Curatorial Research Assistant in African Arts and Repatriation
Work closely with UMMA’s Assistant Curator of African Art and play a vital role as part of UMMA’s ongoing restitution and repatriation initiative focused on the Museum’s collection of African arts.
The Curatorial Research Assistant (African Arts and Repatriation) will play a vital role as part of UMMA’s ongoing restitution and repatriation initiative focused on the Museum’s collection of African arts. This position is funded through a grant from the Mellon Foundation.
The research assistant will investigate the provenance of selected objects in UMMA’s permanent collection, coordinate with external specialists and partner institutions—including those based in Africa—and contribute to planning a future exhibition at UMMA that explores the complex issues of repatriation and restitution in the museum field. Additional responsibilities include maintaining clear and organized research records, reviewing recent academic literature and current events relevant to cultural repatriation, and drafting digital content for the project website.
Working closely with UMMA’s Assistant Curator of African Art, the Curatorial Research Assistant will develop practical skills in provenance and object-based research, gain expertise in the challenges and current debates surrounding the restitution of cultural heritage, and expand their art historical knowledge of African arts.
Applicants should be graduate students or advanced undergraduates with:
- demonstrated independent research and writing skills
- experience conducting research relating to African arts, history, or culture,
- and/or direct research experience in Africa
As much of the collection under review originates from West and Central Africa (particularly Nigeria, Mali, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo), applicants with relevant language proficiency or research backgrounds in these regions are especially encouraged to apply, though these qualifications are not required.
UMMA will work with selected graduate students and their academic departments to explore the possibility of appointing this position as a Graduate Student Research Assistant (GSRA), if requested.
Start and end dates for this role are flexible. Candidates should be prepared to commit to 10–15 weeks (beginning in either Fall 2025 or Winter 2026), with the potential for extension beyond one semester.
Department:
Curatorial Affairs
Location:
On-site at UMMA
Appointment:
Part-Time
Hourly Rate:
$18 – $23 /hour
Hours Per Week:
10 – 15 hrs/week