Organizer Information
The RISD Museum, formerly the Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design, is the art museum of the Rhode Island School of Design, a private art school in Providence, Rhode Island, co-founded with the school in 1877. It was founded by 34 members of the Rhode Island Women's Centennial Commission alongside RISD itself, and grew out of an earlier 1854 effort by the Rhode Island Art Association to establish a permanent art museum in Providence. It is the 20th-largest art museum in the United States and organizes its holdings across seven curatorial departments. Its collection contains more than 100,000 works of art and design representing diverse cultures from ancient times to the present, with a research focus centered on the maker. The Pendleton House, part of the museum complex, was built to display the bequeathed decorative arts collection of Charles Pendleton upon his death in 1904, and is considered the first period-room wing of its kind in an American museum. The Chace Center, an addition designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect José Rafael Moneo, opened in 2008 and unified the museum's original buildings. The museum functions as both a public art museum and a teaching resource integrated with RISD's academic programs, serving undergraduate and graduate research across the college's curatorial departments.
Title & Description
Associate Curator / Curator, Asian Art
The RISD Museum is hiring for the sole curatorial-track position within its Asian Art department, with the appointment level (Associate Curator or Curator) determined by the candidate's experience, professional qualifications, and record of scholarship or exhibitions. The role holds responsibility for the development, care, and interpretation of the Museum's Asian art collection, encompassing acquisitions strategy, documentation and preservation, exhibition and publication development, teaching within the Museum's academic programs, and support for fundraising and public engagement. The position works closely with the Director, Chief Curator, and other Museum departments, and is described as central to the Museum's broader strategic plan and its integration with RISD's academic programs.
The Role Overview
- Position Type: Full-time
- Contract Type: Regular; Exempt
- Salary: Not specified in the source (referenced only as "Salary Grade Structure," with internal grade codes given — see below)
- Grade: Associate Curator 535EX; Curator 550EX
- Reports To: Chief Curator (with additional coordination through the Director)
- Department / Programme: Asian Art curatorial department, RISD Museum
- Working Hours: 35 hours per week; 12 months per year
- Work Modality: Hybrid Eligible
Position & Tasks
- Collection Development
- Responsible for the development of the collection
- Maintain a sound knowledge of the art market, including the availability and value of objects
- Maintain contact with dealers and cultivate donors and potential donors
- Through the Director and Chief Curator, recommend purchases, gifts, deaccessions, and methods of deaccessioning (sale, exchange, transfer)
- Collection Care
- Provide basic cataloguing information to the Registrar for all objects acquired or already owned by the Museum
- Schedule and supervise inventories of objects in the collection
- Conduct and record or publish research on objects in the collection
- Work in collaboration with the Registrar to set standards for housing, storage, and installation, and oversee proper storage of objects for safety and accessibility
- Determine conservation priorities, develop a budget plan, recommend appropriate treatments, and supervise treatments, in consultation with conservation
- Recommend loans and set standards for care
- Serve as courier at the request of the Director
- Work closely with the Museum Security Department to ensure security of works of art
- Exhibitions, Education & Interpretation
- Interpret and display Asian Art — generally and within the collection specifically — through exhibitions, publications, and educational programs, in coordination with departments responsible for interpretation and audience engagement, and in alignment with the Museum's strategic plan
- Teach and make the collection accessible to RISD faculty and students, the broader academic community, and the general public, with an emphasis on inclusivity
- Answer scholarly and public inquiries
- Fundraising & Administration
- Support the fundraising and public relations efforts of the Museum and the Development and Communications Offices (expected level of support differs between the Curator and Associate Curator roles)
- Identify, cultivate, and educate supporters and potential supporters of the Museum through advice and special activities
- Prepare grants, budgets, and project work plans with the Director, Chief Curator, Director of Finance Operations, and Institutional Advancement
- As project director of grant-funded projects, responsible for execution of the work plan and budget, and — with the Deputy Director, Exhibitions, Education & Programs, and the Deputy Director, Museum Finance and Operations — adherence to deadlines and requirements for interim and final reporting
- Provide timely information to the Communications Office and support its efforts
- Additional Functions
- Share day-to-day departmental responsibilities equitably with colleagues in a manner that promotes collaboration and teamwork
- Contribute to the life of the Museum and college through participation in institution-wide and Museum-wide committees and projects, as requested and approved by the Director
- Participate in the larger academic field and museum profession through lectures, written contributions, panel and peer review service, and attendance at symposia, professional workshops, meetings, and local/regional arts events
- Perform related assignments as requested by the Chief Curator
Categories
- Curatorial Practice
- Museum Studies
- Asian Art
- Collection Management
- Academic Museum / University Museum
Eligibility
- Appointment level (Associate Curator or Curator) is determined by years of curatorial experience, professional qualifications, and scholarly publications and/or exhibitions
- Associate Curator track: minimum of 3–5 years of curatorial and related experience; elementary fundraising and collection-growth experience, including helping secure sponsorships, manage and apply for grants, and build donor relationships
- Curator track: minimum of 5–7 years of curatorial and related experience; an active professional profile built through exhibitions, publications, and public speaking; a strong track record cultivating relationships with key donors, including trustees, curatorial support groups, and collection-adjacent committees; and a proven record of securing major acquisitions and stewarding high-level philanthropic commitments
- Record of scholarly publications and/or exhibitions required (both tracks)
- Master's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience required; Ph.D. preferred
- Specialization in Asian art required, with an emphasis on historical objects and periods
- Expertise in Japanese art, particularly works on paper, strongly preferred
- Fluency in a language relevant to the area of specialization is required; fluency in Japanese strongly preferred
- Strong connoisseurship skills; familiarity with conservation and collection care
- No geographic or nationality restriction is stated in the source
Program Benefits
- Salary: Not specified in the source — referenced only via internal salary grade (Associate Curator 535EX; Curator 550EX) and a "Salary Grade Structure" link not included in the supplied text
- Work Modality: Hybrid Eligible (in-kind flexibility benefit)
- Work Schedule: 35 hours per week, 12 months per year (full-time, stable annual schedule)
- Health insurance, dental/vision, pension/retirement contributions, paid vacation days, statutory holidays, professional development allowance, and any other in-kind benefits: Not specified in the source
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 23 October 2026
Location
Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Additional Details
- The successful candidate will be required to meet RISD's pre-employment background screening requirements
- The degree of expected fundraising/public-relations support differs between the full Curator and the Associate Curator appointment levels
- RISD states diversity and inclusivity are fundamental to its learning community and integral to its art and design education mission; RISD is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, or other protected characteristics established by law
- Internal job family classification: Museum Curatorial