through these efforts, the ACE member will be exposed to the park’s/project’s external stakeholders. In addition to a presentation for the R1 Regional Archeologist, COLO staff and leadership, and the public, they will produce a close-of-fieldwork memo detailing project methods, activities, and results.

Schedule: During the field session, schedules typically consist of nine- to ten-hour days for fourteen days. Upon completion of fieldwork, the office schedule will be Monday to Friday; 8:00 am-4:30pm.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $700/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE or NPS. A reimbursement not to exceed $1,000/month will be provided to help offset the cost of housing.

Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support. Specific training may include archeological field excavation methods and techniques, surveys and mapping with Global Navigational Satellite System (GNSS), and cataloging artifacts in the Interior Collections Management System (ICMS).

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service and 640 hours of service. If the duration of a PLC-eligible term is not long enough for Members to accrue 640 hours of service (~16 weeks), the total hours served at the completion of the term may be eligible to be combined with hours accrued from another PLC-eligible term to meet the 640 hours requirement. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general information online: https://www.usaconservation.org/epic/#eligibility-requirements.

Qualifications

Required:

• Education, experience, and/or demonstrated interest in archeology, anthropology, or a related discipline
• Understanding of archaeological method and theory as well as field excavation techniques equivalent with the completion of an archeological field school
• Ability to present work in a concise and professional manner to a wide audience
• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group
• A valid driver’s license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request), to regularly operate government vehicles.
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required two-part criminal history check
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation
• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website here

Preferred:

• Experience with GIS technologies
• Completion of an archeological field school

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, hiking, carrying, digging, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking and hearing. Manual dexterity required for use of various tools, computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment. Required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch. Ability to hike 2 miles and work in rough terrain (i.e. rugged backcountry environments, heat and humidity, ticks and tick-borne illnesses, chiggers, and snakes).
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to 40 pounds, ability to move up to 60 pounds.
• Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates. There will be safety precautions taken during each field visit to prevent and avoid potential dangers in the field. Office environment conditions; indoor air quality is good and temperature is controlled.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The ACE member(s) may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including poison ivy, biting insects, ticks, and seasonal heat and humidity. Sunscreen and insect repellant are supplied, but the member should come equipped for working in such conditions. Long pants and sturdy closed-toed shoes or boots must be worn during fieldwork. The member is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow staff/members, or cultural resources.

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the NPS. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the NPS. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the NPS, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to NPS and ACE equipment training, certification and safety protocols is required.

To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience, and contact information for three professional/academic references to the online application page for this position here: https://usaconservation.applicantpool.com/jobs/. Early consideration will be given as resumes are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact ACE EPIC NPS CRDIP Member Manager, Samira Rosario Martinez (she/they), at srosario-martinez@usaconservation.org.

EEO: American Conservation Experience provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, American Conservation Experience complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.

More here. 

This position is located within the Department of the Interior, Office of the Secretary, Indian Arts and Crafts Board (IACB) located in Rapid City, South Dakota.

At the full performance level GS-12 the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Manages the documentation, care, preservation, and use of the IACB collections, which are of significant historic, aesthetic, and monetary value.
2. Proposes and monitors collection policies and regulations regarding risk management, lending, conservation, access, storage, and compliance with applicable statutes.
3. Plans and coordinates the IACB’s exhibition activities in consultation with the museum curators and IACB Director.
4. Plans, implements, and oversees a comprehensive museum education program for the IACB’s museums.
5. Manages the security of collections, collection loan and exhibit policies, visitor admission fees, museum maintenance and utilities, and activities that enhance the visitors’ overall museum experience.
6. Supervises a staff comprised of museum curators, museum technicians and museum aids who fulfill the mission of the IACB through exhibition activities and completion of day-to-day operations in the museums.
7. Provides technical input to the Director and Administrative Officer on an annual budget covering all administrative, operational, maintenance, and program activity requirements needed for the upcoming fiscal year for the IACB’s museum program.
8. Researches and writes scholarly text about the IACB museum collections, as directed by the Director.

The Office of the Secretary has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.

