ACASA

Arts Council of the African Studies Association

Jobs and Internships

Department of Visual Art and Art History –

York University

The Department of Visual Arts and Art History, School of Arts, Media, Performance, and Design, York University invites highly qualified candidates to apply for a 3-year, teaching stream position in Art History and Visual Culture at the rank of Sessional Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream to commence July 1, 2021. The primary responsibilities of the successful candidate will be to teach undergraduate and graduate courses, participate in supervision of MA students, to support aspects of curriculum development and to provide creative educational leadership in enhancing teaching and learning through curricular and pedagogical innovation in the classroom and at the level of programs. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. All York University positions are subject to budgetary approval. A PhD in Art History or related field with a focus on art and visual culture (completed by the start of the appointment) is required. A broad, global, critically-engaged understanding of art history and visual culture is required as is an understanding of museum/curatorial studies. Expertise in the arts of Africa and/or the African diaspora or Indigenous arts of the Americas is highly desirable. Understanding of the field and expertise in specific areas will be demonstrated through teaching experience and through research and professional practice activities such as, but not limited to, publications, presentations, and exhibitions.

The successful candidate will demonstrate clear potential for excellence in teaching university-level courses through: the teaching statement; teaching accomplishments and pedagogical innovations including in high priority areas such as experiential education, technology enhanced learning and community-based learning; teaching evaluations; and strong letters of reference. The successful candidate will also demonstrate a strong commitment to pedagogy and student success, the capacity to bring a theoretical and practical orientation to art history teaching and learning, and demonstrate good judgment and a reflective approach to innovation in teaching. The successful candidate is also expected to provide evidence of service contributions or potential to contribute to service in administrative and committee work.

The Department of Visual Arts and Art History of York University is a leader in art history and art practice in Canada. Our programs integrate practical, historical and theoretical approaches toward understanding, creation and innovation in visual arts. We prepare critically informed artists, scholars and teachers who make new and significant contributions in Canada and internationally.

York University champions new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Through cross-disciplinary programming, innovative course design, diverse experiential learning and a supportive community environment, our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Located in Toronto, York is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni.

York University has a policy on Accommodation in Employment for Persons with Disabilities and is committed to working towards a barrier-free workplace and to expanding the accessibility of the workplace to persons with disabilities. Candidates who require accommodation during the selection process are invited to contact to Rose LeCoche, Search Committee Secretary, at vaah-search@yorku.ca.

York University is an Affirmative Action (AA) employer and strongly values diversity, including gender and sexual diversity, within its community. The AA Program, which applies to women, members of visible minorities (racialized groups), Aboriginal (Indigenous) people and persons with disabilities, can be found at http://acadjobs.info.yorku.ca/ or by calling the AA line at 416-736-5713. Applicants wishing to self-identify as part of York University’s Affirmative Action program can do so by downloading, completing and submitting the form found at: http://acadjobs.info.yorku.ca/affirmative-action/self-identification-form/.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens, permanent residents and Indigenous peoples in Canada will be given priority. Because this is a contractually-limited appointment, Temporary entry for citizens of the U.S.A. and Mexico may apply per the provisions of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) or citizens of Chile may apply per the provisions of the Canada Chile Free  Trade Agreement (CCFTA). No application will be considered without a completed mandatory Work Status Declaration form which can be found at: http://acadjobs.info.yorku.ca/affirmative-action/work-authorization-form.

The deadline for receipt of completed applications is November 9, 2020. Applicants should submit a signed letter of application outlining professional experience, an up‐to‐date curriculum vitae and a teaching dossier which supports excellence and innovation in teaching and provide the names of three referees who can address the candidate’s qualifications and experience in relation to the position. The mandatory Work Status Declaration form and the optional self-identification form should accompany the rest of the application package. Reference letters will only be requested for long-listed candidates. Referees should provide strong letters of reference and be advised to address the candidate’s qualifications and experience in relation to the position.

Complete application packages should to be sent to Rose LeCoche, Search Committee Secretary, at vaah-search@yorku.ca.

