Contractor-Curator
CLOSED
The Contractor-Curator shall provide technical, professional, non-personal services responsible for proposing and developing original, compelling research, exhibitions, and publications as well as advising on acquisitions of new collections.
The Contractor-Curator’s major duties will focus on developing innovative and original ways to frame, display and create engagement with various forms of African art and creativity including but not limited to traditional, modern, and contemporary visual and plastic art, design, fashion, culinary arts, sonic arts, digital arts and multi-disciplinary approaches.
He/she/they will play a leading role in the identification, acquisition, scholarly research, exhibition, and interpretation of works of art and will support the preservation and documentation activities of conservation and registration departments.
Scope of Work
The Contractor-Curator shall provide technical, professional, non-personal services responsible for proposing and developing original, compelling research, exhibitions, and publications as well as advising on acquisitions of new collections.
The Contractor-Curator’s major duties will focus on developing innovative and original ways to frame, display and create engagement with various forms of African art and creativity including but not limited to traditional, modern, and contemporary visual and plastic art, design, fashion, culinary arts, sonic arts, digital arts and multi-disciplinary approaches.
He/she/they will play a leading role in the identification, acquisition, scholarly research, exhibition, and interpretation of works of art and will support the preservation and documentation activities of conservation and registration departments.
Specific responsibilities will include:
Public Engagement (30%)
- Work in partnership with other curators, artists, designers, projects and institutions on the continent or diaspora to develop concepts and programming that push the boundaries of how to engage with African art
- Conceive cutting edge ‘in real life’ and digital art experiences of notable originality, scholarly merit, and public appeal to young global Africans
- Conceive art experiences with national and international loans of notable originality, scholarly merit, and public appeal
- Develop publications, brochure, and digital content to accompany the exhibitions.
- Collaborate with programming staff to develop related programs that have public appeal and contribute to scholarship on the subject.
- Collaborate with other NMAFA curators to conceive and implement exhibitions with global African themes and will take the lead as necessary.
- Serve as necessary as in-house curator for outside exhibitions.
Collaboration and Project Leadership (25%) - Identify and work with knowledge partners- co-curators, co-designers, advisors and so on- who will help frame, shape and develop new approaches to research, exhibitions and collections
- Demonstrate thought leadership through proposing and leading projects that push the boundaries of how African art is understood, framed and experienced
- Serve as mentor to interns and fellows as well as to colleagues both within the SI and beyond,
- Collaborate with other curators working in related fields and develops cross-disciplinary projects.
- Participate in conferences, symposia, and workshops and works to raise the profile of NMAFA
- Develop and write project fundraising proposals.
Research and Publication (25%)
- Develop and implement new approaches and strategies for research that are collaborative, participatory, decolonial and regenerative
- Conduct original research in support of larger museum projects or as independent efforts of moderate scope and complexity with little supervision.
- Initiate, develop, and personally participate in projects that typically involve research of moderate scope on an original topic, and yield conclusions that would alter previous understandings, or open new areas of inquiry. Such research typically would result in publications and/or exhibitions and/or digital projects.
- Research and publications may result in acquisition proposals and reports, exhibition labels, brochures and interpretive texts, articles in popular, professional, and peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, conference presentations, and research-based expansion of collections information.
Collections (20%)
- Regularly assess the artistic, historic, and cultural importance of objects in field of expertise and revise and update records accordingly
- Propose priorities for strengthening collections through acquisitions within area of expertise.
- Develop relationships with collectors, dealers, and auction houses to secure important gifts and purchases for FS.
- Research origins, techniques, and artistic relevance of works of art and develop, review, and update catalogue entries on objects in area of expertise in the TMS system.
- In consultation with the Conservation Department and, where applicable, artists and source communities to identify conservation needs of objects in the collection
- Approve the loan of objects in his/her area of expertise to other institutions.
- Stay current of object provenance and seeks guidance from collections managers to ensure best practices.
