Description

The Department of Art of Asia at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, invites applicants for the Zhou Family Curator of Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy position. 

Position Summary 

A global leader of Asian art, the Art of Asia Department at the MFA represents arts and cultures from the Asian continent and the Islamic world through its world-class collection and program. Within this diverse collection is Chinese paintings and calligraphy, considered the most comprehensive outside China. The core of the Chinese paintings and calligraphy collection was formed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, with a particular strength in Song dynasty paintings. The recent gift of the Wan-go H. C. Weng family collection significantly expands the MFA’s holdings of Ming and Qing dynasty works, enabling the Museum to tell the story of art-making and practice in a wide range of periods, styles, and schools.  

Reporting to the Matsutaro Shoriki Chair, Art of Asia, the Zhou Family Curator is a core member of the Asian art curatorial team. The Zhou Family Curator will work closely with conservators and collections care specialists to strengthen and extend the representation of Chinese art as an essential and active part of the MFA’s global collection and program. Together with the Chair and curatorial colleagues, the Zhou Family Curator will develop and contribute to exhibitions, installations, collections research, and acquisitions. The Zhou Family Curator will research, interpret, and care for the existing historic collection of Chinese paintings and calligraphy, ensuring it remains relevant and accessible to visitors today. In addition, the Zhou Family Curator will have the opportunity to expand the collection into modern and contemporary eras through acquisitions and programs. 

The Zhou Family Curator will embrace and deepen the Museum’s core values, including the experience of our visitors, which is paramount to our mission, strategies and achievements. As with all members of the Department of Art of Asia, the Zhou Family Curator will respond to scholarly and public inquiries related to the Chinese paintings and calligraphy collection, and provide access to it when appropriate. The Zhou Family Curator will help manage donor relationships and assist with programs for museums supporters and benefactors. In addition, the Zhou Family Curator will have the opportunity to contribute to the field of Chinese art by fostering the development of a new generation of museum professionals through MFA Pathways internship program.  

Requirements

Candidate Minimum Qualifications and Experience

• Advanced degree in Chinese Art History or closely related field.
• Bi-lingual in English and Chinese, with additional fluency in reading Classical Chinese, seals, and inscriptions
• Minimum of seven years of experience in a museum or comparable institution
• Demonstrated curatorial ability through exhibitions, gallery displays, programs, or other activities
   

Ideal Candidate Profile

• A breadth of knowledge and experience in the field of Chinese paintings and calligraphy, as well as a willingness to gain expertise in new areas
  Committed to researching, caring for, and interpreting Chinese paintings and calligraphy for diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated experience leading exhibitions, programs, and projects, including those developed in collaboration with other institutions, scholars, artists, and community leaders.
• Clear commitment to IDEA (inclusion, diversity, equity, access) through current and past projects and collaborations.
• Curiosity and ability to think expansively and reimagine access to the Museum’s collections for local and global audiences of the twenty-first century.
• A commitment to engage in the issues, ideas, debates, and practices related to the changing nature of art museums and their relationship to the public.
• Experience working in partnership and engaging with donors, collectors, scholars, external communities, and other partners.
• Experience and knowledge of “The Museum System” (TMS).
• Strong planning and project management skills with the ability to manage various projects simultaneously.
• Strong sense of accountability for achieving stated objectives and flexibility when plans change
   

Personal Qualities and Attributes

• Intellectual rigor demonstrated by a portfolio of exhibitions, collection installations, public engagements, and publications of Chinese paintings and calligraphy.
•  Curious, passionate, and inspirational, with a dynamic communication ability to engage colleagues and stakeholders.
• A highly-collaborative team player with interpersonal skills and a generous spirit.
• Superior judgment, tact and diplomacy, with good organizational and prioritization skills 
   

Salary Range

Full-time Salary, 35 hours per week

Starting Salary: $89,787

This position is affiliated with the UAW union

The MFA is an equal opportunity employer. The community and audience we serve is diverse, and we wish to foster that diversity in our workplace. Toward that end, the MFA does not discriminate against individuals in hiring, employment or promotion on the basis of race, religion, color, sex/gender, gender identity and gender expression, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, citizenship, handicap or disability, veteran or military status, political belief, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.