Posting End Date: November 9, 2020

Assistant Professor of African American Art and Art History, Emory University, Department of African American Studies

The Department of African American Studies at Emory University, Atlanta, GA, invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of African American Studies specializing in Art and Art History.

We are searching for an innovative junior scholar with exceptional promise. The successful candidate will concentrate on African American art and art history and/or visual culture with varied emphases on art practices, theories, historiographies, digital humanities, and/or social movements. Scholars whose work engages African diasporic, intersectional Black Feminist, and Black Queer and Black Trans Studies are especially encouraged to apply, as are those scholars whose research also engages antiblackness, the Movement for Black Lives, structural racism, state surveillance and violence, and the carceral state.

The new hire will teach two courses per semester, including departmental surveys, specialized upper-level undergraduate seminars, and eventually graduate courses as the department expands to offer a Ph.D. in 2022. The new hire will also have the ability to cross-list courses with the Art History Department and also participate in advising graduate and undergraduate students.

The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to work in a diverse city hosting a rich array of cultural institutions. Atlanta is home to the APEX Museum, the High Museum of Art, the Hammonds House Museum, and the Trevor Arnett Art Gallery at Clark-Atlanta University, and Emory University features the Michael C. Carlos Museum, the African American Collection at the Rose Library, and the Arts and Social Justice Fellows Program.

Applicants should submit a cover letter (including discussion of the candidate’s research and teaching interests); CV; a statement about the applicant’s experience mentoring students from diverse backgrounds; and three letters of reference. Application deadline: December 15, 2020. Ph.D. is required by the time of appointment. 

All materials to be submitted via https://apply.interfolio.com/79715.

Emory University is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.

Curator of Contemporary Art: National Gallery of Zimbabwe

Deadline: 12 November 2020

About

The National Gallery has set itself as a center for national culture, which may inject various influences into the mainstreams of life and change the way people appreciate art and culture in their various societies through stone, metal and wooden sculptures, paintings, drawings, print works and installations. The Gallery is responsible for circulating exhibitions throughout Zimbabwe and is a focal and distributing point for art in the country. Its core business is also to preserve, conserve, research and publish the artworks collections for the education of present and future generations of Zimbabwe. The Gallery provides education through the National Gallery Visual Arts Studios (NGVAS) and also holds educational workshops, films and lectures within the Gallery as a way of promoting and educating the public about visual arts.

The Gallery offers the corporate community and other civic organizations the opportunity to hire artworks from the Permanent Collection for decoration of their premises. These institutions can also hire space for private functions, exhibitions and shows. Interested people are welcome to use the Thomas Meikles Library to provide research and interest facilities.

Position summary

The position of Curator is a full-time job, as a member of the senior staff and, with the Executive Director and Curatorial team, provides artistic direction and coordination to the National Gallery of Zimbabwe’s programs. It requires enthusiasm and a passion for art in Zimbabwe. The NGZ Curator is responsible for the oversight of designated travelling exhibitions and for the conception, execution, quality, and scholarship of a number of internally generated exhibitions and their accompanying catalogues. NGZ Curator is expected to be an active and visible member of the National, Regional and International art community, and to participate in the overall institutional advancement of the Gallery.

