Curator of the Indigenous Arts of the Americas

Job title:

Curator of the Indigenous Arts of the Americas

Company

Emory University

Job description

Description

The Curator of the Indigenous Arts of the Americas reports to the Museum Director, serves on a team of highly skilled collections, education, and administrative staff, and provides leadership for cross-departmental collaboration within the museum, across Emory’s campuses, and across institutions in Atlanta. The Curator works in support of the Museum’s mission to provide innovative public programming, and critical engagement with objects, their makers, and the cultures they represent. The Curator will develop and present exhibitions, make acquisitions, steward donors, research, document, and publish the collections, develop didactic materials and programming, work with faculty and students, and establish and maintain strong community and institutional relationships across campus, in Atlanta, and throughout the South. The Curator also has the opportunity to teach university courses centered on the collections.

Indigenous Arts of the Americas Collection:

The museum’s collection of Indigenous Art of the Americas consists of more than 4,000 ancient and contemporary pieces from North, Central, and South America, spanning 4,000 years. For the cultures of ancient America, the museum’s holdings cover three major cultural centers, Mesoamerica, Lower Central America, and the Andes, and include a range of media such as textiles, ceramics, wooden sculptures, and metalwork. The Carlos Museum also is the current steward of ancient items found in Georgia, including pieces excavated from the Etowah Indian Mounds, an important cultural center that flourished during the Mississippian period and is affiliated with the Muscogee people, on whose land Emory’s Atlanta and Oxford campuses are built, and has been working with the Muscogee Nation regarding these items. The collection also includes 19th- and 20th-century textiles from Bolivia, Guatemala, and Panamá, and items from Native American and First Nations from the United States, from the 19th century to the present.

The Indigenous Art of the Americas collection has changed significantly over the course of the last century. In the late 1920s, Emory’s Margaret Ashley-Towle excavated at the Etowah Indian Mounds under the direction of Warren K. Moorehead of Phillips Academy, Andover, MA, and subsequently transferred some of the excavated materials to the Carlos Museum. Also in the early 20th century, the museum received gifts of Native American artifacts from the collections of W. H. Ferguson (Fulton County, GA), W. E. Hightower (Montgomery County, GA), and Reverend R. B. Ross (Sumpter County, GA), although the exact provenience of those pieces, primarily lithics, is unknown. Between 1988 and 1991, the collection was expanded with the acquisition of more than 1,300 works of ancient Central and South American art from Carol and William C. Thibadeau. Subsequent gifts from Cora W. and Laurence C. Witten, Virginia C. and Clay W. Aldridge, and the Alan Grinnell Ars Ceramica Collection added to the formation of the museum’s significant collection of art of the ancient Americas. More recent gifts include 19th- and 20th-century Maya textiles from the Bright Collection of Guatemalan Textiles; 19th- and 20th-century Native American art from the Philip Gainey estate; and late 20th- and early 21st-century pottery in the Puebloan tradition donated by Drs. Walter S. Melion and John M. Clum. Following the DEI, social justice, and climate change concerns of the new strategic plan, the museum has an interest in building its collection of more recent artworks by Native American and Indigenous artists from across the Americas.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

• Under the general supervision of the Director, has overall responsibility for designated areas of the museum’s permanent collections.
• Develops and presents exhibitions relating to designated areas of the collections.
• Documents, builds, and maintains collections.
• Establishes and maintains community and institutional relationships.
• Identifies relevant objects in other public and private collections.
• Initiates and maintains relationships to facilitate the loan of such objects.
• Collaborates with the Registrar to organize loans.
• Develops and maintains relationships with dealers and potential donors.
• Manages the scholarly documentation of designated areas of the collection.
• Develops exhibits as part of a team.
• Collaborates with the Director of Development to identify and pursue funding for exhibitions and acquisitions.
• Identifies potential exhibition subjects and selects relevant objects.
• May teach university courses in the art history department.
• Maintains a relationship with other university departments to enhance the academic role of the museum.
• Collaborates with university faculty and outside experts in the development of projects.
• Develops and implements curatorial policies and procedures consistent with those of the museum.
• Maintains professional development by participating in educational programs and professional organizations and by networking with other curatorial professionals.
• Organizes and presents public lectures, seminars, and tours as part of educational programming.
• Conducts research to develop the academic content of exhibitions and collections.
• Seeks to develop institutional relationships to promote research.
• May supervise students, interns, staff, and volunteers.
• Demonstrated ability to write text of book-length publications and label text for exhibitions and permanent installations.
• Writes label text for exhibitions and permanent installations.
• Serves as editor for anthologies.
• Performs related responsibilities as required.

