The Ackland Art Museum seeks a Curator of Asian Art.
Dynamic, academically qualified, collegial, and committed to spearheading an ambitious program of activities serving the Museum’s multiple local and national audiences, the successful candidate will oversee a collection of more than 1,200 Asian works of art dating from 2500 BCE to the present, including primarily works from Japan (about 640 works), from China (about 330 works), and from South and South East Asia (about 125). Unique in North Carolina, the collection is now also one of the strongest in the Southeast United States.
The curator will have responsibilities for care, cataloguing, display, and expansion of the collection, organizing and overseeing exhibitions, conducting research, publication, curricular engagement and public outreach, within the context of a public research university that has made a substantial commitment to teaching and research in Asian studies.
The curator will be committed to using the Ackland’s Asian art in educational outreach. The curator will undertake a wide range of both informal and formal teaching, including university-level instruction, as appropriate. The curator will apply for adjunct faculty status in an appropriate university department, and will actively seek out opportunities to offer or support object-based courses in Asian art, as appropriate.
The curator must be able to draw on a national and international network of specialists in Asian art (scholars, curators, collectors, philanthropists, dealers) to support the Ackland’s mission. The curator must demonstrate a willingness and ability to undertake projects that connect Asian art to other visual art traditions. Moreover, the curator will be interested in occasionally undertaking curatorial projects outside the field of Asian art, as required.
The Ackland Art Museum is The University of North Carolina’s local, global art museum at the intersection of campus and community in downtown Chapel Hill. Its collection of over 18,000 works of art presents the breadth of artistic creation at an intimate scale. With a dedication to dynamic conversation, close looking, and expansive thinking, we put the “art of understanding” at the heart of what we do. Experiences with art at the Ackland – the familiar, the unexpected, and the challenging – spark insight into ourselves, each other, and the world. The Ackland is proud to be free and open to everyone.
Asian art formed part of the collection from the very beginning, but saw special growth under the guidance of renowned expert Sherman Lee from the early 1980s until his death in 2008. Asian art has continued to be a focus of activity, with a broad range of acquisitions and special exhibitions over the past decade, notably in the past two years under the guidance of Bradley M. Bailey, the Museum’s first full-time curator of Asian art. The successful candidate will build on these achievements, promoting national and international awareness of the collection and related activities.
Appointment will be made at a rank and salary appropriate to experience and qualifications.
The curator of Asian art will report to the Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs, and may supervise interns, assistants, and volunteers.
MA in Asian art history required, PhD or equivalent in Asian art history preferred. Demonstrated proficiency in one or more relevant Asian languages required. Proven expertise in pre-modern Asian art required, interest in and awareness of modern and contemporary Asian art preferred. Museum experience preferred, along with a dedication to the stewardship of a permanent collection, an understanding of issues related to conservation, and a record of innovative research and exhibitions. Superior written and oral communications skills.
For more information and to apply, please submit application materials to:
https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/128973
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, race, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran.
Categories: Job Postings