Job description

The Curator is responsible for; general scholarship and research into contemporary art; for advancing the institution’s mission; for executing and developing support for its programs; meeting the goals of its strategic plan; heading and working closely with Senior Management.
Exhibitions; The Curator plays a significant role in the formulation of the overall direction of the Gallery’s artistic efforts and long-range exhibition schedule; prepares exhibition proposals 1-2 years in advance of exhibition dates for review and approval by the Director; originates three to four exhibitions of varying content each year with an accompanying scholarly catalogue; works to secure touring venues for exhibitions and oversees their implementation. Co-ordinates with the Curator of Education and Public Programs to plan exhibitions; works with the Conservation and Collections Manager, ensures that the highest level of professional care is given to works of art entrusted to the Gallery; works with the Executive Director and Exhibitions Office to track exhibition budgets and expenditures; fosters and actively participates in dialogue with colleagues, sharing professional opinions, and advancing ideas and knowledge related to contemporary art within and without the Gallery; maintains a visible role in the community including the maintenance of relationships with artists, galleries, collectors, donors, and members of the general public.
Public Information and Electronic Media; The Curator contributes to Gallery publications and communication efforts as requested; provides information regarding exhibitions and programs for website and social media content; collaborates with Communications and Marketing Department to prepare exhibition-related materials for public relations and marketing efforts; contributes to the development of communications and marketing strategies and materials to serve audiences and to enhance the Gallery’s image, identity, public and community outreach and donor prospects.
Development, Donor Relations, and Institutional Advancement; Under the supervision of the Executive Director, the Curator takes an active role in the identification of possible funding sources, and in grant preparation and reporting.
External Relations; Represents the Gallery to the public at large; attends exhibition previews and related events around Zimbabwe and internationally if possible and carries out any other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

The Curator of Contemporary Art must have: a Bachelor’s degree in Curatorship, Museum Studies, Fine Arts, or Art History; a Master’s degree in the above studies will be an added advantage; 5 years minimum prior experience in the curatorial and contemporary arts sector; Experience working in a government setting will be an added advantage; good knowledge of Zimbabwe and African contemporary art; good oral and written communication skills; self- motivation; initiative and ability to work as a team; excellent problem solving, analytical, IT and numerical abilities; A highly target driven self-starter and have proven leadership capacity and experience.

To Apply

To apply for this position please send your CV and cover letter to hr@nationalgallery.co.zw or The Executive Director; National Gallery of Zimbabwe; 20 Julius Nyerere Way; P O Box CY848 ; Causeway ; Harare; Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Simmons University: Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Art History

 The Department of Art and Music at Simmons University is relaunching our search (frozen last spring) for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Art History to begin July 1, 2021. The primary area and period of expertise is open, but should complement, rather than duplicate, existing departmental strengths in American and Latin American art. Applications from candidates who are enthusiastic about reconceptualizing introductory courses and diversifying the curriculum are particularly welcome. 

We seek an innovative educator and scholar with demonstrated excellence in undergraduate teaching, an interest in creative curriculum development, an active research agenda, and a commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration. As a university committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, we seek candidates who embody and express these values in all aspects of their courses and pedagogy. 

We are particularly interested in scholars whose work and interests focus on cross-cultural and cross-regional interactions, and whose courses will contribute to a diverse and interdisciplinary curriculum. Additionally, we seek scholars who are enthusiastic about designing courses outside of their field of specialization, as well as fostering relationships with and leveraging the city’s and region’s rich cultural community. 

Responsibilities include teaching core introductory courses, electives in areas of interest, and interdisciplinary first and second-year courses in the PLAN general education program. The assistant professor will also be responsible for advising and mentoring students, developing and maintaining a strong record of research and scholarly productivity, and service on departmental, college, and university committees as appropriate. The Department of Art and Music is committed to a robust mentoring program for the successful candidate, designed to provide consultation and support toward achieving the excellence in teaching, record of productive scholarship, and appropriate service that the university requires to award tenure. The standard course load at Simmons is three per semester (six per year). Junior faculty receive two course releases in their first year, and four additional releases before tenure review. 

Minimum qualifications include a Ph.D. in art history completed by July 1, 2021, successful teaching beyond the graduate assistantship level, and an active research agenda. At least two years of teaching experience is preferred; equivalent experience may be considered. 

We ask that previous applicants submit current materials. 

To apply, please submit: 

1. A cover letter that addresses your interest in the position and Simmons, your teaching philosophy and experience (particularly with object based teaching), and your approach to creating a diverse and inclusive curriculum and pedagogy. 

2. A curriculum vitae. Please append a list of all courses you have taught, including dates and institution names, and indicate for each whether you were the instructor of record or a teaching assistant. 

Additional materials may be requested later in the process. 

Application review begins on November 15, and will continue until the position is filled. Apply through the online portal at jobs.simmons.edu. 

