Published on September 6, 2024

About the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

Founded in 1860, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) has been built on the generosity of multiple generations of Montrealers. Its mission is to acquire, conserve, study, interpret and present significant works of art from around the world and from every era, in the hope that members of its community and all Museum visitors may benefit from the transformative powers of art.

The MMFA’s collection showcases Quebec and Canadian heritage, Indigenous art and international art from a progressive and innovative perspective. It comprises close to 47,000 paintings, sculptures, graphic artworks, photographs, multimedia installations and decorative art objects dating from antiquity to the present. The MMFA’s exhibitions and cultural programming aim to inspire new ways of looking at art and the history of art.

As a hub of art, community and exchange and a pioneer in the provision of art therapy, the Museum collaborates with partners in the fields of community organization, education, health and technology to offer all audiences an enriching and transformative experience of art. Thus, through each of its projects, the MMFA continues to strive towards a more inclusive, accessible and just world.

The challenge

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is seeking someone to fill the position of Curator of Decorative Arts and Design. Reporting to the Chief Curator, this person will guide the orientation of the MMFA’s collection of decorative arts and design, one of the largest of its kind in North America. This renowned collection of over 10,000 objects comprises silverware, jewellery, ceramics, metal works, textile works and furniture, created by artists, craftspeople and designers from Canada and abroad. Possessing a strong Modern component and a rich variety of materials and styles, it retraces the major movements that have shaped the history of decorative arts and design since the 15th century.

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Establishing the orientation of the collection in accordance with the MMFA’s priorities.
• Developing and overseeing the decorative arts and design acquisition program by carrying out the appropriate research and processes.
• Developing and promoting the exhibition program for decorative arts and design.
• Writing articles for exhibition catalogues and other publications, as well as guides, research reports and various other cultural mediation documents.
• Cultivating lasting partnerships with collectors and patrons, consultants, academics, prospective donors and organizations with the potential to support and enrich the collection.
• Determining the themes of exhibitions on decorative arts and design by conducting the appropriate research and curating objects, while working closely with exhibition production specialists.
• Working in close collaboration with management as well as with colleagues in the Curatorial Department and other Museum departments and divisions (Conservation, Exhibition Production, the MMFA Foundation, the Learning and Community Engagement Division, etc.).
• Enriching and promoting the MMFA’s collection in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and abroad.
• Delivering oral presentations to journalists as well as at MMFA public events.

The successful candidate will possess:

• A master’s degree in art history with a concentration in decorative arts. A doctoral degree is an asset.
• At least four (4) years’ experience as a curator, being responsible for collections, or occupying a similar role.
• A strong passion for and recognized leadership in their field.
• A keen interest in interdisciplinary subjects.
• Strong team-playing skills and an ability to meet deadlines and comply with the priorities set forth by the Museum and its partners.
• Facility with writing academic and educational texts, forging strong relationships with donors, and prospecting in Canada’s two official languages.
• Autonomy, ambition, curiosity, initiative and creativity.
• Mastery of French and English (oral and written).

Salary : $ 77,000 to $ 90,000

Pursuant to its mission, the MMFA encourages diversity on its teams and invites candidates from all backgrounds with the required skills to apply. Please send your application to emploi@mbamtl.org with the position title in the email subject line.