Assistant Curator of Decorative Arts and Material Culture

JOB TITLE: Assistant Curator of Decorative Arts and Material Culture

DEPARTMENT: Museum

REPORTS TO: Vice President & Chief Curator

About New-york Historical Society

Visitors experience 400 years of history through groundbreaking exhibitions, immersive films, and thought-provoking conversations among renowned historians and public figures at the New-York Historical Society, New York’s first museum. A great destination for history since 1804, the Museum and the Patricia D. Klingenstein Library convey the stories of the city and nation’s diverse populations, expanding our understanding of who we are as Americans and how we came to be.

Job Summary

The Assistant Curator of Decorative Arts and Material Culture oversees portions of the Museum’s decorative arts and material culture collections and advances New-York Historical’s mission through exhibitions, presentations, teaching, and donor cultivation. Curatorial duties include researching, exhibiting, and writing about works in the collections; recommending acquisitions according to the goals of the Collections Development Plan; proposing and curating original exhibitions; serving as the primary curatorial liaison to New-York Historical’s DiMenna Children’s History Museum; and maintaining positive and fruitful relations with colleagues in the museum and academic communities and with New-York Historical trustees and other supporters. The Assistant Curator of Decorative Arts and Material Culture must be conversant with American decorative arts and material culture from all periods and is expected to bring fresh and creative ideas to the field and to the interpretation and development of the museum’s holdings.

Essential Job Duties

• Oversee portions of New-York Historical’s decorative arts and material culture collections, ranging from silver to furniture, jewelry, metalwork, toys, numismatics, and military objects;
• Build and refine these collections through strategic acquisitions aligned with the Museum’s Collections Development Plan;
• Update collection records to reflect changing scholarship and ensure accuracy and culturally sensitive descriptions;
• Propose, develop, and implement exhibitions;
• Oversee exhibitions involving collaborators or other outside stakeholders, as assigned;
• Give tours, lectures, and presentations about exhibitions and collections;
• Serve as the primary curatorial liaison to New-York Historical’s DiMenna Children’s History Museum and work with DCHM staff to develop and maintain permanent displays and installations of toys and trains;
• Participate in the N-YHS/CUNY Master’s Program in Museum Studies for select sessions, some of which may take place on site on Saturdays;
• Work with in-house and contract conservators regarding treatment decisions;
• Work with Development staff to identify funding prospects and prepare grant proposals for exhibitions and decorative arts and material culture initiatives;
• Oversee decorative arts and material culture interns;
• Respond to inquiries from scholars and the general public regarding the decorative arts and material culture collections;
• Cultivate relationships with donors, trustees, and collectors;
• Actively update professional knowledge and skills and stay current with curatorial best practices;
• Be responsive to changing institutional priorities;
• Additional duties as requested.
  
  
  

Requirements

• MA in Art History with a specialization in decorative arts and material culture (PhD preferred);
• Demonstrated scholarly achievement and track record of contributing to the development of original exhibitions;
• Versatility in curating exhibitions across a wide variety of subjects, time periods, and media;
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusive and diverse collecting and interpretation;
• Collaborative approach and experience working on team-based projects;
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills;
• Collegiality and flexibility;
• Ability to adjust and balance multiple competing priorities;
• Experience with museum collection databases such as TMS.
  
  
  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee with or without accommodation, to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

At times, this is a sedentary role using a computer; however, some filing or shelving is required. This would require the ability to lift files, open filing cabinets and bend or stoop as necessary. The ability to lead tours through the museum is also required.

Compensation & Benefits

The expected salary for this position is $67,600.

New-York Historical Society provides a generous benefits package for eligible employees to support their health and wellbeing, which includes:

• Paid time off, including vacation, sick and personal days, and holidays observed by the Museum;
• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance;
• Short and long-term disability coverage options;
• 403(b) retirement plan with eligibility for employer contributions following one year of full-time service;
• Flexible spending accounts for health-related expenses, dependent care, and parking and transit expenses;
• Employee Assistance Program for all employees and their families;
• 20% discount at the NYHistory Store, Café 77 and Clara restaurant, located within the Museum;
• Free admission to various museums and cultural institutions across the city.
  
  
  

COVID-19 VACCINATION POLICY

To ensure the overall health and safety of the New-York Historical Society community, all newly hired employees of the New-York Historical Society are required to be fully-vaccinated with an FDA or WHO approved vaccine against COVID-19 as a condition of employment, absent qualifying exemptions for medical, religious, or other reasons in accordance with all applicable laws.

Research shows that women and people from underrepresented groups often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We recognize that it is highly unlikely that someone meets 100% of the qualifications for a role. If much of this job description describes you, then please apply for this role.

The New-York Historical Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

This position will be open until filled, with preference given to applications submitted before Monday, July 22, 2024.