Small Museum Association

Call for Applications

Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellow at The David C. Driskell Center, University of Maryland

Send a PDF of all application materials to driskellcenter@umd.edu by December 30, 2024.

The David C. Driskell Center at the University of Maryland, College Park, is currently accepting applications for a one-year, 2025-2026 postdoctoral fellowship sponsored by the Mellon Foundation. The fellowship provides curatorial training and supports scholarly research on the David C. Driskell Center collection. The fellow is fully integrated into The Driskell Center staff with duties, privileges, and status equivalent to those of an assistant curator. Time is divided between assigned projects and general curatorial work within the department, including research on the collection and new acquisitions, work on the presentation and interpretation of the collection, participation in aspects of special exhibition and publishing projects, and opportunities to give public lectures.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate scholarly excellence and a strong interest in a museum career. Applications are requested from scholars whose interests and areas of expertise align with The Driskell Center’s collections and programs. Specifically, the fellow will fully participate in preparing a unique exhibition project devoted to celebrating the first 25 years of The Driskell Center to open in Fall 2026. This will include developing the exhibition framework, creating the object checklist, determining layouts, preparing exhibition interpretation, writing for the exhibition catalog and/or contributing written content for web-based platforms, and, where possible, contributing to in-person public programming for audiences in College Park, as well as virtual programming for nationwide audiences. Cover letters and statements must specify how this project aligns with the applicant’s scholarly expertise and interests. 

Fellowship Period & Funding

The fellow must be in person at The Driskell Center in College Park, Maryland, during the one-year fellowship, starting in early August 2025. The fellow will receive an annual salary of $55,000, plus benefits and research and travel expenses up to $3,000. The fellow will be full-time at 40 hours per week.

Application Timeline and Procedures

Deadline:  December 30, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. (EDT)

By the date above, all application materials must be submitted as PDF attachments, by email, in English, to driskellcenter@umd.edu. We do not accept applications or related materials via postal mail or in person. There is no fee to apply for this fellowship.

The application requires you to provide the following in PDF format:

• Cover letter 

• Full curriculum vitae of education, professional experience, honors, awards, and publications

• A personal statement not to exceed 1,000 words. Explain your reasons for applying, and specify your research areas and their relationship to The Driskell Center’s collection

• Copy of a published paper or recent writing sample (maximum 30 pages)

• Transcripts from the university that granted the PhD degree

• Three references, including their names, titles, and email addresses. Include at least one academic reference and one professional reference from recommenders who know your work well. 

Submit all application materials in PDF to the following email address: driskellcenter@umd.edu by the December 30th deadline at 11:59 p.m. (EDT). Please title the subject of your email: Last Name, First Name. Postdoctoral Fellowship Application.

Review Process

Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee composed of The Driskell Center staff. Please do not contact staff members directly regarding possible placement or projects. With questions, please write to this email address, driskellcenter@umd.edu,  and title the subject of your email: Last Name, First Name. Postdoctoral Fellowship QUESTION.

Virtual Interviews

Finalists for The Driskell Center Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellowship will be contacted for virtual interviews in February.  

Fellowship Position Requirements

• PhD in Art History received within the past five years (after 2019)

• Demonstrated interest in pursuing a museum career

• At least one year of experience in a gallery or museum environment

• Security background check for finalist

• Eligibility to work in the United States for the duration of the award period

Professional Knowledge and Experience Requirements

• Professional knowledge of the history, intellectual discourse, and practice of historical, modern, and contemporary Afro-Atlantic diaspora painting, sculpture, decorative arts, prints, drawings, and photography

• Knowledge of research tools and methodology 

• Specialization in the areas of focus described in this fellowship description is strongly preferred.

• Understanding of professional museum principles, practices, and procedures

• Curatorial experience in a museum, including curatorial fellowships and internships and/or as a curatorial assistant or associate. 

• Experience building relationships with museum colleagues, audiences, living artists, collectors, museum donors, and galleries is preferred. 

Skills and Abilities Requirements

• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally in English (writing, speaking, and listening) 

• Public speaking skills; commitment to audience accessibility and diversity awareness

• Collegiality, diplomacy, interpersonal effectiveness, and flexibility

• Demonstrated ability to complete projects within deadlines

• Diligence in maintaining high ethical standards, confidentiality, and discretion 

• Proficiency in Google Drive applications, including Docs, Sheets, and Slides

• Experience with The Museum System (TMS) collection database software (preferred)

About The Driskell Center

The Driskell Center is a creative incubator at the University of Maryland dedicated to a world where Black artists exist at its center. We invite inquiry, experimentation, and dialogue to reexamine histories and shape shared futures.