Guest Curator

The National Academy of Design 

Founded in 1825, the National Academy of Design promotes art and architecture in America. As the leading honorary society for visual artists and architects in the United States, we advocate for the arts as a tool for education, celebrate the role of artists and architects in public life, and serve as a catalyst for cultural conversations that propel society forward.

In September 2025, the National Academy of Design will launch “The 200 Year Project,” a yearlong series of exhibitions, public programs, and special projects to mark the Academy's 200th anniversary. Coincident with the United States’ semi-quincentennial, "The 200 Year Project” will use the Academy’s own history to question who has been excluded from the canon, how we can rethink narratives used to understand our culture, and how artists themselves help shape those narratives. 

The Project 

As the kick-off to our anniversary year, Whose America? is an exhibition that will critically examine the United States’ relationship to the Americas in all its pluralities. Organized to unpack the myriad influences - regional, political, and cultural - that have shaped the United States’ cultural landscape in its contemporary iteration, the exhibition asks who is America, who does it belong to, and why the United States has purchase on the term “America” within two hemispheres of the world that encompasses multiple experiences of America including Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada, all of which are underpinned by indigenous cultures whose ties to the land precede the founding of this country.  

Whose America? is an expression that can be interpreted in multiple ways, firstly Whose as in who does it belong to? Secondly, Who is, or Who’s America? as in who makes up, or belongs to America. Following the United States’ founding, art and architecture were instrumental in the effort of nation building, helping to shape and define an American identity. With its founding by fifteen artists and architects in the early 19th Century, the National Academy is well-poised to question and trouble the notion of America as the United States, by recognizing the significant cultural contributions made by indigenous people, formerly enslaved people, and immigrant communities, without whom America would be a very different place. 

The Position

The National Academy of Design is seeking a Guest Curator to work in tandem with Associate Curator Natalia Viera Salgado on this upcoming exhibition. This is an exciting opportunity for a curator whose research interests focus on any of the following: national and cultural identity, migration, history, colonialism, the crossover of art and architecture, and historical art collections. A timeline and full list of the responsibilities of the role is below, but it is expected that the Guest Curator will commit to a project timeline beginning in early May and concluding in October/November of 2025. 

Production Schedule

Working backward from the exhibition opening date (currently slated for October 16, 2025), the Guest Curator and Associate Curator will draft a full production schedule for this exhibition to then be shared with all National Academy staff. 

Budget

Using an exhibition budget template, the Guest Curator and Associate Curator will develop an estimated budget for the exhibition for review and approval by the Executive Director. 

Checklist

The Guest Curator and Associate Curator will develop an exhibition checklist that includes artworks that sufficiently present and explore the narrative of the exhibition. 

Outside Loans

Working with the Academy’s Registrar, the Guest Curator and Associate Curator will correspond with lenders to secure all works in the exhibition. The Guest Curator may be called upon to assist in finalizing loan agreements and to accept artworks upon delivery at the Academy. 

Writing

Both the Guest Curator and Associate Curator will develop an interpretive essay to accompany the show. This essay will be included in a printed exhibition brochure available during the run of the exhibition. The division of writing labor can be decided by the two curators. 

Accompanying Texts & Images

Guest Curator and Associate Curator will write all wall and label text and compile high resolution images of the checklist works and provide them to our graphic designers by the deadlines specified in the project timeline. Writing accompanying wall text and labels, as well as compiling high-resolution images, will be divided evenly between the two curators, unless they choose to otherwise divide this responsibility. 

Programming

The Guest Curator and Associate Curator will meet with the Programs Department to discuss possible programmatic avenues and ideas for public programming held during the run of the exhibition. While the Guest Curator is not responsible for creating these programs, they may be asked to participate as a moderator or speaker. 

Exhibition Design & Installation

The Guest Curator and Associate Curator will work together to create a layout, timeline, and to-do list for the installation and design of the exhibition. In addition, both the Guest Curator and the Associate Curator must be on-hand during installation of the exhibition to ensure that Art Handlers are directed and that all protocols are followed. 

Press & Promotion

The Guest Curator will work with the Academy’s outside public relations firm to draft a press release as well as to make themselves available for press interviews that may arise from outreach to journalists and news outlets. 

Opening Event

The Guest Curator will be required to attend the opening celebration for Whose America? currently scheduled for October 16, 2025. 

Deinstallation

The Guest Curator is not responsible for being available during deinstallation but may be asked to respond to inquiries regarding lingering questions about artwork, loans, or conditions, as needed. 

Timeline

This project will commence upon signing of an agreement, which the Academy hopes to complete by April/May 2025. Completion of the project will be around October/November 2025, after the opening of the exhibition and conclusion of any related, scheduled exhibition walk-throughs or press appointments. An exact commencement and conclusion date will be confirmed in an agreement. 

Qualifications

Candidates must have at least ten years of curatorial experience, or ten years of a relevant combination of curatorial, collections, and arts management experience. An MA/PhD in art history, or related discipline, with a focus on contemporary American art is preferred but not required. Candidates should be able to demonstrate a track record of curating and producing impactful exhibitions and projects. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, the ability to successfully manage project budgets, and a collaborative and generous work style are all required.

To Apply

Please send a short cover letter, a CV or résumé that includes a list of previously curated exhibitions, and two writing samples to [email protected]. Links to past exhibitions or projects are greatly appreciated. Please include “Guest Curator” in the subject line.

The deadline to apply is Friday, April 18, 2025, at 12:00 (noon).

Hiring Statement

The National Academy of Design is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. We strongly encourage women, veterans, people with disabilities, people of color, and gender nonconforming candidates to apply. The National Academy of Design is an equal opportunity employer and considers all candidates for employment regardless of race, color, sex, age, gender identification, national origin, creed, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or political affiliation.

04/18/2025