Curator of Asian Art

Curator of Asian Art – Smith College Museum of Art, Northampton, MA

SMITH COLLEGE

The Smith College Museum of Art (SCMA) has a unique opportunity for a Curator of Asian Art. Widely recognized as one of the leading academic museums in the nation, SCMA cultivates inquiry and reflection by connecting people to art, ideas and each other while continuing to contribute to Smith College’s mission of educating women for lives of distinction.

An integral part of a team of five curators, this position includes dedicated funding for research, travel, acquisitions, and exhibitions. The Jane Chace Carroll Curator of Asian Art serves as an intellectual authority on the arts of Asia and is an important partner to faculty and students in teaching, researching and learning from SCMA’s collection of Asian art.

Job Summary

Oversee all aspects of the Museum’s research, interpretation, and presentation of SCMA’s Asian art collection, including developing a program for the Carol T. Christ Asian Art Gallery.

Essential Functions

Oversee museum’s collection of Asian art from the Neolithic period to today. Participate in collection- and exhibition-related programming for campus and public audiences; conduct research resulting in scholarly communications including exhibitions, public talks, print and digital publications; manage collection development and rationalization, including new acquisitions and deaccessions. Responsible for ongoing cataloguing of artworks and maintenance of records on Asian Art in the collection. Monitor and make recommendations for care of the collection.

Supervise and mentor student research assistants. Promote dialogue, engagement, and collaboration both within the Museum and beyond. Work with SCMA’s senior leadership to cultivate prospective donors, foundations, and related entities to support the activities of the department as well as the growth of the collections. Work collaboratively within a team environment, providing support for administrative functions as assigned. Collaborate with faculty on teaching exhibitions and museum-based courses. Participate in long-range exhibition and collection planning.

Minimum Qualifications (knowledge, skills, education, experience, certifications, licenses)

Master’s degree in Asian art history and culture or related discipline. Minimum of 4 years of museum experience, or the equivalent combination of education and/or experience. Experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications

Ph.D. preferred.

Skills

• Independent and self-directed, with the ability to take initiative, anticipate actions needed, and to exercise discretion and independent judgment
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills. Demonstrated ability to be an effective collaborator both within the Museum and the larger College community.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the exhibition process and the ability to communicate effectively to diverse audiences
• Proven record of scholarly research in Asian art and culture, particularly the arts of East Asia, but knowledge of South Asian, Central Asian, and Western Asian art are also acceptable.
• Proficiency in at least one Asian language (fluency preferred).
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks, set priorities, and meet deadlines