Located in Boston’s historic Fenway area, Simmons University is a private, non-sectarian institution that has prepared women for leadership in the world through transformative education that links passion with purpose since 1899. Today, Simmons serves nearly 2,000 students in a women-centered undergraduate program and nearly 5,000 students in coeducational graduate programs. Simmons recently achieved university designation and completed an academic redesign establishing four interdisciplinary colleges, including the Gwen Ifill College of Media, Arts, and Humanities. 

The Department of Art and Music, housed within the Gwen Ifill College of Media, Arts, and Humanities, includes majors in art history, studio art, arts administration, and music. The Trustman Art Gallery, one of the highest quality academic venues for contemporary art in Boston, is a vibrant part of campus life at Simmons and in the wider cultural community. The collections and resources at the nearby Museum of Fine Arts and Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum offer opportunities for group study of original objects and student research. The Simmons University Art Collection also provides students with unique pre-professional opportunities for art historical research, curation, and faculty collaboration. 

Bard Graduate Center/Brooklyn Museum: Postdoctoral Fellow in the Arts of Africa

Working in partnership with, and under the direction of the Curator of African Arts, the BGC/BKM Postdoctoral Fellow will assist in all aspects of the development of the Museum’s installation of its renowned African Arts collection in a new dedicated gallery scheduled to open in 2025, with a particular focus on interpreting historical African art through a contemporary lens. The Fellow will also have the opportunity to curate dossier-style collection installations, at the Brooklyn Museum and/or at BGC, and additionally, will contribute to the planning of a 2023 State of the Field symposium on African art at Bard Graduate Center, to be held on the 100th anniversary of the Brooklyn Museum’s groundbreaking 1923 display of 1,500 works, which remains one of the largest exhibitions of African art ever mounted. The Fellow will also teach one graduate-level course each year on the Arts of Africa at Bard Graduate Center, on a topic to be determined in consultation with the Chair of the Academic Program.

Appointment to run 1 August 2021–30 June 2024

Responsibilities include:

At the Brooklyn Museum

  • Assist in the research and development of Museum’s 2025 installation: collection research and documentation, with a focus on provenance; assist in checklist development, object research and review with Conservation, preliminary layouts, and label text for new permanent gallery;
  • Curate dossier-style collection installations from the museum’s collection;
  • Assist with planning of a 2023 State of the Field symposium on African art at BGC.

At Bard Graduate Center

  • Teach one course per year on Arts of Africa; class meetings often to be held at the Brooklyn Museum;
  • Attend once monthly faculty meeting;
  • Potentially advise student Qualifying Papers.

Requirements

  • PhD in art history or a related discipline such as Africana studies, anthropology, or history, complete by 1 July 2021
  • Experience in public humanities desirable

Salary

  • $45,000
  • Housing is provided at Bard Hall, 410 W 58 Street, New York, NY
  • $1,500 travel & research funding (annually)
  • Medical insurance is provided

Reports to

  • Curator of African Art, Brooklyn Museum
  • Dean, Bard Graduate Center

To Apply

Apply here. All materials must be received by December 1, 2020. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Please direct questions to fellowships@bgc.bard.edu.

Bard Graduate Center, a division of Bard College located on West 86th Street in New York City, is a graduate research institute devoted to the study of the decorative arts, design history, and material culture, drawing on methodologies and approaches from art history, economic and cultural history, history of technology, material culture studies, philosophy, anthropology, and archaeology. Our MA and PhD degree programs, Gallery exhibitions, research initiatives, and public programs explore new ways of thinking about the cultural history of the material world. Bard Graduate Center is committed to exploring and expanding the sources, questions, practices, perspectives, practitioners and audiences of interdisciplinary humanities scholarship.

