Northwestern University’s Block Museum of Art seeks a Steven and Lisa Munster Tananbaum Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art with a strong interest in diaspora, indigeneity, postcolonialism, and other shaping forces in art of the 20th and 21st centuries. They will contribute to the Museum’s curatorial program through their work on exhibitions, acquisitions and collections research, programs and publications, and museum-based mentorship and teaching. The curator will be motivated by the creative and educational potential for connecting modern and contemporary art to diverse academic disciplines within and beyond the humanities. The target hiring range for this position will be between $75,000-$87,500 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Deadline for resume and cover letter submission is November 25, 2024.

Job Summary:

As Northwestern University’s campus art museum, The Block drives questioning, experimentation, and collaboration across fields of study with visual arts at the center. Fueled by diverse perspectives and ways of knowing, the museum activates art’s power as a form of insight, research, and knowledge creation that makes human experience visible and material. The Block’s programming emphasizes research, presentation, and acquisition of artworks, focusing on overlooked or under studied subjects and underrepresented artists, art, and art histories. The Museum is committed to collaborative work and to including diverse visions and voices in its programming and institutional culture. The Block also draws upon and responds to Northwestern University’s specific strengths and its emphases on global connections and interdisciplinary thinking, including its archival resources and collections, curriculum, and timely dialogue taking place within and beyond the University.

The Block has a history of field-changing scholarship and innovative exhibition-making informed by this context. Its work is grounded by its new 2024-2029 Strategic Plan that emphasizes activation of the Museum’s collection and our sustained relationships with the Northwestern Libraries, the Center for Native American and Indigenous Studies (CNAIR), and Northwestern colleagues in the arts, including film, performance studies, theater, music, and the literary arts.

The successful candidate will have the capacity to center works of art in addressing challenging and complex issues for a broad range of constituencies and the flexibility and willingness to work across a range of curatorial practices in exhibition making guided by the content and goals of each project. They will also have a strong commitment to student mentorship; to working closely with Block staff, Northwestern faculty and students, and artists, scholars, and knowledge sharers beyond the University; and to applying the values of diversity, equity, access, and inclusion at The Block (more about our approach is articulated in our guiding questions).

They may also teach through affiliation with one or more academic department or program.

This is a full-time position within the Curatorial Department and reports to the Associate Director of Curatorial Affairs. *Note: Not all aspects of the job are covered by this job description.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Exhibitions: Working closely with other Block staff, the curator will propose, conceive, and implement original exhibitions of various scope that connect to and enhance The Block’s and Northwestern’s commitments to interdisciplinary perspectives; community and global engagement; and curricular, research, and collection strengths. This position requires enthusiasm for thinking and working broadly, grounded by areas of personal expertise, while supporting the museum’s varied artistic program and its collaborative institutional culture. The curator will also contribute to the ongoing development of the Block’s exhibition schedule; at times adapt and implement travelling exhibitions for the museum; and assist in grant writing or other fundraising for curatorial initiatives.
• Acquisitions and Collection Research: The Block’s collecting strategy supports the museum’s mission and commitments, as well as those of Northwestern University. The museum’s collection supports teaching and learning and has strong ties to other University collections. In addition to a strong focus on diaspora, postcolonialism, and other shaping forces of the 20th and 21st centuries, the curator will have some medium-specific expertise in photography and/or works on paper. They will also be prepared to contribute to expanding the museum’s collection, including with time-based media and other areas of contemporary practice. The curator will actively follow the work of contemporary artists in alignment with The Block’s collection strategy. They will propose and initiate purchases and interact with artists and dealers; pursue gifts and build rapport with potential donors; write justifications; and actively participate in dialogue and decision-making for collection interpretation and cataloguing.
• Programs and Publications: The curator will contribute to expanding The Block’s impact through programs and publications in relation to exhibitions and the collection and archives. Working with the Engagement department, the curator will contribute to in-person and online programs. They will write and publish in analog and digital formats including books, brochures, blog posts, object packages, and others.
• Teaching: The curator will support object-based teaching in the galleries and in the Museum’s study room and classroom. They will support student mentorship, including through their work with undergraduate interns, Block Museum Student Associates, and graduate fellows. They may teach courses at Northwestern University on occasion and may represent The Block as an affiliated faculty member (affiliate status is determined by academic departments/programs).

Minimum Qualifications:

• A master’s degree in an appropriate specialization or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Expertise in global modern and contemporary art with a strong interest in diaspora, indigeneity, postcolonialism, and other shaping forces of the 20th and 21st centuries and some expertise in photography and/or works on paper.
• Three years of curatorial or related museum experience, including exhibition development and collection development.
  Strong research, writing, collaboration, and public speaking skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A PhD in the history of art or in the humanities with an emphasis on visual culture.
• Expertise in global modern and contemporary art with a strong interest in diaspora, indigeneity, postcolonialism, and other shaping forces of the 20th and 21st centuries and some expertise in photography and/or works on paper.
• Five years of curatorial or related museum experience.
• Experience curating innovative exhibitions.
• Experience with collection-building through purchases and gifts.
• A record of scholarly art-related publications.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles. Northwestern supports flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you’re interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, a variety of tools and resources are offered.

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