Museum Curator (Nancy Chang Lee Curator of Chinese Art) (IS-1015-12/13)
Application Deadline: 30 December 2024
Department: National Museum of Asian Art
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Washington, DC
Reporting To: Associate Director for Curatorial Affairs
Description
OPEN DATE: November 1, 2024
CLOSING DATE: December 30, 2024
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite
SCHEDULE: Full Time
DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC
Non-sensitive (NS)/High Risk
Open to all qualified candidates
What are Trust Fund Positions?
Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).
Conditions of Employment
- Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated as low risk.
- Complete a Probationary Period
- Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
- The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
- Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.
Overview
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art is committed to preserving, exhibiting, researching, and interpreting art in ways that deepen the public and scholarly understandings of Asia and the world. Beginning with a 1906 gift that paved the way for the museum’s opening in 1923, the museum now stewards one of the world’s most important collections of Asian art, with works dating from antiquity to the present, from China, Japan, Korea, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the pre-Islamic Near East, and the Islamic world (inclusive of Central Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa). The museum also stewards an important collection of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century American art. The museum’s galleries, laboratories, archives, and library are located on the National Mall in Washington, DC, and are part of the world’s largest museum complex, which welcomes twenty to thirty million visitors each year. The museum is free and open to the public 364 days a year, making its exhibitions, programs, learning opportunities, and digital initiatives accessible to global audiences.
Today, we are emerging as a leading national and global resource for understanding the arts, cultures, and societies of Asia, especially their intersection with America. Embedded within the Smithsonian, an institution committed to serving as a forum for understanding our shared future, we are setting a course determined by the values and practices of collaboration, transparency, and accountability.
With more than thirteen thousand objects dating from Neolithic times to the present, NMAA has one of the finest museum holdings of Chinese art in the world. The collections reflect all major periods and materials of artistic production. Special strengths include remarkable ancient jades and bronzes, early Buddhist sculpture, imperial and trade ceramics, lacquer, glass, textiles, classical paintings, and calligraphy.
NMAA celebrates the art and culture of China through exhibitions, scholarly and public programming, and publications. As the museum enters its second century, it is growing and transforming. The candidate will join the museum at this moment of transition as it expands its engagement with Chinese communities in the US and abroad and as it seeks to be a leader in ethical collecting practices.
The Nancy Chang Lee Curator of Chinese Art will be a member of the Curatorial Department, shaping decisions about the care, identification, acquisition, preservation, cataloging, exhibition, and interpretation of works of art. The candidate will be a national and international leader in the study and presentation of Chinese art and culture. The candidate will perform scholarly research for publication and will furnish authoritative information about works in their field. They will develop original exhibitions and collaborate on cross-departmental projects and research initiatives. The curator will also shape and implement engaging scholarly and public programs.
The position has promotion potential to a grade 14.
Duties And Responsibilities
Major duties include:
- Creating innovative research projects that contribute to the international understanding and appreciation of Chinese art and culture.
- Providing leadership in the field of Chinese art and culture through projects, collaborations, and regular communication with specialists.
- Studying, cataloging, displaying, publishing, and expanding the museum’s collections of Chinese art.
- Developing and maintaining relationships with local, national, and international communities.
- Researching provenance on existing collections objects.
- Working with advancement teams to develop and strengthen donor relationships.
- Serving on museum- and Smithsonian-wide committees and working groups.
Qualification Requirements
Basic Education Requirement:
- Degree: museum work; or in an applicable subject-matter field.
OR
- Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience (described below) or additional education.
OR
- Four years of experience (described below) that provided knowledge comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of the 4-year course of study as shown in A above.
Experience
Candidates for grade 12 must possess minimum of one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the grade 11 in the normal line of progression for this occupation. For this position, specialized experience is defined as experience in the identification, acquisition, preservation, cataloging, provenance research, exhibition, and interpretation of works of art. Experience performing scholarly research in preparation of material for publication and furnishing authoritative information on works in the field of specialization. Experience developing original exhibitions and collaborating with other curators on cross-departmental exhibitions and research initiatives. At this level, researchers receiving such assignments are expected to be fully independent professionals and to assume responsibility for the thoroughness and adequacy of the planning and for the completion of the work.
Candidates for grade 13 must possess minimum of one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the grade 12 in the normal line of progression for this occupation. For this position, specialized experience is defined as experience in the identification, acquisition, preservation, cataloging, provenance research, exhibition, and interpretation of works of art. Experience performing scholarly research in preparation of material for publication and furnishing authoritative information on works in the field of specialization. Experience developing original exhibitions and collaborating with other curators on cross-departmental exhibitions and research initiatives. At this level the curator is expected to conduct complete and conceptually related studies that typically result in publicly engaged scholarship, exhibitions, public programs, digital outputs, and other works that may be definitive of a specific topic area. Additionally, responsibility for the development of exhibit plans and other products, and for review and technical approval of exhibit designs is limited only by administrative controls such as time schedules and budgets, and by agency policy. Those at this grade have established a reputation as a recognized expert in their field of study.
Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities Required
- PhD or equivalent in Chinese art or related field. Preference may be given to a candidate with a command of painting and calligraphy of the pre-modern/dynastic period and a demonstrated ability to work with modern and contemporary art and artists.
- Competency in Chinese language.
- Ability to pursue historical research using primary sources.
- Familiarity with provenance research and collecting standards.
- Strong interpersonal skills and experience interacting with the public.
- Ability to work collaboratively with diverse constituencies, both national and international.
- Outstanding analytical, verbal, written, and overall communication skills, including the ability to express complex ideas in an engaging way to a wide audience.
- Skill in taking initiative and prioritizing tasks; excellent time-management and problem-solving skills.
- Experience participating in and organizing museum-based projects and programs.
- Familiarity with museum collections databases, such as The Museum System (TMS).
Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.
Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.
The Smithsonian Institution values and seeks a diverse workforce. Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."
Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week.
What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.
Relocation expenses are not paid.
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact
nmaa-hr@si.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures.
The Smithsonian Institution is an
Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that a workforce comprising a variety of educational, cultural, and experiential backgrounds support and enhance our daily work life and contribute to the richness of our exhibitions and programs. See Smithsonian EEO program information: www.si.edu/oeema.
