Curator, African American Art and Art of the African Diaspora

Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America

Posted Friday, July 31, 2026 at 4:00 AM

REPORTS TO: Deputy Director, Art, Education, and Programs

REMOTE WORK ELIGIBILITY: Partial

GENERAL SUMMARY

Under the direction of the Deputy Director, Art, Education, and Programs, the Curator, African American Art and Art of the African Diaspora will develop, expand, research, publish, and present the DIA’s collection of African American Art and the Art of the African Diaspora. The curator explores the historic and contemporary representations of people of African descent; proposes acquisitions and conducts collection review;

makes studio and gallery visits; coordinates projects, installations, and commissions; devises public programs and executes exhibitions; and cultivates donors and gifts for the collection.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Create, maintain, and update physical and digital departmental records in accordance with the DIA’s archival and data standards.
• Field and respond to inquiries about the collection from scholars and the public.
• Conceive, support, research, and coordinate exhibitions in partnership with the Interpretation, Conservation, and Exhibitions departments.
• Research and document objects, including provenance, and archival research.
• Contribute to the strategic vision for the DIA’s collecting and exhibition of African American Art and Art of the African Diaspora.
• Identify, propose, and review significant acquisitions with the Deputy Director for purchase, gift, or bequest.
• Collaborate with Curator, African American Art on acquisitions, review of loan requests and deaccessions.
• Collaborate with museum conservators and registrars to care for the permanent collection and objects on long-term loans.
• Build and maintain relationships with local, regional, national, and international artists, collectors, and dealers.
• Prepare general and scholarly publications on the collection and exhibitions.
• Partner effectively with the division of Learning and Audience Engagement to develop didactic materials for the permanent galleries and exhibitions.
• Support the development of educational materials for K–12.
• Participate in the training of gallery teachers and Docent Committee.
• Support the Development Department’s efforts to cultivate existing and prospective patrons and to identify, apply for, and report on grant-funded activities.
• Originate and participate in public programs.
• Travel, on occasion, as a museum courier, as well as for research and conferences.
• Apply DIA values to interactions to support a culture of belonging among internal and external stakeholders.
• Perform other related duties, as assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Master’s degree in art history or related field from an accredited college or university required. A Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in art history or related field preferred. Minimum of seven (7) years of working experience in a museum, non-collecting institutions, or university. Additional years of experience may be substituted for the degree requirement.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrated record of research and scholarship in area of collection expertise.
• Previous experience with archival, object-based, and provenance research.
• Experience with collections database software, The Museum System (TMS) preferred.
• Demonstrated experience partnering on interpretation/education for gallery, re-installation, and exhibitions projects.
• Demonstrated accomplishments in publication of exhibitions and collections or object-based research.
• Demonstrated collaboration skills to work across departments and divisions internally and with diverse stakeholders externally.
• Ability to make creative, effective, and timely decisions aligned with organizational mission, vision, values, and strategic direction.
• Demonstrated ability to speak publicly, including presenting or sharing information in a clear, effective, and engaging manner suited to the audience.
• Demonstrated…