Category: Museum Anthropology Blog

Dear CMA colleagues and friends,

We are thrilled to share with you that the Council for Museum Anthropology will launch the annual Ivan Karp Workshops in Museum Anthropology, thanks to a generous tribute gift by CMA member, former CMA Board member, and former AAA Executive Board member Dr. Corinne A. Kratz.

The Ivan Karp Workshops will focus on changing themes and issues relating to research, practice, and methods in museum anthropology; particular aspects of and current questions and issues related to museum and heritage work; and the theories, histories, and systems of thought that shape and illuminate museum anthropology and public scholarship generally. This very generous gift provides practical training for museum practice, methods, and mentoring.

The first workshop will occur during the 2022 AAA’s Annual Meeting on Wednesday, November 9 in Seattle, WA. Created in partnership with the Wing Luke Museum, the inaugural workshop will explore their highly-lauded community-based exhibition model and the ways in which they support their communities. Limited to 16 participants, details regarding registration will be forthcoming.

Please join us in celebrating this tremendous opportunity!

Council for Museum Anthropology Board

The Museum of Modern Art is currently accepting applications for a Program Coordinator. In collaboration with the Director of Special Events and Affiliate Programs and the Council’s Leadership, the Program Coordinator is responsible for the administration, event planning, revenue and membership growth of the Black Arts Council, a key donor group at MoMA.

Responsibilities

• Manages overall program administration and serves as the primary staff liaison for The Black Arts Council (BAC), a dues-paying group of approximately 140 members with a mission to foster a greater appreciation for art and artists of the African diaspora and to amplify Black perspectives through the Museum’s program and initiatives.
• Expands the volume, breadth, and depth of new members to the BAC. Oversees and markets BAC membership through active recruitment and retention efforts. Processes membership applications and renewals, and maintains membership database, confidential donor files, and departmental records.
• Drafts and manages the communications strategy for the group, including invitation mailings, weekly newsletters, annual giving renewals, letters of thanks/acknowledgements of gifts and benefit fulfillment.
• Works directly with the BAC Co-Chairs and Executive Committee to plan fundraising strategies, set revenue goals, meeting agendas, and ensures that the robust annual calendar of activities (20+ exclusive events per year) serve the mission and the financial goals of the Council.
• Independently creates, produces, and hosts all BAC events throughout the year; oversees all details including invitations, production, catering, security, and budgets.
• Responsible for fundraising strategy and goals for annual Black Arts Council benefit. Works with the Department of Special Events to coordinate all aspects of the event, including securing honorees, co-chairs and performers.
• Assists in the continued growth and management of the Black Arts Council Endowments, which provide crucial support to the Museums exhibitions, education programs and acquisitions by Black artists.
• Develops and oversees BAC annual budget. Processes invoices and tracks expenses. Ensures that funds received are directed to the appropriate Museum accounts.
• Serves as liaison between BAC members and the Museum staff, including the curatorial teams and the Departments of Membership, Development, and Special Events, among others.
• Provides outreach support to Human Resources in the selection process of the 12-month Black Arts Council diversity intern funded by the BAC.
• Performs any other duties reasonably related to the functions described above.

Via The Washington Post, August 27, 2022

The NAGPRA Repatriation Team will report to the Chancellor’s Designee, the Assistant Chancellor, Government and Community Relations in the Office of the Chancellor.

The Government and Community Relations (GCR) office builds relationships with community leaders, elected officials, government agencies and third party advocates to further the mission of UC Berkeley in the public sector. The issues of primary focus for the GCR team include student financial aid, admissions, scientific research and other policies at the forefront of higher education and government. GCR also coordinates the University’s response to a wide range of political and policy issues, and advises administrators and faculty on strategies to gain constructive dialogue with government and community leaders.

• Serve as the campus’s designated authority under the University of California Policy and Procedures on Curation and Repatriation of Human Remains and Cultural Items and serve as the primary point of contact for all NAGPRA inquiries seeking information about Native American remains and objects falling under NAGPRA regulations.
• Develop and implement a robust outreach program to proactively engage Native American communities in NAGPRA consultations, per UCOP policy.
• Develop tribal relationships that acknowledge and respect a Tribe’s sovereignty, cultural protocols, and cultural and religious practices and knowledge.
• Represent UC Berkeley as lead NAGPRA staff at regular meetings with tribal government officials and representatives to coordinate NAGPRA compliance, address tribal concerns, and when possible, negotiate culturally sensitive resolutions.
• Coordinate with Federal Agencies regarding collections curated by the UC Berkeley Phoebe Apperson Hearst Museum of Anthropology to promote proactive compliance with NAGPRA.
• Make recommendations to the UC Berkeley NAGPRA Advisory Committee on compliance with applicable law and UC NAGPRA policy.
• Develop UC Berkeley NAGPRA Policies in consultation with relevant staff, faculty, and offcampus tribal representatives.
• Oversee UC Berkeley NAGPRA compliance: coordinate closely with the Phoebe Apperson Hearst Museum of Anthropology and the Office of the President; oversee repatriations of culturally affiliated remains and NAGPRA-related objects; oversee disposition of culturally unidentifiable remains; maintain records of outreach, notification and consultation; track responses and prepare status report; Develop documents to facilitate consultations; and submit and update federal reports and Notices.
• Manage administrative aspects of NAGPRA Program including developing the repatriation implementation plan, supervising and managing staff, and developing and overseeing project budget. Provide supervision and direction to NAGPRA project staff. Determine, delegate and supervise work to achieve goals and objectives. Oversee processes and outcomes to ensure quality standards are met. Oversee unit resources: coordinate staffing, assignments, and leave requests; interview, select, train, and evaluate staff. Provide performance management, engagement, and mentoring. In consultation with management, determine the need for corrective action or complaint resolution. Provide development opportunities.
• Develop and maintain a UC Berkeley NAGPRA website. Identify and apply for grants to support the NAGPRA project. Deliver professional and public presentations on the UC Berkeley NAGPRA compliance program. Serve as primary resource and campus expert for campus staff and Faculty regarding tribal relations.

