Morgan State University, a historically black university (HBCU) in Baltimore, Maryland, is seeking an experienced curator for the James E. Lewis Museum of Art (JELMA), Morgan State’s premier art gallery with permanent collections extending from the ninth century to the present. JELMA is the cultural extension of Morgan State University’s Fine Arts academic program. Developed to enhance the scholastic experience of the University’s student population and the community’s exposure to works of art, JELMA provides opportunities to experience exhibitions, programs and lectures. Established in 1952, it houses over 5,000 works of art including African, Oceanic, Asian, European, American, and Contemporary art.

The University is seeking an experienced, visionary, and dynamic leader, who is inspired by the richness and diversity of the collection, and its role in furthering Morgan’s mission to serve as an intellectual and cultural resource by educating a diverse student population. Under the supervision of the museum director, the curator supports Morgan in its goal of promoting academic excellence with scholarship in the visual arts. The curator is responsible for stewarding JELMA’s collection, providing guidance to staff and volunteers, and promoting the collection by organizing a year-round series of exhibitions that are mindful of the transformational changes currently taking place in the interpretation of objects and public outreach. In the tradition of museum collections at HBCUs, JELMA has a growing legacy and ambition to create a sense of privilege and passion critical to the collecting and preservation of African American art; thus, JELMA continues to view its contribution as one of crucial importance to the heritage of not only African American history and culture but to the entire legacy of American Art.