Job Information

• Location:

  New York, New York, 10023, United States

• Job ID:

  49318560

• Posted:

  July 2, 2019

• Position Title:

  Curator of Folk Art

• Company Name:

  American Folk Art Museum

• Job Function:

  Curator

• Entry Level:

  No

• Job Type:

  Full-Time

• Min Education:

  Master's Degree

The Curator of Folk Art provides leadership and intellectual oversight for the museum’s collections and exhibitions of historic and principally American folk art. The Curator of Folk Art (1) collaborates with the Director and staff to conceive and shape a distinctive and dynamic long-range exhibition program that advances the museum’s visibility and reputation, and ensures the Director’s strategic vision; (2) provides direction for collection growth through acquisitions; (3) actively cultivates relationships for gifts of funds for exhibitions and programs as well as gifts of art; and (4) contributes to the museum’s strategic planning process, helping to define objectives and programs to support its ongoing mission to promote knowledge of and appreciation for folk art.

Responsibilities:

Exhibitions

• Works with the Director and Exhibitions Committee to establish long-range plans for the exhibitions program; evaluates internal and external exhibition proposals and programs.

• Curates original exhibitions drawn from the museum’s collection and external loans; partners with guest curators; and evaluates and contracts for important traveling exhibitions.

• Develops and implements exhibition and publication budgets and schedules with appropriate staff.

• Writes and edits exhibition and publication materials that convey sophisticated ideas while also appealing to a broad range of visitors and readers; collaborates with publications and design staff on production of materials.

Collections

• Works with Director to solicit gifts of art to the collection.

• Provides direction for collection growth and evaluation through acquisitions and deaccessions, and collecting plans.

• Oversees research and interpretation of collection and cataloging.

• Reviews and recommends loan requests based upon knowledge of the collection and merit of project.

Research and Education

• Conducts original research for publications and exhibitions.

• Works with Education Department in coordinating special programs related to exhibition schedules and developing interpretive programs and materials.

Promotion/Public Service

• Meets with visitors, donors, collectors, and scholars as a representative of museum.

• Responds to queries from the public regarding collections, exhibitions, and acquisitions and programs.

• Conducts tours of exhibitions, museum, and collections to donors and potential donors, docents, scholars, etc.

• Prepares and presents lectures and general talks.

• Contributes to outside publications.

• Visits public and private collections to expand knowledge in general and to solicit donations to museum collections.

• Represents the museum and Director at appropriate professional associations and gatherings.

• Builds and maintains network of professional relationships with artists, curators, critics, and other specialists locally, nationally, and globally.

• Collaborates with development staff on fundraising, actively cultivating relationships with existing major and potential donors, foundations, and collectors.

• Coordinates with Director of Communications and Marketing to promote exhibitions and other museum initiatives.

To Apply:

Please submit cover letter and resume to jobs@folkartmuseum.org. No phone calls, please.

Equal Opportunity Employer
The American Folk Art Museum provides equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, pregnancy, alienage or citizenship status, marital status or domestic partner status, genetic information, genetic predisposition or carrier status, gender identity, HIV status, military status and any other category protected by law in all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training and apprenticeship, promotion, upgrading, demotion, downgrading, transfer, lay-off and termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment.

The American Folk Art Museum is located at 2 Lincoln Square in midtown Manhattan. The administrative office for the museum is in Long Island City, Queens.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in field of American folk art, decorative arts, and/or art history.

• Curatorial experience producing exhibitions/programs for museums.

• Demonstrated experience and success in patron and donor cultivation necessary.