The New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs is seeking an Executive Director for the Museum of International Folk Art. This position is open until filled.  Review of applications will begin on October 1^st. 2022.

Please send the following for consideration in PDF format to Executive.search@state.nm.us

• A one- or two-page letter of intent.
• A resumé including 5 references with contact information.

The Museum of International Folk Art (MOIFA) seeks an exceptional individual to fill the position of Executive Director. MOIFA is a unique institution dedicated to shaping a humane world by connecting people through creative expression and artistic tradition. It is a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA), which relies upon its guiding principles to inform every aspect of its work. The museum is committed to being a good steward of the collection and sharing its cultural resources with the local community, the people of New Mexico, and a worldwide audience. MOIFA is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.

The Executive Director is an appointee of the DCA Cabinet Secretary, with the consent of the Governor of New Mexico. The position requires a seasoned administrator with a record of successful leadership of a multifaceted museum organization, oversight of professional staff, and an ability to successfully collaborate with the other DCA divisions, Museum of New Mexico Board of Regents,  International Folk Art Foundation, and Museum of New Mexico Foundation, including Friends of Folk Art. The director supervises a dedicated staff of curators, educators, and other museum professionals who are responsible for the preservation, protection, and presentation of the museum’s collection. The director supervises a staff of 28 and oversees a facility that includes the museum, library, auditorium, and outdoor event spaces. Additionally, the director oversees a robust volunteer program, docents, and a group of dedicated research associates. The museum’s annual operating budget is approximately $2.37 million. The specific powers and duties of the position are set forth in New Mexico statute. Salary is $94,000 a year, with an attractive benefits package.

The CMA Student Travel Awards are designed to support graduate student travel to the annual AAA meeting to present papers and/or posters. Students and recent graduate degree recipients (those who have defended within the year of the award) are eligible to apply. Each year, CMA will award two prizes of $1000 each.

Application packets (maximum 5 pages) must include: a brief letter indicating the applicant’s student status and explaining how this project reflects the student’s graduate work; a copy of the abstract for the proposed paper or poster (and for the session in which they will be presenting, if known); and a letter of endorsement from an academic advisor at the student’s most recent institution of study.

Evaluation Criteria: 1) Creativity: Is the paper or poster a unique and novel contribution to museum anthropology? 2) Commitment: Does the student demonstrate a commitment to the field of museum anthropology 3) Impact: Does the paper or poster have the potential to develop into a work that could more broadly impact the field of museum anthropology?

Student Travel Award recipients will be presented with a check for $1000 and a certificate of the award.

To submit to 2022 Student Travel Award competition, email the application to: council.museumanth@gmail.com

The Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) and its Renwick Gallery invite applications to its premier fellowship program, the oldest and largest in American art. Scholars from any discipline who are researching the art, craft, and visual culture of the United States are encouraged to apply. Fellowships are residential and support full-time research in the Smithsonian collections. SAAM seeks a diverse pool of applicants and especially welcomes candidates with an understanding of the experiences of groups historically underrepresented in the field of American art.

The museum hosts a number of fellows each year through the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (SIFP), and also awards its own named fellowships to candidates from this general pool. All candidates should apply to the SIFP. The deadline is November 1, 2022.

More here.

The Association of Black Anthropologists and the Council for the Museum Anthropology are pleased to offer this online conversation on Black museum anthropology, hosted by Dr. Deborah Johnson-Simon, Chief Executive Officer of the African Diaspora Museology Institute. Registration and an event flyer will be released soon.

This event is free and open to the public. AAA membership is not required.
Register here: https://bit.ly/3bup2WY

Via The Guardian, August 12, 2022

The Getty Museum in Los Angeles is returning a group of lifesize terracotta statues, dating back to between 350 and 300BC, and four other objects to Rome after an investigation concluded the relics had been stolen and smuggled out of Italy.

The three statues, known as Orpheus and the Sirens, have been removed from display at the museum and are being prepared for transport back to Rome in September.

The set of statues, which depict a seated man and two mythical sirens, was bought by John Paul Getty from a now defunct private bank in Switzerland in 1976.

They are believed to have originated from the Taranto area in the southern Italian region of Puglia, and since 2006 have been on a list of stolen artefacts that Italy has been seeking to reclaim possession of.

More here.