The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art is the only facility in the United States dedicated exclusively to the exhibition and preservation of Africa’s traditional and contemporary arts. With the generous support of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Museum is pleased to offer a post-graduate fellowship in conservation that provides the opportunity to further refine examination and treatment skills, and to pursue collection-based research. The fellow will gain experience working in our small, collaborative museum environment, which has access to the resources at the Museum Conservation Institute and the larger Smithsonian research community. Beginning in fall 2017, the one-year fellowship (renewable for a second year) is part of an initiative designed to promote conservation training, diversity in the profession, and African art scholarship.
The fellow’s own interests will help dictate the selection of objects to be treated and a research direction, and the incumbent may participate in work generated by the museum’s exhibition and acquisition schedule. There is the opportunity to treat contemporary as well as traditional artworks. The fellow will pursue a research project that contributes to African art conservation and/or art history and participate in the mentoring of undergraduate ‘explorer’ interns and pre-program interns.
The fellowship is open to US and International citizens who are recent graduates from a recognized conservation training program, or have equivalent experience, and who have proficient English language skills (written and spoken).
Applicants must register and submit an online application via the Smithsonian Online Academic Appointment system (SOLAA). After registering, sign onto the SOLAA system. At the top of the screen, select “Start your Application”; Select “Fellowship” and “National Museum of African Art” from the drop-down program lists.
Stipend: $43,000/year plus a healthcare stipend of $2500/year and a travel/research stipend of $4000/year
Deadline for application: February 15, 2017
For further information contact: Dana Moffett, Senior Conservator moffettd@si.edu
Dana Moffett
Senior Conservator
National Museum of African Art