Assistant Curator Textiles

MISSION

The Art Institute of Chicago shares its singular collections with our city and the world. We collect, care for, and interpret works of art across time, cultures, geographies, and identities, centering the vision of artists and makers. We recognize that all art is made in a particular context, demanding continual, dynamic reconsideration in the present. We are a place of gathering; we foster the exchange of ideas and inspire an expansive, inclusive understanding of human creativity.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENTS

The Department of Textile’s collection consists of more than 13,500 objects ranging in date from 300 BC to the present. It’s a collection with a global reach, including printed furnishing and dress fabrics, European tapestries and vestments, Turkish velvets, Greek embroideries, pre-Columbian textiles from many early Andean cultures, a wide range of Asian textiles, notably Japanese kimonos and fukusa from the 18th to 20th centuries, and an array of works from modern and contemporary artists such as Henri Matisse, Anni Albers, Sheila Hicks, Magdalena Abakanowicz, Roberto Burle Marx, and Rahul Jain. We continue to build the collection through carefully selected and considered gifts and purchases.

The Art Institute’s Arts of the Ancient Mediterranean and Byzantium department showcases the origins and early development of Western art from the dawn of the third millennium BCE to the time of the great Byzantine Empire. It includes examples of Greek, Etruscan, and Roman sculpture in stone, clay, and bronze, as well as coins, glass, jewelry, vases, and mosaics of outstanding quality and interest. There are some 2,300 works of ancient Mediterranean art in the department’s holdings: a strong collection of Greek vases, particularly red-figure technique pieces; Greek and Roman coins, stone sculpture, and jewelry, all showcasing the origins and early development of Western art from the dawn of the third millennium BCE to the time of the great Byzantine Empire.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Under the direction of the Chairs of Textiles and Arts of the Ancient Mediterranean and Byzantium (AAMB), the Assistant Curator supports the department in caring for, researching, interpreting and producing content for, displaying, and growing the permanent collection of the department. With support from the chairs, the Assistant Curator proposes exhibitions, gallery rotations, and reinstallations for areas of specialty; performs research, writing, and interpretation for areas of specialty; produces and publishes content; conceives of, organizes, and develops publications and interpretive materials; and liaises with colleagues to develop compelling narratives, programs, and content for broad audience engagement. The Assistant Curator supports the chair’s strategic vision of the department; helps to enhance the visibility and reputation of the museum and develop community interest and support for the departmental collection; and supports the museum in its commitment to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable institution. The Assistant Curator communicates clearly and consistently with departmental colleagues about projects and timelines; mentors and collaborates with departmental interns, fellows, and volunteers; and engages in a collaborative role with Conservation and Science and Collections and Loans to review treatments and foster best practices for maintaining the areas of specialty within the collection. All of these efforts are supported by the assistant curator’s collaboration with the philanthropy team to cultivate relationships with donors, collectors, and committee members, as appropriate. Textiles – The Assistant Curator will be primarily responsible for the collection of Eastern Hemisphere historic textiles dating up to 1500 and all the requisite tasks outlined above. The assistant curator will also collaborate with and support the other curatorial staff in the Textiles department as needed.

AAMB - The Assistant Curator will be responsible for programming G153, a gallery dedicated to the presentation of Byzantine arts and cultures. This includes developing and maintaining a schedule of long-term loans to the department to enhance the presentation of arts from the Global Middle Ages. The Assistant Curator will also be the departmental representative for liaising with other departments whose collections touch on the same chronological time period to develop interdepartmental collaborations that will better contextualize the Byzantine and Eastern Hemisphere Middle Ages.