Physical Demands: The work requires mental alertness, better than average manual dexterity, and mobility. Although primarily sedentary, inspections and operations evaluations involve activities demanding a certain amount of exertion such as walking, climbing, crawling, lifting of heavy objects, bending, stooping, and reaching. Incumbent must have accurate color vision because of extensive involvement with the visual arts.

NOTE: Occasional weekend work may be required.

Salary Information
GS-12:
$86,962 – $113,047 per annum

First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the lower salary range of the grade level.

This vacancy may be used to fill additional positions as vacancies become available.

This vacancy is also announced as OS-6020-24-AW-058(MP) for those applicants who wish to apply and be considered under Merit Promotion procedures.

More here. 

Position Title: Curator,Univ Museum

Employee Classification: Curator,Univ Museum

College/Division: Arts and Sciences College

Department: 331750-MUSEUM UNIVERSITY

Internal or External Search: External – Open to all applicants

Location: Las Cruces

Offsite Location (if applicable):

Target Hourly/Salary Rate:  Competitive

Appointment Full-time Equivalency:  1.0

Exempt or Non-Exempt:  Exempt

Summary:  The University Museum invites applications for a collegial and enthusiastic museum curator.

Classification Summary:
Under supervision of the Director of the University Museum, directs the development, care, maintenance, exhibition, loan, and use of University collections, overseeing compliance with state and federal law. Serves as liaison between the University, other University departments and administrative units, the NMSU Foundation, and external agencies/groups. Direct and coordinate various projects and administrative duties; supervises special project staff, students, volunteers, and visiting researchers and lecturers. Participates in the writing of grant proposals and administers resulting projects. Participates in acquisitions and the solicitation of gifts to the University Museum and facilitates their transfer, inventory, and long term curation. Participates in both short and long-term planning for the University Museum, the department, and the Museum’s articulation to and cooperation with other departments and administrative units across campus.

Classification Standard Duties:
Directs, supervises, and participates in daily collections management activities; determines and implements methods for preservation and conservation of items which may include artifacts, art, samples, and/or documentary records; manages database development for accessioning, loan, condition assessment, maintenance, and deaccessioning respective collections. Maintains security and conditions for the curation of human skeletal remains, associated artifacts, and documentary records of inventory under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. Negotiates repository agreements and deeds of gift; evaluates and receives donations and acquisitions; manages inventorying, conserving, repacking, cataloging, transporting, and storing incoming collections. Facilitates, conducts and encourages research on university collections, according to museum policy. Participates in professional meetings and presents and publishes papers; administers loan agreements and ensures adherence to established policies. Develops exhibits and supervises graduate and undergraduate research and internships in Museum Studies; serves on graduate committees; teaches courses on Museum Studies. Manages collections and working relationships with federal and other external agencies/groups including consultation, inventory, conservation, preservation, research and publication; organizes work flow to meet deadlines and ensure compliance with laws covering collections management standards and provisions. Oversees the supervision of staff, students, and volunteers to include: work allocation, training, promotion and enforcement of internal procedures, controls, and problem resolution; monitors building maintenance and security; evaluates performance and makes recommendations for personnel actions; motivates employees to achieve peak productivity and performance.

Required Education, Experience, Certification/License, Equivalency
Required Education:Master’s degree in a related field. Required Experience:Three (3) years of professional experience related to the standard duties as outlined.; Equivalency:None; Required Certification/License:

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
KNOWLEDGE:Knowledge of conservation and preservation techniques and/or procedures for museum collections. Knowledge of procurement rules and regulations. Knowledge of research principles, protocol, techniques, and standards within area of expertise. Knowledge of federal and state policies and procedures relating to collections.; SKILLS:Skill in organizing resources and establishing priorities. Strategic planning skills.; ABILITIES:Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Ability to serve on task forces and/or committees. Ability to create, compose, and edit written materials. Ability to supervise and train employees, to include organizing, prioritizing, and scheduling work assignments. Ability to negotiate and manage contractual arrangements. Ability to organize and prioritize work. Ability to develop project budgets and projections.

