ACM is the only museum in the region devoted to exploring the rich artistic heritage of Asia, especially the ancestral cultures of Singaporeans. Opened in 1997 and in its present building by the Singapore River since 2003, the museum traces its roots to the Raffles Museum, founded in the middle of 19th century.
ACM focuses on the many historical and artistic connections between the cultures of Asia, and between Asia and the world. Singapore’s history as a port city that brought people together from all over the world is used as a means of examining the history of Asia. Objects on display tell stories of the trade and the exchange of ideas that were the result of international commerce, as well as the flow of religions and faith through Asia.
Reporting to the Senior Curator for Southeast Asia and Peranakan Art, you will be part of the curatorial department in ACM-TPM. As Assistant Curator or Curator, you will research, interpret, and make accessible to the public ACM’s collections relating to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism in Southeast Asia. ACM takes an object-focused, secular, inter-religious and cross-cultural, and community-centric approach to our collections of sacred and ritual art. In the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Gallery of Ancient Religions on the second floor, artistic expressions of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism in Asia are featured. ACM has also been working to expand our representation of other Singapore religions in our galleries, notably Sikhism, Judaism, and Parsi Zoroastrianism.
Key Areas of Responsibility
- Conceptualise and design storylines and themes for permanent galleries and special exhibitions relating to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
- Consult and engage with representatives of communities of religion (especially, but not limited to the Buddhist, Hindu and Jain communities) to facilitate dialogue on and interpretation of sacred and ritual art in our collection.
- Work collaboratively with collection managers, conservators, designers, and related parties to set up and project manage exhibitions.
- Provide administrative support for curatorial activities and manage curatorial projects, including academic conferences and community consultations.
- Conceive, develop, and publish exhibition catalogues, scholarly articles, and related works, including via digital formats.
- Actively collaborate with all museum departments, including education, programming, marketing, and philanthropy.
- Research and maintain expertise in the museum’s collections of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain art, and act as subject matter expert in responding to queries from internal and external parties.
- Work with colleagues to conceptualise and implement interpretive strategies in the permanent galleries, special exhibitions and online content, with the goal of creating memorable and inspiring museum experiences for a wide range of visitors.
- In-depth involvement in acquisition of new artefacts, maintaining relationships with donors, cultivating new patrons, and securing loans of collections and objects from other institutions and private collectors.
- Foster and maintain good working relationships with trustees, key stakeholders, and museum colleagues across the country and abroad, as well as with the academic community, art dealers, and collectors.
Requirements
- An ideal candidate should possess the following:
- [Acquisition] Make acquisitions based on collection gaps in alignment with NHB’s strategic objectives, overall collecting criteria for National Collection, and the specific strategies and priorities of ACM. Able to work independently on acquisitions and execute tasks such as cataloguing and research. In addition, make recommendations to develop or improve acquisition policies and procedures. Cultivate relationships with donors, collectors, practitioners, dealers, and other stakeholders.
- [Collections specialisation] Develop specialisation for aspects of the ACM collection.
- Evaluate objects based on material, technique, stylistic, technical and artistic qualities and interpret objects based on their historical and socio-cultural contexts.
- [Research, publication and scholarship] Develop scholarship material through independent research and analysis. Develop and implement research plans and methodologies and build relationship with scholars and researchers. Produce full-length essays and lectures for ACM.
- [Curation, interpretation and exhibition development] Develop theme and storyline for exhibitions and collaborate with exhibition and graphic designers to convey exhibition narrative. Interpret and integrate digital content (e.g. archival material) into overall curation process. Coordinate research efforts on selected artefacts. Manage internal and external stakeholders (including suppliers) for exhibition development. Interpret collections to engage diverse audience groups.
- [Stakeholder engagement] Identify and prioritise stakeholders (e.g. community, practitioners, academics, patrons, collectors, dealers) based on specific issues. Develop and implement engagement plans to build and sustain relationships with stakeholders. Lead loan efforts by overseeing the identification, research and negotiation of potential loans from institutions and collectors. Training of volunteers and docents on exhibition content through lectures and walkthroughs.
- Work Experience and Knowledge
- Background in art history, applied arts, history or archaeology preferably Masters and above with at least three years of relevant research and work experience in a museum and/or related educational/research institution with equivalent focus on Asian art.
- Express strong interest and possess specialised knowledge in the religious art of Asia, particularly that of Buddhist Southeast Asia.
- Excellent research and writing skills in English. Proficiency in a Southeast Asian language is an advantage.
- Strong organisational, project management, and inter-personal skills, able to work independently and as part of a team.
Successful candidates will be offered a 2-year contract in the first instance.
