CURATOR

Under the direction of the Executive Director, the Curator is responsible for research, development, and presentation of exhibitions at the Chinese American Museum. The immediate responsibility is to oversee, develop, design, and implement both permanent exhibitions and temporary exhibitions that focus on Chinese American community, culture, and history. The Curator also functions as the lead researcher and the content specialist of the organization. The position is required to assist in fundraising for the exhibitions with the Executive Director and/or Development staff by providing support for the museum’s annual fundraisers, exhibit fundraising efforts, and particularly through grant research, writing and reporting. The Curator reports directly to the Executive Director and manages any staff in the curatorial department as well as consultants, interns, and volunteers working directly on exhibition related activities.

Duties & Responsibilities

Curatorial

• Develop, maintain, adjust, and implement the museum’s 5-year exhibition timeline
• Conduct research for exhibitions, curatorial projects, and publications related to the museum’s permanent and temporary exhibition materials
• Curate, interpret, and design the museum’s permanent and temporary exhibitions
• Manage and schedule the production, fabrication and installation of permanent and temporary exhibitions
• Draft texts pertaining to objects and/or exhibitions to be edited and purposed by various departments of the museum of interpretive materials, publications, marketing/publicity materials, newsletters, press releases, educational materials, etc.
• Collaborate with staff from various departments in the creation of materials, including, but not limited to:
  1. Education for interpretive materials
  2. Marketing for publicity materials
  3. Development for fundraising
  4. Programs for a variety of events to attract different audiences
• Manage any consultants, interns, or volunteers working directly with the Curator
• Work collaboratively with the exhibition team, Friends of the Chinese American Museum Board of Directors, and other staff members to ensure museum mission, goals, objectives, and deadlines are met
• Assists in grant development and writing for the exhibition proposals
• Assists in completing grant reporting obligations
• Manage the negotiation for traveling exhibitions
• Create and monitor related budgets in support of the Executive Director

Collections

• Work with the Collections Manager on the maintenance of the permanent and temporary exhibition galleries
• Review accession, deaccession, and offered gifts with the Collections Manager; present these to the Collection Committee; and report on declined gifts to the Collection Committee
• Work closely with the Collections Manager to ensure that the highest level of professional care is given to works of art and history on loan to the museum, including providing information for loan paperwork and other documentations as needed
• Responsible for liaising with lenders regarding negotiation of artwork and historical objects on display; work with the registrar to take care of any related paperwork (checklist development, loan forms, artwork/object info, insurance, transportation and shipping)

Other Duties

• Initiate, maintain, and strengthen sustainable partnerships with related history, arts and cultural organizations
• Research and present academic papers and presentations to museum, history, and Asian American Studies conferences on behalf of the Chinese American Museum
• Give presentations as needed on the museum and Chinese American History to community organizations, arts, history, and cultural organizations, and academic institutions on behalf of the Chinese American Museum
• Assist in organizing opening and closing exhibit receptions
• Provide general administrative support
• Assist with and attend member events and public programs; in particular Lantern Festival and Historymakers
• Serve on juries and committees for other arts cultural organizations with Executive Director’s approval
• Other responsibilities assigned by the Executive Director

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree required; Advanced Degree strongly preferred
• Minimum 5 years of experience in a curatorial role
• Understanding of and passion for Asian American culture/history/art; Prefer understanding of and passion for Chinese American culture/history/art
• Informed understanding of a museum’s responsibilities to serve the public and its communities
• Demonstrated superior writing and editorial ability
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Word)
• A team player committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful work environment
• Commitment to the mission and core values of the Chinese American Museum

Working Environment

• Responsibilities may involve flexible scheduling and work beyond the regularly scheduled workday, including working in the evening, on weekends, and on holidays

Compensation

• Salary commensurate with experience

To apply, please submit resume and cover letter to hr@camla.org with the subject line “Curator”. No phone calls, please.

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