Assistant Curator, Judaica

The Jewish Museum

thejewishmuseum.org

The Position:

This newly-created position will play a coordinating role in an innovative initiative designed to share exemplary works of Jewish Ceremonial Art (Judaica) from the Jewish Museum’s collection to encyclopedic museums throughout the United States and to support a new alliance with a leading educational program in New York that specializes in curatorial studies in material culture, strengthening its Jewish culture program and providing hands-on training for students.

The ideal candidate will foster connections with colleagues in institutions both nationally and internationally, as well as with scholars and researchers and museum curators actively engaged in new findings and approaches to the field. Responsibilities include assisting in generating installation checklists in coordination with curatorial colleagues at other institutions; developing syllabi for Judaica-focused object-based seminars; contributing to the interpretative content of installations of Jewish culture throughout the world; participating in affiliated public programming; supervising interns; managing administrative responsibilities; and working as a member of the Museum’s core team to realize institutional goals and to promote the visibility of Jewish ceremonial art across the world and to support the Museum’s internal curatorial programming connecting Jewish world culture with fine art and art history.

Responsibilities

JUDAICA INSTALLATIONS, LOANS, AND PERMANENT COLLECTION

Play an essential role in planning and implementing installations of Judaica collection loans throughout the world, which includes assisting in the workflow of a large-scale efforts involving many staff members across institutions.
Prepare preliminary checklists and make final selections in consultation with the Curator of Judaica and key curatorial contacts at borrowing institutions.
Develop internal Judaica installation work plans with curatorial and exhibition administration colleagues.
Research collection objects for exhibition as necessary; provide updated and approved object information as needed.
Coordinate across registration and collections teams (and conservation as needed), internally and externally, to facilitate Judaica installations on loan to other institutions.
Assist in formulating interpretation for objects on loan, including but not limited to: drafting clear and succinct exhibition narratives to be utilized for communications, installation didactics, i.e., object labels/text panels, brochure production, captions for photographers, etc.
Develop and share content for docent training, including slide-lectures and as needed, participate in trainings and responding to external queries from members/docents/curatorial colleagues.
Provide key support for Judaica collection responsibilities generally including but not limited to: fielding outside research and archival queries related to the Judaica collection from outside researchers, students, potential borrowers, as well as internal colleagues.
Assist with provenance research for collection works and potential Judaica acquisitions.

TEACHING

Liaise among Museum curators and with other curatorial and educational programs, like the Bard Graduate Center, to support syllabi for Jewish studies programs.
Assist in developing content for object-based learning seminars at institutions like the Jewish Theological Seminary in coordination with Collections and Registrar colleagues.

ADMINISTRATION AND OTHER DUTIES

Perform administrative functions in connection with daily Museum and departmental business.
Supervise tasks and schedules and monitor work plans.
Participate in the work of Museum Committees as assigned.
Actively engage with social media outlets to extend messages about Judaica installations and the Museum’s Judaica collection in coordination with the Museum’s PR team.
Collaborate with peers in cross-departmental dialogue and idea development.
Travel as time and budget allow for traveling Judaica installations, conferences, symposia, and professional development purposes.

Requirements

M.A. degree in art history or equivalent experience/education.
Minimum three to five years’ experience in responsible curatorial positions including significant work on exhibitions and publications.
Broad knowledge of art history in general and n Jewish history and culture.
Excellent organizational, interpersonal, written and verbal skills.
Ability to work independently and to take initiative.
Knowledge of Hebrew, German, and/or French languages a plus.
Computer and digital media literacy; working knowledge of The Gallery System, TMS a plus.

How to Apply

Send Resume with Cover Letter To:

Director, Human Resources

The Jewish Museum

1109 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10128

Email: jobs@thejm.org

The Jewish Museum is committed to diversifying its staff and encourages individuals of all ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds to apply for this position. The Museum is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic prohibited by applicable law.

This is a unionized position with covered employees represented by Local 2110, UAW, AFL-CIO.

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