The Harvard Art Museums seeks a leader in the field to become the next Houghton Curator and the Head of the Division of Modern and Contemporary Art. Reporting to the Chief Curator, the Houghton Curator will engage in scholarly and public debates on the Harvard University campus and beyond, will inspire and guide, and will bring fresh perspectives into the narratives and presentations of the art of the 20th and 21st centuries both through their own scholarship and initiatives and through setting direction for the Mod-Con division. *Please note: This position will also take on the role of Division Head of Modern and Contemporary Art for a period of three years, which may be extended. Particulars will be discussed with candidates during the interview process.

Position Description:
The Houghton Curator and Division Head will join the staff at the museums as they implement a broad, multi-year rethinking and reframing of the permanent collections and galleries, a key goal of the museums’ newly-formed five-year Strategic Plan. Working in a team environment, the curator promotes dialogue, engagement, and experimentation. The curator collaborates with colleagues across the museums, in particular in the two other curatorial divisions—European and American Art; Asian and Mediterranean Art—as well as the Division of Academic and Public Programs and the Straus Center for Conservation and Technical Studies. The curator will work closely with the curator of Prints and the curator of Drawings who are both situated in the Division of European and American Art. The Houghton Curator will seek programmatic partnerships across the Harvard campus and lead conversations on critical issues in contemporary art.

As Houghton Curator:
Make new acquisitions to diversify the collections and craft an ambitious exhibition, research and publication program; create exhibition checklists, propose and oversee loan requests and other exhibition-related project management, and public programs; work closely with students and faculty to foster significant and sustained curricular use of the collection for both undergraduate and graduate teaching; actively cultivate donors and supporters; in collaboration with development colleagues in Institutional Advancement, conduct outreach to individuals, foundations, and governmental agencies to raise funds for a range of museum priorities, including acquisitions, exhibitions, conservation, and publications; mentor and supervise postdoc curatorial fellows within the institution, as well as Division graduate interns and undergraduate student workers.

As Division Head:
Lead the activities of the Division of Modern and Contemporary Art, including implementing aspects of the strategic plan; annual budget planning, preparation and submission; staff management, including performance management and goal-setting; exhibition planning for the division (with the Chief Curator and other colleagues); supervising provenance research on objects in the permanent collection and potential acquisitions; participating as a member of the Museums Management Team.

For more details and how to apply, please visit external link.