Vettoretto Curator of North American Archaeology - Toronto, Canada - Royal Ontario Museum

Royal Ontario Museum

Verified Company

Toronto, Canada

2 weeks ago

Posted by:

Sophia Lee

beBee Recruiter

Description

Position Summary:

The Vettoretto Curator of North American Archaeology (Curator) will lead a collaborative approach to stewarding ROM's North American, and especially Ontario, archaeology collection, creating exhibitions and presenting programs with Indigenous communities and for broad audiences, as well as undertaking research aligned with museum priorities.

Leading the repatriation of Indigenous ancestral belongings through deep engagement with relevant communities, in close partnership with the Hatch Curator of Indigenous Art and Culture, along with the Indigenous Interpretive Planner and Indigenous Museum Educator, the position reports to the Co-Chief Curator, Art and Culture and will be a key voice in rethinking colonial patterns of practice and centering Indigenous perspectives.

An accomplished researcher, the Curator of North American Archaeology will propose and develop ground-breaking exhibitions and interpret ROM's North American archaeology collection in collaboration with communities through inclusive, transdisciplinary thinking, digital practices, and innovation.

The Curator of North American Archaeology develops and cares for ROM's Archaeological collection with a focus on North American cultural materials representing over 13,000 years of human history.

The collection includes human remains, and continuing the appropriate return to communities is a top priority of the curatorship.

The position will also collaborate with ROM's Learning Department and Indigenous Museum Educators to develop Indigenous-centered educational and outreach programming, including supporting the Ontario curriculum in First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Studies.

The Curator of North American Archaeology will explore questions relevant to Canadian archaeology and throughout the contemporary world and will model inclusive interpretation of collections by a community of voices and viewpoints, acknowledging ROM as a forum rather than a sole authority.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Collections, Research, and Exhibitions**- Lead the repatriation of Indigenous ancestral belongings (including human remains) through deep engagement with relevant communities, in close partnership with the Hatch Curator of Indigenous Art and Culture, responding to developments in the field and community expectations, and establishing staff repatriation strategies and priorities.

Establish and lead a vision for the North American archaeology collection, including development of a 10year collection development plan in alignment with ROM's mission, vision, values, and strategic plan, and in integration with ROM's full collection.
Steward the North American archaeology collection, through fieldwork, study, rotation and display, care and recordkeeping, provenance research, digitization, and publication.
Build ROM's North American archaeology collection in new directions and through active field research and scholarly endeavor.
Develop original, scholarly research and publications relating to ROM collections, exhibitions, and related topics.
Conduct and facilitate research on the North American archaeology collection by visiting scholars.

Exhibition and Gallery Development

Collaborate with community stakeholders, curatorial colleagues, and interpretive staff to generate innovative visitorcentric and transdisciplinary gallery and exhibition projects.
Participate in Master Gallery Interpretative Planning (MGIP), and work with ROM exhibition staff to continue redevelopment of ROM's Daphne Cockwell Gallery Dedicated to First Peoples Art and Culture.
Oversee content development for gallery interventions, rotations, programs, and special exhibitions in North American Archaeology and contribute to larger crossinstitutional and transdisciplinary exhibition and gallery projects.

Public Programs and Community Engagement

Initiate onsite and virtual programs and school curriculum related to North American Archaeology in collaboration with Indigenous Museum Educators and engagement staff.
Develop relationships with Indigenous communities to build dialogue, interpretation and pedagogy relating to their ancestral belongings.
Provide lectures, tours, and workshops to the general public, volunteers, professional colleagues, and museum supporters.
Cultivate financial and other support for exhibitions, galleries, programs, symposia, acquisitions, research grants, and fellowships through association with professional organizations, foundations, collectors, and donors in collaboration with fundraising staff
Embrace other collections, research, exhibition, gallery development, public program and community engagement duties as needed.

Traits and Characteristics:

The Curator of North American Archaeology will be receptive to and will effectively communicate innovative ideas, methods, and opportunities in honouring the past while framing relevant contemporary societal issues.

They will seek to learn and acqu