Job Duties and Responsibilities
Prepares budget for proposals for projects; monitors budget; plans and develops strategies for generating funds and other resources for the department, the College of Arts and Sciences, and other departments and administrative units across campus that work with the University Museum. Writes annual reports for the department, College of Arts and Sciences, the museum, and federal agencies; write repository agreements, deeds of gift, and programmatic agreements for state and federal agencies and private parties in collaboration with the NMSU Foundation. Encourages and facilitates exhibitions, programs, classes, and publications based on respective collections; may plan or assist in planning exhibits, coordinate outreach programs, and public education events. Participates in short-term and long-range planning for the museum and serves on committees. Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications

MA in Anthropology, Museum Studies, or related field; Ph.D. favored; and 3 years of professional experience.

The University Museum at New Mexico State University (NMSU) invites applications for a collegial and enthusiastic museum curator who is broadly trained to direct the development, care, maintenance, exhibition, loan, and use of collections in compliance with state and federal law. Successful applicants will supervise undergraduate and graduate student interns and volunteers and teach Museum Studies courses that foster experiential learning. Preferences given to applicants with expertise in one or more of the following areas: collections management, collections-based scholarship, preventative conservation, and exhibit development or collaborative public engagement. Scholarly and educational philosophies that are collaborative and participatory are strongly preferred. Knowledge and experience working with Native American and/or Latin American border communities is preferred. Abilities to teach foundational courses in museum studies are strongly preferred.

More here.

Due date: March 15, 2024, for priority consideration

Thank you for your interest in applying for the New Netherland Institute Graduate Fellowship for the “Documenting Untold Stories 1664-1827: Albany County NY Archives Survey” Project.

The New Netherland Institute (NNI) seeks a scholar doing graduate work in History, African American Studies, Native American and Indigenous Studies, Germanic Literature, or archives management (and allied fields) to identify, research, and provide historical context for documents that pertain to enslaved or free Blacks and/or Indigenous peoples in Anglo-Dutch households and communities in the Albany region.

With the support of an Archives Collaborations Grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) of the National Archives, The Documenting Untold Stories 1664-1827 Project is creating an inventory of documents in Albany County, New York historical societies and other repositories that pertain to enslaved, free Black, and Indigenous people in Albany County.  In a project led by professional archivist/museum staff from the Albany County Historical Association (ACHA) and the NNI, and with collaborative support from the New York State Library staff, the Graduate Fellow will conduct assist ACHA museum staff in creating a fuller inventory of texts related to these subjects in English, Dutch or other languages (as applicable) as well as select historical documents for digitization.  The outcome of this project is a digital exhibit related to Albany County history, with a special focus on African Americans and Native Americans in the Albany region.

The project includes opportunities for the Fellow to participate in special workshops and lectures, some virtual and some in-person in Albany NY. The Fellow will should be prepared to travel to and within Albany County in the summer of 2024 (specific dates will be agreed upon between the Fellow, the ACHA, and NNI).

The Graduate Fellow will work under the supervision of the director of the New Netherland Institute, Dr. Deborah Hamer, who will assist with early modern paleography (in Dutch and in English) as needed.  The Graduate Fellow will assist professional museum staff from the Albany County Historical Association (ACHA) in the project and have opportunities to learn archival and research methodologies.

• The position will run from April 2024-December 2024.
• About 300 hours of work at a rate of $21.13/hour for a total NTE $6,339.
• At least 20 days (about half of the fellowship time) during June-August will be spent in Albany County NY; dates to be mutually determined. Applicant must provide own transportation for work to and in Albany County NY.
• Digitization work will be conducted by ACHA museum staff using the ACHA’s digitization equipment.  The Graduate Fellow will receive training to assist.
• A daily per diem rate of $189/day is available for lodging, mileage, and meals for the 20 days of work in Albany County NY for a total of $3,780.
• A valid driver’s license and vehicle to drive in Albany County NY is required.
• The remainder of the work may be done remotely, or ACHA museum office space in Albany NY (provided).  Fellows will be expected to share progress through regularly scheduled meetings.
• Total fellowship compensation: $10,000.