Founded in 1823 as the Brooklyn Apprentices’ Library Association, the Brooklyn Museum contains one of the nation’s most comprehensive and wide-ranging collections, enhanced by a distinguished record of exhibitions, scholarship, and service to the public. The Museum’s vast holdings span 5,000 years of human creativity from cultures in every corner of the globe. Collection highlights include the ancient Egyptian holdings, renowned for objects of the highest quality, and the American collections, which are unrivaled in their diversity, from Native American art and artifacts and Spanish colonial painting, to nineteenth- and early twentieth-century American painting, sculpture, and decorative objects. The Museum is also home to the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art, which is dedicated to the study and exhibition of feminist art and is the only curatorial center of its kind. The Brooklyn Museum is both a leading cultural institution and a community museum dedicated to serving a broad audience. Located in the heart of Brooklyn, the Museum welcomes and celebrates the diversity of its home borough and city. Few, if any, museums in the country attract an audience as varied with respect to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, educational background, and age as the audience of the Brooklyn Museum.

For more information: https://www.bgc.bard.edu/bgc-bkm-fellowship

Michigan State University: Department of Art, Art History, and Design Chairperson

Michigan State University invites applications for the position of Chair of the Department of Art, Art History, and Design (AAHD). The Chair of AAHD will provide innovative and inspiring leadership, working with faculty to advance its long-term vision for the future of the department. Candidates with a compelling record of creative activity/scholarship and teaching in or related to one or more of the fields within our department, as well as relevant administrative experience are invited to apply. 

The ideal candidate will be a visionary leader and educator with the capacity to cultivate a dynamic program, in collaboration and consultation with faculty, especially in the following areas:

  • collaborative engagement and a commitment to excellence in disciplinary and interdisciplinary studies management
  • active support for an environment that integrates diversity, inclusivity, collegiality, empathy, and transparency as part of its core identity
  • interpersonal and communication skills required to administer the department’s diverse programs
  • effective advocacy for students, faculty, and staff across all fields
  • oversight of all curricular, budgetary, programming, and personnel matters
  • enhancement of the department’s reputation and visibility in the state and nation through advocacy, fundraising, recruitment, outreach and public relations. 

Department of Art, Art History, and Design

AAHD (http://art.msu.edu) is home to more than fifty faculty and staff members in tenure-system, fixed-term, academic specialist, and technologist positions. Many faculty participate in interdisciplinary initiatives in and beyond the College of Arts and Letters, such as the Center for Integrative Studies in the Arts and Humanities, Experience Architecture, Digital Humanities, Arts and Cultural Management, Museum Studies, Film Studies, Women’s and Gender Studies, American Indian and Indigenous Studies, as well as Asian, African, African and African American, and Global Studies. Additional opportunities for programming and partnerships include the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, the MSU Museum, MATRIX, the Abrams Planetarium, the MSU Main Library, the MSU Archives, and several departments and colleges across this extensive Research 1 university. 

Serving over 500 majors, AAHD offers a wide range of degree programs, including BA or BFA in Apparel & Textile Design, Art Education, Art History & Visual Culture, Graphic Design, and Studio Art; concentrated study in Ceramics, Electronic Art & Intermedia, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, and Sculpture; Minor in Art History & Visual Culture, Comic Art & Graphic Novels, Graphic Design, and Photography; and an innovatively re-envisioned MFA in Studio Art. Programs linked to AAHD include Arts & Cultural Management, Museum Studies, and Experience Architecture. An active visiting artist and scholar lecture series brings a group of internationally renowned artists, designers, critics, and scholars to campus each year, accompanied by the Bridge program (http://bridge.art.msu.edu) and the Critical Race Studies Artist/Designer in Residence.

MSU leads the nation in study abroad and study away participation among public universities. AAHD faculty direct programs in Austria, China, France, Greece, Italy, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, as well as in New York and Chicago. 

Michigan State University The nation’s pioneer land-grant university, and a member of the Association of American Universities, MSU is a research-intensive institution with seventeen degree granting colleges. MSU is currently embarking on a coordinated Arts Strategy initiative, which will position the arts at the center of the University’s mission. Hosting a student population of more than 50,000, including nearly 11,300 graduate and professional students from all 50 states and from more than 130 countries, the MSU community is multicultural and multinational. The campus is located in East Lansing, a cosmopolitan university town adjacent to Lansing (the state capital), and is 80 miles from Detroit and 210 miles from Chicago. 

