Job Offer: Curator in Charge of European Paintings at the Metropolitan Museum

Friday, 11 December 2020

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has an opening for a Curator in Charge in the European Paintings department (full-time, effective immediately). See the profile below for more information.

General statement of responsibilities and duties

The Curator in Charge is the intellectual and administrative leader of the Department of European Paintings, one of the world’s great collections of European painting from about 1250 to the last decades of the 19th century. Cultivating a spirit of strong collaboration and intellectual discourse together with an outstanding team, the Curator in Charge will have the opportunity to reinstall the entire Old Master section of the collection in 2022, and further rethink and improve the presentation of the 19th century galleries.

The Curator in Charge will encourage the connection of these galleries with other areas and will put forward new ideas and narratives to take the collection and its interpretation in innovative directions, relevant to its contemporary visitors. They will also initiate ambitious and groundbreaking programming and exhibitions not limited to but with a strong emphasis on old master and 19th century painting, working in that area with an unparalleled collection.

Primary responsibilities & duties

Cross-departmental collaboration and installations will be encouraged, opening up many new areas for interpretation and study, and new ways of enhancing visitor engagement.
Collaborate with paintings conservators, a deep understanding of their contribution to the understanding of the works in the department, and support of ongoing relations between curators and conservators are all essential to this role.
Demonstrates a deep understanding, commitment to, and demonstrated experience with the managing a collection and collection care is vital.
The Curator in Charge is charged with acquiring works of art that are the finest and most representative of their kind, and with working with collectors, donors, and other supporters of the department.
The position directs the installation of the collections (including storage), loan exhibitions, research, and acquisitions, negotiating and authorizing the purchase, sale, exchange and loan of works of art.
The position has oversight for staff management and administration of the department, with operational excellence essential for guiding a staff with a complex set of functions.

Requirements & qualifications

Experience and Skills

Minimum of ten years experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities required.
Demonstrated experience in accomplishing original research on objects of various regions and cultures of the collection required.
Ability to plan, organize, and present exhibitions required.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills required.
Ability to manage staff and resources and to communicate with professionals within and outside the field Museum experience required.
The Curator in Charge should have an excellent network, great relationships with donors and collectors and strong working relationships with other experts in the field.
Demonstrated commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access (DEIA) in the field.

Knowledge and Education