The Museum der Weltkulturen in Frankfurt, founded in 1904, is a Research Museum with an exceptional collection of 67,000 artefacts from all regions of the world including the African continent, the Americas, South East Asia, Oceania, and Europe. In addition, the Museum has an image archive with more than 120,000 photographs, a growing collection of historical and contemporary ethnographic film, and a library with over 50,000 books and periodicals. Housed in three 19th century villas located on Frankfurt’s ‘Museumsufer’, the Museum produces public exhibitions, programmes events, commissions new inquiry from social scientists, writers, and visual artists, and develops innovative approaches to education. A new extension to the Villas will be built during the course of the next four years, which will provide additional space for permanent and temporary exhibitions, a public reading room, a public study collection, and other facilities.
The central feature of the Museum lies in the combination of anthropology, advanced art practice, and experimental methods of analysis, translation and mediation. Activities take place in the museum’s exhibition spaces as well as in the Labor with its apartments, artists’ studios, and seminar rooms. With the collection at the forefront, issues of globalisation, aesthetic practice, and the changing nature of citizenship and intercultural identity are explored through a pioneering fieldwork process that takes place in the Museum itself.
The Museum is seeking to employ a Research Curator for Africa. The person must be well-versed in material culture and art forms from Africa. In addition, the Museum places emphasis on knowledge of new developments in social and cultural anthropology, current debates in global contemporary art, and cultural studies.
Duties are as follows: Ongoing update of the databank for the area; cataloguing of new acquisitions; development of research projects and exhibitions in collaboration with guest curators, scholars, and artists; development of seminars and lectures for students and members of the public; collaboration with the education department and development of programmes for children and young people; involvement in the preparation of exhibitions for the new museum extension, including development of the permanent exhibition; coordination of travelling exhibitions and loans; writing and editing of texts for publications, press, and online newsletters.
Requirements: The applicant must have the equivalent of a Masters Degree or Ph.D. These can be from the following fields: Anthropology, Area Studies, Cultural Studies, Museum Studies, Art History, Contemporary Art, and Curatorial Studies; proven knowledge of the region in question, including research projects and, if possible, field experience; excellent organizational, planning and administrative abilities with outstanding verbal and written communication skills; engagement in the Museum’s development and readiness to work unfavourable hours; MS Office, creativity, flexibility, and fluency in written and spoken German.
The Employer seeks to enhance employment opportunities for women. Applications from women are encouraged. There is the possibility for part-time employment. Applicants with disabilities will be selected first, should applicants be of equal competence.
For further information on the post please contact Dr Clémentine Deliss on (0049)69 212 35391. For financial information please contact Mr. Gawrich on (0049)69 212 35610.
Please send your CV and covering letter post dated no later than 30th September 2011.
Magistrat der Stadt Frankfurt am Main
Personal- und Organisationsamt
Kennziffer 3202/020
–11.33–
Alte Mainzer Gasse 4
60311 Frankfurt am Main
Digital applications are not acceptable.