Provide knowledge for shaping, caring for, and activating the collections for which they are responsible

Develop innovative, dynamic and collaborative curation strategies for the permanent collections

Work closely with Native American Nations and other Indigenous groups to build and share knowledge about the collections, create opportunities for greater inclusivity, access, and representation, and identify areas of community interest, value, and involvement; increased collaboration with the Muscogee Nation is a priority

Develop projects for monitoring, treating, and documenting items in the collection in close working partnership with the conservation department and Tribal representatives

Identify and coordinate research projects that will create new knowledge about the objects in their collections

Identify and research objects for acquisition, with a focus on contemporary Native American and Indigenous art

Research the collecting and provenance histories of individual objects in concert with the work of the museum’s provenance researcher

Work closely with Native American Nations on topics related to NAGPRA

Participate in the development of exhibition concepts, both within their areas of speciality and in support of others

Develop exhibitions that support the overall mission of the museum, including engaging with contemporary Indigenous art

Collaborate with Indigenous and Native American communities, especially the Muscogee Nation, Emory faculty and students, and other community groups in Atlanta in the development of exhibitions and other programming

Develop strategies for engaging new and existing audiences, including artists and activists

Research, write, and publish within the Curator’s specialist field

Collaborate in the development of public programs

Deliver and organize talks, lectures, symposia, workshops, and panel discussions

Work in support of the museum’s artist residency program, building relationships with contemporary artists, thinkers and social justice advocates

Teach and support research within the university at Emory’s Atlanta and Oxford campuses

Work with faculty across departments to facilitate research, object-based teaching, and collections-based projects (including exhibitions)

Supervise students, interns, and volunteers to provide them with experience in museum practices, and support their studies or their professional interests

Serve on Museum-Faculty Advisory Boards

Act as an advocate for the museum’s role in society

Develop and/or participate in initiatives that expand the museum’s audience

Participate in national and international forums within the museum field and in their respective field of research

Advocate, practice, and speak for ethical collecting

Advocate for the participatory museum

Support the museum’s artist residency program by developing relationships with contemporary artists, activists, and advocates

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• A graduate degree in Art History, Anthropology, Archaeology or a related discipline/field relevant to area of specialization.
• Three years of museum curatorial, collections management, exhibition design experience, including a record of successful exhibition projects and publications.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• hold a graduate degree (Ph.D. preferred) in Art History, Anthropology, Archaeology or a related discipline
• have a record of research focused on one or more of the Indigenous cultures of North, Central, and South America, in any time period.
• have at least two years of curatorial experience, including a record of successful exhibition projects and publications
• have experience collaborating on multidisciplinary projects in a university setting
• demonstrate a vision for engaging with diverse communities at Emory and across Atlanta

NOTE: Position tasks are generally required to be performed in-person at an Emory University location. Remote work from home day options may be granted at department discretion. Emory reserves the right to change remote work status with notice to employee.

#LI-VJ1

Emory Supports a Diverse and Inclusive Culture

Emory University is dedicated to providing equal opportunities and equal access to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, genetic information, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and veteran’s status. Emory University does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment on the basis of any factor stated above or prohibited under applicable law. Students, faculty, and staff are assured of participation in University programs and in the use of facilities without such discrimination. Emory University complies with Executive Order 11246, as amended, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veteran’s Readjustment Assistance Act, and applicable executive orders, federal and state regulations regarding nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action. Emory University is committed to achieving a diverse workforce through application of its affirmative action, equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policy in all aspects of employment including recruitment, hiring, promotions, transfers, discipline, terminations, wage and salary administration, benefits, and training. Inquiries regarding this policy should be directed to the Emory University Department of Equity and Inclusion, 201 Dowman Drive, Administration Building, Atlanta, GA 30322.

Emory University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request a reasonable accommodation, please contact the Department of Accessibility Services at 404-727-9877 (V) | 404-712-2049 (TDD). Please note that one week advance notice is preferred.

Expected salary

Location

Atlanta, GA

Job date

Sat, 27 Jan 2024 02:02:06 GMT

To help us track our recruitment effort, please indicate in your email/cover letter where (un-jobs.net) you saw this job posting.