Appointment & Qualifications

This is a 12-month position with an initial 5-year appointment commencing July 15, 2021. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. Candidates must have credentials appropriate for a tenured appointment at the rank of full professor. Candidates must also have a terminal degree in an appropriate field of art, art history, or design, and significant administrative experience—preferably, as Associate Chairperson, Chairperson, Director, Associate Dean, Dean, or equivalent. The Chair of AAHD reports to the Dean of the College of Arts and Letters.

Application Procedures

Review of applications will begin November 2, 2020 and continue until the position fills. All applications for this position must be submitted electronically at the Michigan State University Human Resources website: http://careers.msu.edu (posting #674810). Qualified applicants should submit: 

1.     A letter expressing interest in the position and describing qualifications and experience; 

2.     A current curriculum vitae;

3.     Evidence of creative and/or scholarly work;

4.     A document summarizing experience with diversity in the classroom and/or past research and administrative endeavors, any experience mentoring diverse students or community outreach initiatives, and an explanation of how you will advance our goals of inclusive excellence (http://inclusion.msu.edu);

5.     Email addresses of 4 potential referees who can comment on administrative ability and quality of creative activity/scholarship/teaching. Referees must be of equal or higher rank.

For more information, contact the Chair of the Search Committee, Prof. Kelly Salchow MacArthur, at salchow@msu.edu. 

Persons with disabilities have the right to request and receive reasonable accommodation.

MSU is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer. MSU is committed to achieving excellence through cultural diversity. The university actively encourages applications and/or nominations of women, persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, veterans and persons with disabilities.

The College of Arts & Letters promotes an academic and organizational culture which actively seeks out and strengthens diverse voices and perspectives among its members in order to achieve true excellence. The College of Arts & Letters is interested in candidates of all backgrounds who are committed to the principle that intellectual leadership is achieved through open access and pro-active inclusion.

The Department has a strong institutional commitment to diversity in all areas and encourages candidates from underrepresented groups. We favor candidates who can contribute to the College of Arts & Letters’ distinctive educational objectives, which promote disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives, intercultural understanding, and values diversity and inclusion as essential to achieving excellence.

Professor of Contemporary Art with a Focus on the Global South – Academy of Media Arts Cologne

The Department of Art at the KHM is offering the following full-time position, from the winter term 2021/22 on: Professor (m/f/d) of Contemporary Art with a Focus on the Global South (W3 salary scale) The position is limited to 5 years.

We are seeking an artist who reflects upon the cultural and socio-political conditions of the Global South.

Global South has become an established designation that is used independently from its geographical meaning. The term denotes economic, political and cultural regions. It refers to the tangled histories of colonialism and a contemporary neo-imperialism, which exacerbate geopolitical power relations and the concomitant inequalities.

The candidate should have distinguished him/herself in relation to this field through explorative and conceptually proven forms of artistic praxis. The decisive criterion for the appointment is an outstanding artistic practice. Academic qualifications are desirable but not obligatory.

A major focus of the position is the continuous support of student projects. Pedagogical aptitude and experience, as well as empathy and social competence are expected. In case of the need for improved proficiency in German, the KHM will cover the tuition fees for language courses to enable active participation in the self-administration of the university, in particular participation in committees and the further development of the curriculum. The successful candidate is expected to have his/her main residence in the area of Cologne.

The KHM is an equal-opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. We prioritise the diversity of our lecturers, students and staff and guarantee equal opportunities, equal treatment and free access without discrimination on the basis of ethnic origin, language, religion or belief, gender, age, sexual identity or disability.

The KHM strives to raise its female quota in research and teaching positions. Applications by women will be given priority if qualifications and professional expertise are equivalent to those of male applicants. Applications by disabled persons and those with equal status according to § 2 SGB IX (German Code of Social Law) are encouraged to apply.

