Reporting to the Director & CEO for performance reviews with a focus on four areas:

·     Content: Realizing the vision and concepts that foreground exhibitions, programs, and acquisitions for the Norton’s Asian Collection.

·     Collaboration: Sharing their vision and concepts to form meaningful programs with Learning & Community Engagement (LCE) and developing meaningful messages with Communications to ensure Curatorial projects are relevant to the community.

·     Cultivation: Engaging with current and future Norton supporters to generate gifts of art, develop collections, attend art fairs, and lead collector groups in addition to continuing to develop the Museum’s collection of art.

·     Coordination: Meeting key milestones in exhibition production and following the curatorial workflow and collection-related procedures created in partnership with the Chief Curatorial Operations & Research Officer.

The Elizabeth B McGraw Senior Curator of Asian Art will demonstrate in-depth knowledge of Asian art, with a special emphasis on the art of China from the pre-dynastic periods to the present day. The Senior Curator of Asian Art will lead the development, growth, and interpretation of the Museum’s Asian Collection, encompassing nearly 900 objects (including bronzes, ceramics, decorative arts, glass, hardstones, jades, lacquer, paintings, porcelain, prints, sculptures, and textiles). With a special focus on the Norton’s strong holdings of early- and late-jade and hardstones as well as ceramics, the Senior Curator of Asian Art will have extensive experience curating and developing Asian art collections. The Norton’s Asian Art Collection, previously the “Chinese Art Collection,” was an early addition to the Norton’s holdings which began in 1942 under the Museum’s founder, Ralph Norton, just one year after the Museum opened. The early acquisitions consisted of Chinese jade and bronzes, but expanded over the years to include ceramics, lacquer, export and import porcelain, and most recently, paintings. While the Collection does include works from other cultures, the majority of artworks in this collecting area were made in China. This role expands the scope of the curatorial focus to grow the Museum’s holdings of works from a wider range of Asian countries.

Additionally, the Senior Curator of Asian Art will serve as an important voice to support the Norton’s adjacent Contemporary Art Collection, Modern Art Collection, and Photography Collection, working in collaboration with the Glenn W. & Cornelia T. Bailey Senior Curator of Contemporary Art, the Harold and Anne Berkley Smith Senior Curator of Modern Art, and the William and Sarah Ross Soter Curator of Photography.

The Elizabeth B McGraw Senior Curator of Asian Art will develop a relevant program of innovative, original exhibitions in collaboration with the Director & CEO, the Chief Curatorial Operations & Research Officer (CCORO), and the Curator team. They will be familiar with the requirements and approximate costs to realize exhibitions within specific timelines and budgets in partnership with the CCORO.  

A well-connected professional, the Senior Curator of Asian Art will also collaborate with their colleagues in LCE and Communications to develop engaging and dynamic programs that contribute to the Norton’s mission and build the institution’s brand.

The Elizabeth B McGraw Senior Curator of Asian Art will collaborate with the Director & CEO and Chief Development and External Affairs Officer to generate financial support of Asian art through donor visits and grant and foundation applications. Alongside their Development Colleagues, the Senior Curator of Asian Art will also develop, expand, and sustain the Chinese Art Council (CAC), one of the Norton’s four collector groups that consist of sophisticated collectors and enthusiasts. 

In addition to reporting to the Director & CEO, Curators are accountable to CCORO to meet deadlines that ensure curatorial projects remain on schedule. The CCORO also reports to the Director & CEO and represents the Curatorial Department as a member of the Museum’s Senior Staff. The CCORO is the Curators’ strategic partner, working alongside them, and leading the museum’s registrars and installers to realize visionary, research-driven curatorial projects, and programs.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Collections:

·        Oversee the Asian art collection, primarily focusing with a special emphasis on the art of China from the pre-dynastic periods to the present day

·        Review and develop the installation of Asian art galleries

·        Research and interpret and artworks in this Collecting area; write and update collection didactics as needed

·        Develop the Museum’s Collection Development Strategy for Asian art in collaboration with Director and CEO; refine collection through proposal of regular and responsible de-accessioning

·        Identify and present acquisitions to the Norton’s Works of Art Committee (WOAC) with awareness of the commercial market and important Asian art trends

·        Serve on cross-departmental committees as requested

·        Build and maintain relationships with curators, directors, dealers, auction professionals, critics, journalists, and others in the art world.

Exhibitions and Programming:

·        Conceive and organize exhibitions based on rigorous research and original ideas that can be built from the Collection or through loaned objects

When applicable, identify and secure venues for Norton Asian art exhibitions in collaboration with Director and CEO

Present holistic exhibition proposals that incorporate educational programming and marketing in collaboration with LCE and Marketing colleagues, to be presented to the Audience Development Committee (ADC)

Conduct research and write all exhibition didactics including introductory texts, labels, brochures, and catalogues

Act as coordinating venue curator for guest-curated or other traveling Asian art exhibitions

Design exhibitions and collection installations in collaboration with the CCORO, Director of Exhibition Design & Installation, and the Director of Creative Services

Organize and present public programs in collaboration with LCE colleagues

Collaborate with Communications colleagues to promote Asian art exhibitions and projects through interviews with the media and other press engagements

In collaboration with the CCORO, outline exhibition and collection budgets, demonstrating familiarity with all project costs including installation, conservation, travel, etc.

Cultivation:

Engage donors in the cultivation of gifts of art for the Norton’s Collection, in collaboration with the Director & CEO and Chief Development and External Affairs Officer.

Partner with the Development Team to oversee the Chinese Art Council (CAC), including developing annual program of special events and finding potential acquisitions for the group

Support grant writing for curatorial projects in collaboration with the Chief Development Officer and Director of Institutional Giving

Collaborate with Director & CEO and Chief Development and External Affairs Officer to solicit funds for Asian art acquisitions, exhibitions, and programs

Develop and maintain relationships with Trustees, collectors, donors, private funders, and foundations.

Represent the museum at national and international art fairs, exhibitions openings, and art world events.

Qualifications:

M.A. in Art History with a specialization in Chinese Art, or a field relevant to the Norton’s Asian Art Collection; Ph.D. preferred

·        A minimum of 8 to 10 years of curatorial experience in Asian art with a history of building and interpreting Asian art collections within a museum setting

·        Demonstrated record of developing unique and innovative Asian art exhibitions with a focus on Chinese art from the pre-dynastic era to today

·        Demonstrated record of organizing exhibitions with partner institutions for traveling exhibitions

·        Demonstrated record of building a Collection Development Strategy and successfully acquiring works that align with it

·        Excellent writing skills demonstrated by authorship of publications or associated exhibition texts

·        Strong public speaking skills and ability to develop presentations and lectures that contribute to meaningful dialogue and audience engagement

·        Established contacts with Asian art experts, artists, collectors, dealers, curators, other museum professionals, critics and art journalists

·        Familiarity with international art fairs, Asian art dealers, galleries, and alternative, independent spaces

·        Strong collaboration skills and knowledge of current best curatorial practices

·        Perform other associated duties as responsibilities necessitate

·        Proficiency in Chinese language is a plus

Please contact Ryan Leichenauer at rleichenauer@imsearch.com to apply.