Curator of Costume and Textiles and Head of Department

Philadelphia Museum of Art • Philadelphia, PA

88d • $159,000

About The Position

The Philadelphia Art Museum seeks an inspired and forward-thinking curator to lead its distinguished department of Costume and Textiles—an extraordinary opportunity to shape the future of one of the most significant collections in the country. At a pivotal moment of renewed institutional commitment to the field, the museum invites a dynamic leader to bring vision, creativity, and scholarly depth to a department poised for transformative growth. Reporting to the Chief Curator, the successful candidate will craft and implement the department’s program, shaping acquisitions, exhibitions, and publications that highlight the relevance of fashion and textiles within historical and contemporary contexts. As the head of the department, they will have the opportunity to build their team with support for new hires. The curator also will collaborate with colleagues from departments across the institution and with partners locally, nationally, and internationally to extend the reach, impact, and relevance of the museum’s collection. In doing so, they will play a vital role in advancing the museum’s broader goals around community engagement, education, and artistic excellence.

Requirements

• Advanced degree in art history, fashion history, textile studies, or a related field.
• Extensive experience (typically 10 or more years) in a curatorial role, with demonstrated leadership in the field of costume and textiles.
• Proven record of scholarship, including exhibitions and publications.
• Strong project management, organizational, and communication skills are essential.
• Experience supervising and mentoring staff.
• Familiarity with the market for fashion and textiles.
• Ability to cultivate donors and secure funding for department initiatives.
• Active involvement in professional networks and scholarly communities.

Responsibilities

• Provide curatorial leadership in the planning, development, and interpretation of the costume and textile collection.
• Manage all aspects of collection activity, including research, installations, exhibitions, publications, acquisitions, deaccessioning, and loans.
• Consult and collaborate with other museum departments to ensure the preservation and presentation of the collection.
• Work in partnership with the Learning and Engagement teams to develop educational content, including gallery labels and related materials.
• Help maintain and enhance the museum’s files, database, and digital records of the costume and textile collections.
• Participate in public-facing programs such as lectures, gallery talks, tours, and guide training.
• Direct and support original research on the collection and emerging areas of interest in the field.
• Contribute essays and catalogue entries to museum and external publications, supporting the museum’s commitment to research and scholarship.
• Promote collaboration within and between curatorial departments, ensuring a cooperative and integrated approach to museum projects.
• Engage with academic scholars, designers, educators, conservators, and other museum professionals to support the museum’s research and programming.
• Represent the museum in various professional organizations.
• Work with the Advancement Department to secure funding, cultivate donor relationships, and support collection growth and programming.
• Supervise department staff members, including curators, fellows, and assistants fostering professional development and a collaborative team environment.
• Work closely with Conservation staff on the care, storage, and display of the collection.
• Develop and manage the department’s annual operating budget.
• Lead preparations for the biannual Curatorial Committee meetings, including reports and presentations.
• Serve on internal committees as assigned.
• Perform related duties as required.

Benefits

• Free general admission to the museum for you and your immediate family.
• Discounted guest tickets for admission.
• Discounts on gift memberships.
• Special staff tours and presentations from our curatorial and conservation teams.
• Discounts at the museum restaurant, museum cafés, and museum retail and online stores.
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• Fully paid short-term disability insurance, long-term disability insurance, and life insurance.
• Health savings or flexible spending account program.
• Retirement savings program with museum match.
• Paid vacation, personal days, sick days, and holidays.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Master's degree
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees