John Moors Cabot Chair, Art of the Americas

Museum of Fine Arts • Boston, MA

16h • $160,000 - $175,000

About The Position

The Art of the Americas Department holds one of the nation’s most important collections of paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts from North, Central, and South America, the Caribbean, and Indigenous Nations. With over 16,000 objects spanning 3,000 years, our holdings are particularly strong in Maya ceramics; ancient American gold; paintings, furniture, silver and architectural elements from the British North American colonies; neoclassical sculpture; 19th-century paintings and folk art; early modernist paintings (including works by African American, Latin American, and women artists); early 20th-century modern design, and studio craft. We are considered the collection of record for John Singleton Copley, Paul Revere, John Singer Sargent, Hyman Bloom, Loïs Mailou Jones, and John Wilson.

The Art of the Americas Wing is as large as many distinguished American museums. The department oversees 48 galleries across four floors—the largest visitor-facing presence at the MFA. Among our institutional peers, we have a singular ability to explore the relationships of artists working throughout the western hemisphere and around the globe. Our curatorial team works across the Museum, always striving to enhance our interpretation with thought partners both within and outside of the institution. The department has been gaining recognition at the MFA and across the country for its collaborative spirit, and its commitment to offering fresh perspectives on historic works.

Reporting to the Chief of Curatorial Affairs and Conservation, the Chair of Art of the Americas will lead, galvanize and inspire departmental curatorial staff. The Chair will develop an engaging, diverse and attendance-driving exhibition program, generate new scholarship, manage the display and interpretation of the Art of the Americas collection at the MFA, propose transformative acquisitions and deaccessions, and deepen relationships with collectors locally, nationally and internationally.

The Chair will be deeply committed to exploring the changing nature of art museums and their relationship to the public and embrace and champion the Museum’s core values -- namely that the experience of our visitor is paramount to our mission, strategies and achievements.

The Chair works collaboratively with other curators and colleagues -- within and outside of the MFA -- to achieve departmental and institutional strategic goals.

Requirements

• Advanced degree in Art History, and in-depth experience in Art of the Americas, including a portfolio of exhibitions and publications that have advanced scholarship and connect with visitors in engaging ways.
• Extensive management-level museum experience in exhibitions, installations, publications, and collection building.
• Broad curatorial experience gained in museums that have sought and achieved imaginative ways of engaging with their visitors and which have met targeted results.
• An experienced leader of people, ideas and institutional mission, with a dynamic communication style to engage staff, donors and the public.
• Demonstrated ability to manage, mentor and retain talent, and to inspire curatorial staff to reach for excellence in ideas, project execution and goal achievement. Experience in building diversified staff and commitment to the training and professional development of the team to ensure job satisfaction and the use of best practices.
• An international perspective but personally and professionally committed to the city of Boston, its people and its artistic community.
• Strong sense of accountability for achieving stated objectives and demonstrable experience making timely decisions and moving plans and objectives forward.
• Superior ability to present and defend ideas and projects that earn the respect of other senior leaders and build credibility for the work of the Department and institution.
• Significant experience operating at the leadership level to partner with the Chief of CAC, the Museum Director and a range of colleagues to develop the artistic vision of the department. The Chair must also have the ability to conceptualize and realize exhibition projects and represent the institution externally.
• Experience cultivating and stewarding donor relationships, including realizing support and works of art from donors in collaboration with Development colleagues.
• Committed to the Museum’s values of inclusion and belonging.
• Ability to handle confidential matters with care and discretion
• Superior judgment, tact and diplomacy

Nice To Haves

• Quantitative skills desirable with a commitment to supporting and contributing to the success of the Museum’s business and financial imperatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead, galvanize and inspire departmental curatorial staff.
• Develop an engaging, diverse and attendance-driving exhibition program
• Generate new scholarship
• Manage the display and interpretation of the Art of the Americas collection at the MFA
• Propose transformative acquisitions and deaccessions
• Deepen relationships with collectors locally, nationally and internationally.
• Lead and manage the Art of the Americas team, overseeing five curators, department coordinator, interns and fellows. This includes hiring, training, coaching, mentoring and managing performance, as well as addressing related issued as they arise.
• Manage the Art of the Americas patron group and plan a lively series of annual events.
• Oversee management of the Art of the Americas departmental budget.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive