The Skirball Cultural Center seeks an Associate Curator of Collections to join its museum team in a position focused on researching, exhibiting, acquisitions, digitally sharing, and shaping the future of its collections. The Skirball stewards one of largest collections of Jewish art, ritual objects, and material culture in the world. Ranging from the ancient to the contemporary, the 30,000 objects in the Skirball's collections reflect Jewish life in different eras and parts of the world and serve as tools for advancing the Skirball's mission.
The Associate Curator of Collections will play an important role in both ongoing and future Skirball museum initiatives. These include launching an online collections catalogue to make our collections objects widely accessible; creating a study collection for educational use; and spotlighting collections objects in a re-envisioned core exhibition on Jewish American culture, scheduled to open in 2029. This individual will assume a leading role in identifying new objects for acquisition that advance the Skirball's priorities. They will serve as the Museum Department's content specialist on the collections, liaising with Skirball colleagues across the institution, and engaging with scholars, community members, donors, and other stakeholders locally, nationally, and internationally.
Pay Range: $73,000 per year
Responsibilities
New Core Exhibition—Planning and Ongoing Curatorial Work:
- Serves as the Collections Specialist on the Core Renewal Team. Coordinates with Collections Manager and Registrars on the deinstallation of the Skirball's current core exhibition.
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Recommends collections objects for inclusion in the new core that align with the exhibition's Big Idea, Visitor Experience Goals, and Interpretive Plan. Identifies subject areas that require new objects. Leads efforts to identify and acquire those objects.
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Identifies subject areas that require new objects. Leads efforts to identify and acquire those objects.
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Provides support for temporary art commissions inspired by or in dialogue with Skirball collections objects.
- Manages and curates scheduled gallery and object rotations in the new core exhibition alongside internal and external collaborators.
Collections Digitization and Online Access:
- In consultation with the Museum Director and Collections Manager, determines which objects will go live on the database in 2027, 2028, and 2029.
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Selects objects and writes extended labels for Spotlight Objects.
- Gives curatorial approval for all records being published to the public-facing side of the database.
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Conducts research on objects in the collection. May supervise curatorial interns or subject area specialists helping to conduct research.
Acquisitions:
- Works with Museum Director to refine acquisitions plan.
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Identifies potential objects for acquisition and reviews all proposed object donations. Researches and presents these objects for consideration at Museum Collections Committee meetings.
- Edits acquisitions worksheets for each newly acquired object.
- Advises the Persian Jewish Art History and Culture Research Fellow on potential Persian Jewish acquisitions and stewards objects through the acquisitions process.
Study Collection and Deaccessions:
- Works with Collections Manager to create a Skirball study collection of objects.
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In consultation with Collections Manager, determines which objects the Museum Collections Committee should consider for deaccessioning before they go to the Museum Director and the Board.
Travel of Collections:
- Identifies collections objects for travel to other museums and curates focused, collections-based traveling exhibitions as assigned
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Responds to outside curatorial requests for information on collections objects for potential exhibition loans.
Internal Skirball Education:
- Provides Education Department staff with information about collections objects (on view and in storage) from MuseumPlus and our object files.
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Edits educator lesson plans related to Jewish history and holidays that draw from the permanent collection.
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Trains Skirball docents and educators on collections objects in the core.
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Reviews docent tour scripts about specific objects in the core.
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Shares collections information with Skirball interns and Teen Advisory Committee members.
External Visitor Facing:
- Answers content-specific questions from the public about objects in the Skirball collection.
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Gives spotlight talks on the collections during public festivals, openings, and other Skirball events.
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Provides images and curatorial text related to collections objects for Communications team to use on social media.
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Serves as LAHC (LA History Collective) representative from the Skirball.
Fundraising Related:
- In support of the Development team, leads donor tours and cultivation events related to the collection.
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Supports Collections Council engagement around potential new Skirball acquisitions.
Qualifications:
- Master's degree or higher in Jewish history, art history, American studies, or related subject.
- 4 years of more of prior museum experience, specifically in the research, handling, and presentation of collections objects for museum audiences.
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Academic background in Judaism and Jewish ritual objects.
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Excellent written and oral communication skills.
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Proven ability to multi-task, demonstrate flexibility, and work productively in teams.
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Prior experience working with collections databases recommended.
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Prior experience as an educator recommended.
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Ability to read Hebrew recommended. Knowledge of Farsi or Yiddish a plus.
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Personal resonance with the Skirball's mission of fostering human connections among audiences of diverse backgrounds and communities, and its goal of presenting an expansive and inclusive concept of Jewish identity through its collections.
