Assistant/Associate Curator of Asian and Islamic Art
About The Position
The Worcester Art Museum seeks a dynamic, collaborative, and intellectually curious curator to contribute to the care, research, interpretation, and development of its established and growing Asian and Islamic art collection. The role will help shape the presentation of Asian and Islamic art in permanent collection galleries and temporary exhibitions. The Museum seeks a candidate who can deepen the visibility, interpretation, and scholarly understanding of Islamic art while stewarding the broader Asian art collection. The curator will conduct original research on the collection and develop exhibitions, installations, and acquisitions in collaboration with museum departments and outside contractors. Public engagement is essential and includes delivering talks, leading tours, and working with colleagues and partner institutions on interdisciplinary programs and educational initiatives. The role also involves identifying funding opportunities and contributing to grant proposals. Supervising interns, fellows, and volunteers may be part of the position. Strong cross-departmental communication and subject-matter expertise are required to support shared institutional goals. The successful candidate will bring enthusiasm for object-based research, public engagement, and developing ambitious ideas within the Museum’s available resources. The position calls for creativity, flexibility, collegiality, sound judgment, and the ability to build momentum over time through exhibitions, acquisitions, community partnerships, scholarly networks, and new ways for visitors to connect with the collection. The Museum is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa.
Requirements
- Demonstrated expertise in the arts of Asia and/or the Islamic world.
- Museum, gallery, curatorial, or closely related experience, including exhibition development, gallery installations or rotations, and object-based research.
- Strong research, writing, public speaking, and relationship-building skills.
- Ability to collaborate across departments and connect with scholars, collectors, donors, community partners, and public audiences.
- Creativity, resourcefulness, and sound judgment in developing meaningful projects and collection priorities within available resources.
- For Assistant Curator: 2–4 years of full-time curatorial experience with a PhD in a related field, or 4–7 years of full-time curatorial experience with an MA.
- For Associate Curator: 3–5 years of full-time curatorial experience with a PhD in a related field, or 5–8 years of full-time curatorial experience with an MA.
Nice To Haves
- Reading proficiency in at least one language relevant to the candidate’s area of specialization.
Responsibilities
- Care for, research, interpret, and develop the Museum’s Asian and Islamic art collection.
- Develop the presentation of Asian and Islamic art in permanent collection galleries and temporary exhibitions.
- Conduct original object-based research on the Museum’s collection.
- Develop exhibitions, gallery installations, and acquisitions in collaboration with museum departments and outside contractors.
- Deliver talks and lead tours.
- Collaborate with colleagues and partner institutions on interdisciplinary programs and educational initiatives.
- Identify funding opportunities and contribute to grant proposals.
- Potentially supervise interns, fellows, and volunteers.
- Communicate across departments and contribute subject-matter expertise in support of shared institutional goals.
- Build exhibitions, acquisitions, community partnerships, scholarly networks, and new ways for visitors to connect with the collection.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
