Associate Director of Curatorial Affairs – National Museum of Asian Art
About the National Museum of Asian Art The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art (NMAA) is committed to preserving, exhibiting, researching, and interpreting art in ways that deepen the public and scholarly understandings of Asia and the world. NMAA opened in 1923 as the first fine arts museum on the National Mall and the first Asian art museum in the United States. We now steward one of the most significant collections of Asian art in the United States, 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. Today, we are emerging as a leading national and global resource for understanding the arts, cultures, and societies of Asia, especially at their intersection with America. We believe the future of art museums lies in collaboration, increased access, and transparency. To reach this future, NMAA is both subverting and complementing traditional museum practices. Our curators are developing thoughtful and innovative exhibitions that engage with communities and prioritize audience needs. The museum is free and open 364 days a year at our location on the National Mall in Washington, DC.
The Opportunity The Associate Director for Curatorial Affairs is a cornerstone of the museum’s excellence. Their primary responsibilities encompass the management, development, and strategic direction of the museum’s curatorial team. This position will lead the evolution of curatorial work that contributes in significant ways to museum-wide priorities, including broadening and deepening audience impact and fostering transparency in the origins of the collections. Specific duties and responsibilities include:
- Curatorial Management and Supervision: Provides overall management and direction over the staff, which is composed of curators and curatorial assistants. Recruits, develops, delegates to, and leads an exceptional team; fosters a culture that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
- Vision and Strategy: Provides leadership and mentorship in developing and implementing exhibitions, establishing research priorities, and organizing programs. Plays a senior leadership role in advancing the institution’s interpretive work.
- Research and Scholarship: Conducts object-based research that results in groundbreaking scholarly contributions to the field. Represents the museum on a national and international level.
Candidate Profile The ideal candidate will be a champion for the museum’s mission and priorities, ensuring the curatorial department’s goals align with the broader objectives of the institution. They will be passionate about working in partnership with the Director and museum leadership. A creative problem solver with a passion for innovation will excel in this role.
Compensation & Benefits Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $150,000 – $180,000 with a generous benefits package. The Smithsonian Institution is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.
Contact Tenley Bank and Naree Viner of Koya Partners have been exclusively retained for this search. To express interest in this role please submit your materials or email Tenley directly at tbank@koyapartners.com. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.
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