Pay Range: $54,760 – $87,616 AnnuallyThe Museum of International Folk Art (MOIFA) shapes a humane world by connecting people through creative expression and artistic traditions. The museum’s holdings represent diverse cultures and constitute the largest international folk art collection in the world. The core collection donated by museum founder Florence Dibell Bartlett and representing 34 countries has grown to a collection of over 160,000 objects from more than 100 countries. MOIFA offers dynamic exhibitions, programs, and publications that appeal to diverse learning styles and audiences, touch the heart, engage the mind, and inspire action. We create accessible exhibitions, programming, and resources that serve the global community, including multiple perspectives that encourage further exploration of wide-ranging subjects.
Why does the job exist?The Curator of Latin American and New Mexican Heritage Folk Art works with, represents, and develops the museum’s Latin American, New Mexican Hispano, and Spanish heritage collections; develops high-quality exhibitions, collaborative programming, and online content; conducts exhibition-related research; and contributes to community engagement and statewide outreach. The Curator of Latin American and New Mexican Heritage Folk Art works to connect the museum with a broad range of constituents including collaborators, artists, supporters, and community partners including local, national, and international audiences through exhibitions, relationship building, programming, and outreach. As a member of a curatorial team of regional and content area specialists, this position will report to MOIFA’s Director of Curatorial Affairs.The Curator will work to mobilize the Museum’s extensive Latin American, New Mexican Hispano, and Spanish heritage folk art collections, including developing statewide outlets to highlight this important collection through changing exhibits, traveling, and pop-up exhibits. This position will also aid in proactive and strategic programming of MOIFA’s Hispanic Heritage Wing gallery, including developing a plan for community-driven exhibits and related programs.
How does it get done?Exhibitions: Responsible for developing public exhibitions, online content, and related programming at the Museum of International Folk Art (MOIFA) based on collections, content expertise, research, as well as ensuring their public accessibility and a community-centered approach.Collections: Responsible for researching, vetting, and proposing new acquisitions, interpreting collections items, evaluating loan requests, and, in collaboration with the collections management team, care of collections to ensure their preservation and sustainable growth in accordance with MOIFA collecting policy and overall MOIFA strategic goals.
Education & Programming: In conjunction with education and program/outreach team, responsible for developing and planning public programs and exhibition interactives; providing resources and
educational training for museum colleagues and docents; preparing and presenting lectures relating to the curator’s exhibitions and/or area of specialization.Administration: Participate in MOIFA administrative activities and teamwork, including attendance at museum staff meetings, collections committee meetings, curator meetings, and other committees as requested by the Director of Curatorial Affairs and the Executive Director. Write and oversee project-based contracts and grant proposals. Develop and maintain program-based budget for collections, exhibitions, and related projects. Assist with museum public relations, marketing, traveling exhibit coordination, social media, and resource development efforts relating to the curator’s exhibitions and/or area of specialization.
Who are the customers?Museum visitors, museum staff, members and friends, citizens of the state of New Mexico, with particular attention to underserved communities within our state, to help them connect with folk art traditions including their own, as well as our national and international community of artists and community collaborators.Ideal CandidateMasters Degree/Doctoral Degree in Museum Studies, Art History, Anthropology, Latin American Studies, Anthropology, Curatorial Studies, History, Humanities, Interdisciplinary Studies, Liberal Arts, Folklore, Public History or related fields. Expertise in Latin American and New Mexican Heritage folk art. Proficiency in Spanish.Five to Seven years of curatorial museum experience with an established track record of exhibition project development, management, and implementation. Experience in exhibit development, collections management, curation, creative writing and writing for general and specialized audiences, conducting original research in specialty area of museum. Experience in fundraising and grant writing, cultivating relationships with donors and supporters, working with artists and community partners.
Knowledge of contemporary issues and opportunities in the museum field, repatriation, ethics, and provenance, as well as in the curatorial area of focus (Latin America/ New Mexico Heritage folk art). Creative and collaborative approach in working with colleagues, partners, and collaborators.
Bilingual English and Spanish skills a plus for community engagement, relationship building, and partnerships with organizations and institutions statewide.
Apply through the NM State Personnel Office website (job posting #4515):