This position is to be shared by Textiles and Arts of the Ancient Mediterranean and Byzantium with the Assistant Curator spending approximately 50% of their time in each department, with the acknowledgement that this will naturally need to flex as their assigned projects require more attention according to the ebbs and flows of the project schedules.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Collection growth and care: Under the guidance of the chairs, evaluates strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges within the collection; monitors the market and identifies potential acquisitions; keeps abreast of current scholarship, and legal and ethical issues in the field; cultivates and maintains relationships with dealers, galleries, and auction houses; supports the maintenance and cataloging of records, documentation, and research; supports collection management through cataloging, database upkeep, website publication, and object care and movement; monitors the safety and stability of the collection and loans; consults with Conservation and Science and Collections and Loans on the general physical condition, treatment, storage, and display of the collection.

Exhibitions and Rotations: Under the guidance of the chairs, initiates and plans the research, development, organization, installation, and related publication and interpretive materials for exhibitions and gallery rotations according to museum standards, budgets, and guidelines. Maintains relationships with peer museums, institutions, and cultural agencies with the potential for exhibition loans and partnerships.

Research and scholarship: Carries out original research to create new, compelling, and continually evolving narratives, programs, and content for broad audience engagement; conducts studio visits with living architects, designers, and artists; produces collection and provenance research, documentation, and content; actively builds object files, maintains object database records. Encourages access to museum resources and collection for historians, scholars, universities, architecture and design professionals, and other peers; responds to external inquiries about the collection as needed.

Visibility and audience outreach: Collaborates with colleagues to create innovative, compelling, and accessible interpretive content and programming to enhance engagement with the collection, and to determine the appropriate medium for sharing that content, including digital platforms, in-gallery didactics, or print. Acts as a museum representative through lectures, interviews, tours, and conferences.

Philanthropy and stewardship: Under the guidance of the chairs, and in consultation with colleagues in External Affairs, supports the stewardship and cultivation of donors and the museum’s fundraising efforts. When appropriate, may advise collectors and engage them in the museum’s vision and acquisition standards; maintain accurate information on donors’ collections and may initiate conversations about promised gifts and loans. Cultivates and maintains relationships with dealers, galleries, auction houses, and peers. Assists with the preparation for curatorial advisory committee meetings, including the agenda, supporting materials, research and justifications, and presentations.

Values: Supports the museum in its commitment to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable institution; treats colleagues and visitors fairly and respectfully, recognizing the value that diverse backgrounds and perspectives bring to our organization.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Ph.D. with specialization in Byzantine art required, preferably with a knowledge of the
• production and use of textiles in the ancient Mediterranean and Byzantine worlds. Candidates
• from historically underrepresented groups in the curatorial field are especially encouraged to
• apply.
• Experience working in museums, galleries, and/or other curatorial capacities required; minimum
• of three years of experience required
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills and an ability to work with all levels
• of staff, scholars, and visitors.
• The ideal candidate should demonstrate:
  • a broad art historical foundation; expertise, experience, and interest in pursuing a distinct area or areas relevant to expanding areas of the collection; emphasis on global Medieval/Byzantine is preferred
  • a record of scholarly achievement in the field and in areas of specialty
  • a willingness to embrace the museum’s commitment to creating an inclusive and equitable institution
  • an open-minded and collaborative approach to working and communicating with all colleagues across the museum
  • and outstanding communication skills that demonstrate both scholarly ability and interest in public engagement.
• Knowledge of foreign languages as appropriate to areas of specialty
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google suites required; ability to learn museum-specific collection database

Salary Grade 7

Benefits

We offer a competitive, comprehensive benefits package:

• Generous paid time off
• Paid holidays (up to 14 days)
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Generous parental, caregiver, and medical leave benefits
• Competitive retirement plan (up to 9% matching contribution)
• Tuition remission and Tuition Exchange Program
• Great employee discounts
• Complimentary general admission to participating cultural institutions
• Want to stay abreast of the latest job openings at the Art Institute and the School of the Art Institute? Sign up for our Employment Opportunities E-announcements.

Closing Statement

The Art Institute of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits, hires and promotes qualified individuals without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, veteran status or citizenship. The Institute complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the Department of Human Resources at apply_help@artic.edu.

Union Info

This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by AFSCME Council 31