Organizer Information
Founded in 1968, the Studio Museum in Harlem was established by a diverse coalition of artists, activists, and philanthropists to address the exclusion of artists of African descent from mainstream museums, galleries, and academic institutions. Today, under the leadership of Director and Chief Curator Thelma Golden, the Museum's permanent collection represents more than 700 artists, spans some 200 years of art history, and includes nearly 9,000 works. Its long-running Artist-in-Residence program, proposed as a founding initiative in 1968, has supported the careers of artists who have gone on to prominence in the wider art world. In November 2025, the Museum opened its first purpose-built home on West 125th Street in Harlem, designed by Adjaye Associates in collaboration with Cooper Robertson — the first structure in its history conceived specifically for its mission. As the source describes it, the Studio Museum in Harlem is the nexus for artists of African descent locally, nationally, and internationally and for work that has been inspired and influenced by Black culture, serving as a site for the dynamic exchange of ideas about art and society.
Title & Description
Associate Curator
The Associate Curator will assume primary responsibility for the execution and continued articulation of the curatorial department's strategic vision for the Museum's permanent collection. The candidate must be equipped to think broadly and innovatively about the institution's artist-centered mission, while independently managing a range of administrative and stewardship responsibilities. Reporting to the Chief Program Officer and working in partnership with the Chief Curator, this role centers on the long-term planning and oversight of the Museum's growing permanent collection, which currently contains about 9,000 objects from the nineteenth through twenty-first centuries. The position requires deep knowledge of the work of artists of African descent, with particular emphasis on work created between 1900 and 1960, as well as an understanding of current artistic practice. The candidate will serve in a leadership role within the curatorial department and must be comfortable working in a collaborative, experimental, and culturally diverse setting, with the openness, flexibility, and diplomacy required for meaningful collaboration with contemporary artists, estates, and peer institutions.
The Role Overview
- Position Type: Exempt position, may require more than 40 hours per week
- Contract Type: Not specified in the source
- Salary: $90,000–$100,000 annually
- Reporting To: Chief Program Officer, in partnership with the Chief Curator
- Department / Programme: Curatorial Department
- Institutional Context: Leadership role within the curatorial department, co-supervising curatorial assistants, assistant curators, and curatorial fellows
Position & Tasks
- Conduct original research and organize visionary exhibitions; produce didactic texts and exhibition-related publications
- Manage loans, acquisitions, and donation offers
- Work closely with the museum registrar on the maintenance and care of the permanent collection
- Develop and lead a variety of projects related to the Museum's permanent collection, including conservation initiatives, rights and reproduction, and object research
- Create presentations and reports for various stakeholders, including trustees, committees, staff, and the public
- Manage departmental budget, supporting the development of grant and proposal budgets
- Co-supervise curatorial assistants, assistant curators, and curatorial fellows
- Cultivate and maintain relationships with a diverse constituency of artists, patrons, trustees, members of the press, professional associations, and local organizations
- Collaborate effectively across departments, communicating updates and representing the department at interdepartmental meetings
- Engage multiple audiences and stakeholders, both internal and external, across a variety of platforms
- Other duties as assigned
Categories
- Curatorial Practice
- Collection Management
- Art History
- Museum Studies
- Exhibition Making
- African Diaspora Art
- Arts Administration
Eligibility
- Master's degree in Art History with emphasis on modern and contemporary art by artists of African descent, and Black history and culture; PhD preferred
- At least 5 years of curatorial practice in a museum setting
- In-depth historical expertise in art by artists of African descent, with demonstrated command of the period from 1900 to 1960
- Demonstrated ability to situate historical works in dialogue with contemporary practices
- Ability to read the collection along present-day artistic, critical, and curatorial lines and make credible, rigorous connections
- Fluency with current global practices, including emerging artistic practice, and active engagement with the cultural community
- Experience with the stewardship of a permanent collection, including acquisitions and committee processes, provenance research, loans and administrative management, collection database systems, and partnership with registrars
- Ability to speak and write persuasively on the role of culturally specific institutions and collections in the museum field
- Exceptional speaking, writing, and research abilities required
- The Museum notes that applicants need not meet 100% of listed qualifications to apply
Program Benefits
- Salary of $90,000–$100,000 annually
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Life insurance
- Long-term disability insurance
- Retirement account
- Substantial vacation time
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 31 July 2026
Location
Harlem, New York City, United States
Additional Details
- The Museum will only be able to contact applicants whose knowledge, skills, and work experience best fit the position's requirements
- The Studio Museum in Harlem is an equal opportunity employer and considers all candidates regardless of race, color, sex, age, gender identification, national origin, creed, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or political affiliation
- The Museum describes itself as committed to an inclusive and transparent environment and encourages candidates of all backgrounds and perspectives to apply
- Physical demands for the role are noted as "N/A" in the source
- Work environment is described as fast-paced, with varying levels of guests and employees present; office locations are wheelchair accessible with elevators, and further accessibility accommodations can be discussed