Rubin Museum of Art Curatorial Fellowship

The Rubin Museum of Art is a dynamic environment that stimulates learning, promotes understanding, and inspires personal connections to the ideas, cultures, and art of the Himalayas. Now in its second decade, the Rubin welcomed over 200,000 visitors last year and has a growing membership of more than 4,000 households.

Contained within five floors of galleries are several long-term rotating installations drawn from the permanent collection as well as frequent short-term loan exhibitions that are more broadly conceived in concept, art, geography, medium, and time. The Museum presents over 250 films, performances, and on-stage conversations annually as well as a robust roster of other educational initiatives. The ground floor is free-to-all and is a lively nexus for conversation, shopping, and refreshment.

The Museum’s collection includes over 3,500 objects spanning more than 1,500 years up to the present day. Renowned for its quality and depth, the collection focuses on art from the Tibetan Plateau and is broadened by a significant number of important examples from surrounding regions, including Nepal, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, and Mongolia.

About the Position

The fellowship term will provide insight in to critical aspects of museum work including exhibitions, research, collections management, conservation, art handling, education, and publications. The Fellow will be expected to participate in the Museum’s programmatic and intellectual life during regular staff hours. This is an exempt 12-month appointment term with the possibility of an extension to 24 months.

The incumbent reports to the Senior Curator of Collections & Research.

Responsibilities:

• Assists with an ongoing collection assessment, including research of the museum's collection, updating object records, and other collection-based duties as assigned.
• Works with curators on one or more exhibitions and explore possible topics in exhibition development.
• Assists with the development of the museum’s growing digital and online presence, including social media, etc.
• Gives talks and develops presentations.
• Assists curators in the accomplishment of a wide variety of curatorial tasks.
• In collaboration with other curatorial staff, develops and/or assists with Rubin Museum projects.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Other:

20% of work time will be made available for the fellow to pursue research topics of his/her own choosing.

Qualifications:

• At least an MA, preferably PhD candidate in Himalayan art history or a related field such as Tibetan studies, Buddhist studies, cultural anthropology, museum studies, or equivalent experience.
• Some experience within the curatorial area of an art museum or research institution.
• Familiarity with object research and exhibition development processes.
• Must have excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Reading and/or writing knowledge of Tibetan, Nepali, Sanskrit, or other relevant research languages.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Reading knowledge of Tibetan.
• Demonstrated creativity and critical thinking skills.
• The ability to work well with others and a sense of humor.
• Knowledge of Adobe Photoshop software application preferred.
• Proficient in Micro soft Office Suite applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Database experience preferred (PastPerfect, TMS and similar systems).

The Rubin offers an attractive salary and competitive benefits package.

Please provide the following as part of your application:

• Complete resume.
• A cover letter addressing both your interest in the Rubin Museum and qualifications for this position.

Application

• Indicate Curatorial Fellow on Subject Line of Email or in body of cover letter.
• Application in electronic format preferred and accepted at jobs@rubinmuseum.org
• Mailed application – Manager, Human Resources, Rubin Museum of Art,
• 1 50 West 17th Street, New York, New York 10011.