Please fill out application below. 

• Section 1: Contact information and cover letter (1 page)
• Section 2: Contact Information for three professional references
• Section 3: Upload CV and 10-20 page writing sample (PDF format only) as separate files.

More here. 

Lecturer of Library and Information Studies – Museum Studies, Renewable Term

Location:
Norman, OK
Open Date:
Feb 16, 2024
Description:

The School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) at the University of Oklahoma (OU) invites applications for 6 full-time, Renewable Term Lecturer position (9 month academic year contract 3 month summer required) to teach in the Master of Arts in Museum Studies program. These faculty positions will begin in May 2024 (summer semester) or August 2024 (fall semester). This position is located in Norman, Oklahoma and faculty members will be expected to move to the area (this is not a remote position).

The Master of Arts in Museum Studies is delivered in an online and asynchronous format. The position is 80% teaching with a load of 8 classes per year typically on a 3 fall, 3 spring, and 2 summer schedule. The remaining 20% is service within the department and university.

Successful candidates will have a specialization in Museum Studies and the ability to teach two or more of the following specializations:

• Museum management, administration, leadership
• Museum collection acquisitions, cataloging, and management
• Technology for museum professionals
• Digital collections
• Research methods for museum professionals
• Museum communities and outreach
• Museums and social justice, cultural sensitivity, diverse communities
• Laws and legal issues related to museums
• Audience engagement and programming in museums

Faculty responsibilities include:

• Instruction at the graduate level
• Course development
• Mentoring graduate students
• Supervising student independent courses and projects
• Contributing to systematic planning and development within SLIS, including attending faculty meetings
• SLIS committee membership, other SLIS service assignments

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• • Earned Ph.D. with a focus on Museum Studies. Museum Studies is a multidisciplinary field, so applicants may come from a number of disciplines such as Library and Information Science, History, Anthropology, Geology, Fine Arts, and others.
  • Demonstrated teaching experience

More here. 

Via the New York Times, 21 February 2024

When new federal regulations took effect last month requiring museums to get consent from tribes before exhibiting certain Native cultural items, museums across the country began to remove objects from cases, cover up displays and even close entire halls.

The latest rules are meant to strengthen the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, or NAGPRA, which has been criticized for the slow pace of returns since it was passed more than three decades ago.

Under the law only certain types of items must be returned to tribes, allowing others to stay on display.

A visit to the venerable Field Museum in Chicago showed how compliance is playing out. While some displays have been concealed with paper or curtains as the museum explores whether it must return objects, others remain on view, either because they are not believed to be governed by the new rules or because tribes have given consent.

Here is a look at how the new regulations work, told through six objects.

More here. 

SIMA 2024 Call For Applications – Due March 7, 2024

The Summer Institute in Museum Anthropology (SIMA) is accepting proposals from prospective graduate student participants for the 2024 program. The program will be held at the National Museum of Natural History from June 24 – July 19, 2024.

The Summer Institute in Museum Anthropology (SIMA) is a graduate student summer training program in museum research methods offered through the Department of Anthropology at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History with major funding from the Cultural Anthropology Program of the National Science Foundation.

During four weeks of intensive training in seminars and hands-on workshops in the research collections, students are introduced to the scope of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History Anthropology collections. Students become acquainted with strategies for navigating museum systems, learn to select methods to examine and analyze archival and museum collections, and consider a range of theoretical issues that collections-based research may address. Throughout SIMA, students are also taught about the ethics of engaging with communities’ belongings in museums, and the practicalities of doing collaborative research.  In consultation with faculty, each student carries out preliminary collections research on a topic of their own choice and develops a prospectus for research to be implemented upon return to their home university. Instruction will be provided by Dr. Joshua A. Bell, Dr. Candace Greene and other Smithsonian scholars, plus a series of visiting faculty.

Who should apply?

Graduate students preparing for careers in cultural anthropology who are interested in using museum collections in their research. The program is not designed to serve students seeking careers in museum management. Students at both the masters and doctoral level will be considered for acceptance. Students in related interdisciplinary programs (Indigenous Studies, Folklore, etc.) are welcome to apply if the proposed project is anthropological in nature. All U.S. students are eligible for acceptance, even if studying abroad. International students can be considered only if they are enrolled in a university in the U.S. Members of Canadian First Nations are eligible under treaty agreements.

Costs: The program covers students’ tuition and shared housing in local furnished apartments. A stipend will be provided to assist with the cost of food and other local expenses. Participants are individually responsible for the cost of travel to and from Washington, DC.

Dates: June 24, 2024 – July 19, 2024

Application deadline – March 7, 2024

For detailed information about SIMA please visit:

https://naturalhistory.si.edu/research/anthropology/programs/summer-institute-museum-anthropology

For full application instructions visit:

https://naturalhistory.si.edu/research/anthropology/programs/summer-institute-museum-anthropology/sima-application-instructions

The Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) is a nonprofit institution that engages audiences in an ongoing dialogue, in which people of all backgrounds are able to see American history and society through a critical lens, to reflect on their own experiences, and to make meaningful connections between the past and the present, the global and the local, themselves and others. MOCA celebrates the living history of the Chinese experience in America by preserving and presenting the two century-long history, heritage, culture, and diverse experiences of American communities of Chinese descent. As one of “America’s Cultural Treasures,” MOCA is devoted to educating the public on this important history and to inspiring meaningful intercultural dialogues through exhibitions, education, and public programs. Since its founding in 1980, MOCA has evolved from a Chinatown history project in New York City into an ambitious reflection of the whole of Chinese American history, becoming the country’s leading museum of Chinese American history and a global destination.

Betty Lee Sung Research Fellowship

MOCA supports rigorous scholarship and creative approaches to exhibition-making. To further these values, MOCA is launching the Betty Lee Sung Research Fellowship, which will support an emerging scholar, post-doctoral academic, or independent curator to conduct object-based research for an upcoming exhibition.

In addition to research in MOCA’s Collections and in other libraries and archives, the fellow will be involved in planning and content development discussions with the exhibition team, consisting of scholars, artists, designers, curators and other MOCA staff. Working directly with MOCA’s curatorial team, the fellow will receive mentorship, training and guidance in the research, development, and production of a major multimedia historical exhibition.

The fellowship is named in honor of Betty Lee Sung, a pioneering scholar of Chinese and Asian American history, whose archives are housed at MOCA. The fellow will be awarded a $10,000 stipend for the six-month fellowship.

Fellowship Term:

• 6-month term, June 1 – December 31, 2024
• 24 hours per week
• Flexible schedule; at least one day per week in-person
• $10,000 stipend

Responsibilities & Duties:

• Conduct research at private and public collections, libraries, and online resources for artifacts, images, and historical details according to assigned topics
• Write research summaries on assigned topics
• Present research findings to the curatorial and content team on a weekly or bi-weekly schedule
• Participate in planning meetings to identify and prioritize research goals, and other meetings as needed to discuss exhibition content and design
• Compile, enter, and update content on project databases and spreadsheets
• Manage and maintain artifact and image checklists
• Research provenance information and assist in securing loans and permissions
• Some domestic travel possible

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Chinese American history, Asian American history, American history, art history, media studies, anthropology, or a related field, or experience in public history projects
• Master’s degree in related field preferred
• Academic and/or critical writing competency
• Availability to work on-site at MOCA at least once a week or more depending on project needs
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Collegial, with the ability to work collaboratively and independently
• Self-motivated and detail-oriented with excellent organizational skills
• Intellectually curious with outstanding critical thinking skills
• Prior experience securing image rights and permissions

• Proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and the Adobe Design Suite: Illustrator and Photoshop
• Bilingual Mandarin and/or Cantonese, written and spoken, preferred

To Apply:

Only full application including the following materials will be considered.

• Resume
• Cover Letter, addressing your interest in the fellowship and your research focus
• Two Writing Samples – maximum of 500 words (excerpts from academic papers, exhibition texts, art criticism, personal writing, etc.)

Applications will be accepted from February 14 – March 29, 2024. Candidates who advance to interviews will be contacted directly.

More here.