Please send detailed applications with the relevant documents, and a sketch of possible courses via e-mail by October 30, 2020 to:

Rector of the Academy of Media Arts Cologne E-mail: bewerbung@khm.de
Website: www.khm.de

We ask you not to send large amounts of data as e-mail attachments (max. 6 MB); instead, please include download and viewing links valid for at least 6 months.

For further information, please contact Mr. Thomas Hauch (Human Resources Department), hauch@khm.de.

Curator, African Art – Brooklyn Museum

We seek an exceptional communicator and scholar to oversee our curatorial program in the Arts of Africa. The successful candidate will be an engaged curator/scholar with a commitment to our mission and have a proven ability to conceptualize original, canon-expanding, and timely collection and loan exhibitions.

The Curator, African Art plays a key leadership role on our curatorial team and serves as an institutional ambassador, actively engaging with collectors and patrons, professional colleagues, partner institutions, and communities in Africa and in Brooklyn. This is an exceptional and timely opportunity: we are currently in the planning stages to establish a new, permanent gallery dedicated to our renowned collection of African artworks, and have already raised significant support for this project.

The Brooklyn Museum has one of the largest collections of African art in the United States, numbering over 5,000 objects and works of art. The collection focuses primarily on historic works from Western and Central Africa, with additions from Southern and Eastern Africa, and includes some contemporary art from across the continent. The Museum’s groundbreaking 1923 display of 1,500 works remains one of the largest exhibition of African art ever mounted. The collection offers many opportunities for scholarship, reinterpretation, and innovative display.

Requirements:

  • Advanced degree in art history or a related discipline such as Africana studies, anthropology, or history, with a strong knowledge of historical material; Ph.D. or commensurate experience preferred
  • At least five years of experience at a museum, arts non-profit, or other cultural organization, as well as a record of publication
  • Excellent writing and compelling presentation skills
  • Collaborative leadership skills, with the ability to work effectively with the entire Museum team    
  • Strategic thinking and vision to bring our collections alive and excite others in the process, including Board members, donors, and press
  • Deep commitment to engage a wide and diverse audience in innovative and exciting ways

Responsibilities:

  • Assess and rethink our extensive holdings of African art to organize an innovative reinstallation of the entire collection for a new gallery space
  • Research and interpret the collection and participate in cross-departmental exhibitions, installations, and publications, in collaboration with the full curatorial team
  • Conceptualize and produce innovative, canon-expanding exhibitions, both for exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum and for travel to other venues
  • Work with the Shelby White and Leon Levy Director and the Deputy Director/Chief Development Officer to raise support for the new galleries and attract major transformational gifts to build the collection
  • Collaborate with our social media team to promote new acquisitions and collection-related activities and initiatives, to increase media attention and audience engagement
  • Lead scholarly research and writing on the history and interpretation of objects and further research, update, and expand the collection database for online use
  • Advocate for public and educational programming to increase visibility of the Arts of Africa collection and generate public interest
  • Respond to collection inquiries and loan requests as needed
  • Work with the Conservation team to address and remedy specific preservation issues

Start date: Immediately

Department: Arts of Ancient Egypt, Africa, and Asia

Reports to: Director of Collections and Curatorial Affairs

Position type: Full-time

Union status: Non-union

FLSA status: Exempt

Schedule: 35 hours per week, Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm

To Apply: https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/about/careers/curator_african_art

Art History/ Arts of Africa/ Adjunct Faculty Position – Carthage College

The Carthage College Art Department is currently accepting applications for an Adjunct Art Professor to teach Arts of Africa with opportunities in future semesters to teach additional art history courses. The position is for the Fall 2020 semester and begins September 2 and ends December 9. The available course has 21 students enrolled and meets Tuesday/Thursday from 04:10-05:50PM.

Courses in Fall 2020 will be taught using a hybrid of virtual and in-person teaching. Social distancing and masks will be mandatory in all classes.

The position is part-time and pays $4000 per course. All hired applicants are subject to background check.

Interested applicants, please forward letter and CV to kgreene@carthage.edu. Review of applications and interviews will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

Carthage College is located between Chicago and Milwaukee next to Lake Michigan.