About the Department
Founded in 1924, the American Wing is the only western collecting area of The Met's seventeen curatorial departments to regularly blend art and design in our more than 75 galleries. With a collection of roughly 20,000 works by African American, Asian American, Euro-American, Latin American, and Native American makers-ranging primarily from the mid-17th to early -20th century, with select contemporary expressions-the American Wing represents one of the largest and most comprehensive holdings of North American artistic expression in the world. These dynamic collections include paintings, sculptures, drawings, furniture, textiles, regalia, ceramics, basketry, glass, silver, metalwork, jewelry, as well as historic interiors and architectural fragments, produced by highly trained staff and self-taught artists, both identified and unrecorded, comprising an expansively defined American art department housed within a global museum.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES
As the Research Associate for Native American art, you will support the Associate Curator of Native American Art in the research and documentation of The Met's Native American holdings. You will contribute to ongoing collection and exhibition development as well as assist with various related administrative duties, including bibliography and database work. You will also collaborate with the American Wing's NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act) Coordinator and Community Liaison to assist in planning community visits and related activities.
This is a position with an established end-date or time frame. Time frames will begin upon hire: 1 Year, with the possibility of renewal.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES
Curatorial
Investigate and document diverse works to be featured in loan exhibitions and collection installations, including provenance, bibliography, and exhibition-history research
Create and maintain checklists and associated files
Draft and edit content for exhibitions and publications in collaboration with curator
Assist curator in interfacing with various Museum departments involved in project development and realization, including Exhibitions, Registration, Conservation, Design, Digital, Editorial, Communications, Development, and Education
Assist curator with provenance research for potential purchase and gift acquisitions, as well as incoming and outgoing loans for exhibitions
Prepare PowerPoint materials for lectures in support of projects; deliver gallery talks and tours as needed
Coordinate and assist with procurement of rights for images, video, music, and other content for exhibitions and related publications
Assist with on-site gallery installations
Other duties as assigned
NAGPRA-Related
Assist NAGPRA Coordinator & Community Liaison with provenance research as needed
Assist with logistics of community visits and repatriation arrangements as needed
Assist with data entry of information resulting from consultations, community visits, and other communications as needed
REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS
M.A. in Native American Art History, Native/Indigenous Studies, Museum Studies, or Anthropology
Advanced knowledge of Native American art and culture
Familiarity with NAGPRA compliance and repatriation protocols, also the Duty of Care under new regulations published on Jan. 12, 2024
Past experience in curatorial museum work
Familiarity with research resources
Familiarity with relational databases for museum collections management, TMS preferred
Highly organized and detail-oriented
Independent research skills
Past experience working with Native American Nations, Tribes, Pueblos, Organizations, and communities
Demonstrated commitment to ethical stewardship of Native American and Indigenous communities
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
Proven ability to work well both independently and as a member of a team
COMPENSATION RANGE:
Pay Range: $72,000.00 - $74,000.00 / Annually
The advertised pay scale reflects the good faith minimum and maximum salary range for this role. The advertised pay scale is not a promise of a particular wage for any specific employee. The specific compensation offered to a candidate may be dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate's experience, education, special licensing or qualifications, and other factors.
