Shapiro-Silverberg Assistant Curator of Judaica

Museum of Fine Arts•Boston, MA

4d•$78,472 - $81,000

About The Position

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston seeks a Shapiro-Silverberg Assistant Curator of Judaica to support and enrich its Judaica program through a broad range of curatorial and administrative responsibilities. The role is based in the Art of Europe department and reports to the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Curator of Judaica. The assistant curator may also have opportunities to work with the broader European decorative arts collection. The MFA’s growing Judaica holdings center on Jewish ritual art for the home and synagogue, and also include works such as paintings, sculpture, postcards, and ancient coins that express Jewish experience, history, and culture across time, place, and media. The assistant curator will help care for, research, document, interpret, and present this collection; support exhibitions, acquisitions, and installations; contribute to donor and public programs; and assist with internship and teen programs.

Requirements

Postgraduate degree in Art History, Jewish history, and/or Jewish studies, demonstrating scholarly ability in the field.
Proven interest and work in a particular area of Judaica.
1 to 3 years of curatorial and museum experience in the field.
Reading and writing knowledge of biblical and modern Hebrew.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Scholarly research skills, excellent writing and presentation skills, and the ability to engage different audiences.
Commitment to community and audience outreach and involvement.
Clear commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and access through projects and collaborations that foster a culturally inclusive and welcoming environment.

Nice To Haves

Reading knowledge of Yiddish.
Proficiency in another European language.
Experience working with European decorative arts beyond Judaica.
Experience with museum databases; knowledge of The Museum System (TMS) is preferred.

Responsibilities

Support installations and rotations of Jewish objects and plan for the integration of works in galleries across the museum.
Collaborate with Conservation, Exhibitions, and Design to check object condition, submit installation requests, oversee installations, update object locations, and notify Member & Visitor Services, Public Relations, and Development.
Research, care for, manage, and document the collection; catalogue objects through in-depth research; generate and update object files; propose conservation treatments and photography; oversee the annual Judaica collection audit; create and edit records in TMS; and move objects to and from labs and photo studios.
Receive new objects in consultation with museum-wide colleagues, identify and catalogue them, and place them in storage.
Help establish and administer a new patron group or Curator’s Circle, including donor outreach; selecting annual events and inviting speakers; preparing invitations and tracking RSVPs; coordinating on-site events, off-site trips, collection visits, and virtual programs; arranging meetings; communicating with museum departments and external contacts; and processing honoraria, travel, and hotel payments.
Contribute talks and original research to the Judaica program.
Support the MFA Pathways Internship program by helping hire and train interns and organize their professional development in collaboration with museum departments.
Support teen programs, including the Teen Arts Council and STEAM Team, and help mentor high-school students and develop their workplace skills.
Assist with exhibition preparation, including research, object checklists, loan correspondence, publication research, website development, and public programming.
Assist with acquisitions research and records, communicate with Conservation, Registrars, and the Provenance Chair, and travel to examine potential acquisitions when required.
Respond to inquiries from scholars, students, and visitors about the collection and object images; assist departmental visitors and help identify objects brought for examination.
Help produce interpretive texts and exhibition materials, including wall panels, object labels, gallery surveys, and press releases.
Work with Public Relations and the Creative team to propose and write social media posts and website material that increases the digital visibility of the Judaica collection.
Perform other duties as responsibilities necessitate.