Required Knowledge/Experience/Skills
The Contractor shall possess the following:
- Doctorate, Masters or equivalent experience in Art History, Cultural Studies, Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Culinary Arts, Design, Music, or similar field
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience curating relevant exhibitions and/or cultural projects relating to global African art and culture- contemporary and/or historical
- Experience in developing innovative research of significant scope resulting in publications, exhibitions, conferences, and other forms of cultural projects.
- Strong network of artists, cultural producers, gallerists, collectors and creative/heritage/academic institutions and communities throughout global Africa
- Demonstrated participatory research skills
- Creativity, curiosity, and imagination when it comes to exploring new forms of art experiences and ways of working
- Ability to take initiative, provide leadership and work collaboratively with diverse people in the art and cultural ecosystem
- Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written form with partners, artists, scholars, guides, and the general public
- Demonstrated ability to work cross-culturally, cross-linguistically and across disciplines.
- Ability to work in two or more of the following languages: English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Arabic
Deliverables
- New, transformative approaches to research, exhibition, engagement with and collection of African Art.
- Sustainable and regenerative collaboration with a strong network of global African creative producers and knowledge partners
- Exhibitions and cultural projects that further the Museum’s mission to be a 21st Global African Art Museum
- New experiences and forms to engage young Global Africans
Period Of Performance
- All work under this purchase order shall begin on or about April 18, 2022 and be completed on or about April 14, 2023.
- It is anticipated that the contractor will be required to expend approximately 160 hours per month (40 hours per week) in performance under this contract for a total of approximately 2080 hours for the full contract term.
- Contracts are renewable
Remuneration
- Remuneration will be based on submission of invoice and assumes a full-time commitment
- Remuneration will be in the range of $USD 85,000-$125,000 depending on skills and experience
- As this is a contract position, remuneration will not include benefits- these must be included within quotes
Contractor Expenses
- Contractor will be responsible for all expense for the execution and completion of this contract. Expenses, including travel, that are approved by the Curator’s manager, will be reimbursed.
Work Conditions
- Contractor will work an average of 40 hours per week
- Work can be remote, however will include periodic time on-site in Washington D.C. and other locations where NMAFA is working
- Travel may be required
- Due to COVID-19 the contractor’s schedule could change at any time per prior oral or written agreement.
Submitting Your Quotes
Quotes may be submitted via electronic mail (email) to JunckerK@SI.EDU no later than 5:00pm EST. on Friday, March 25, 2022, and include the following:
- Letter of motivation
- Name, address, email address, phone number, and DUNS number (see below)
- Up-to-date Resume/CV showing experience providing Curatorial services of similar scope and to similar organizations to NMAFA
- Three (3) examples of relevant projects including client, audience, location, scope of work, time frames, contract dollar value, to facilitate determination of capabilities to perform the work required. For each example, please include contact person with telephone number/email.
- Proposed pricing per month, in US Dollars for carrying out the responsibilities outlined in the Scope of Work.
Evaluation
Contracts are awarded based on the following factors:
(Note Factors A and B are of equal Importance and together are granted more importance than factor C)
A. Experience related to the Required Experience and Deliverables outlined above- including
- Demonstrated experience providing Curatorial services of similar scope and to similar organizations
- Demonstrated innovation in approaches to researching, interpreting, communicating, and collecting African Art
- Demonstrated ability to deliver high quality, engaging and relevant research, exhibitions, publications, and projects
- Demonstrated networks and evidence of equitable collaborations
- Demonstrated experience engaging young Global Africans
B. Qualifications
- Masters, Doctorate or equivalent experience in African Art History, Cultural Studies, Fine Arts, Performance Arts, Design, Culinary Arts, Music, or similar field. Other degrees will be accepted with demonstrated experience as above.
- Ability to work in two or more of the following languages: English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Arabic, Kiswahili. Other languages highly regarded.
C. Pricing
- Provide rate in USD per month
Contracting Information
Once a vendor has been selected, they will need to have the following in place in order to be awarded the contract:
Insurance Requirements
Contractors are required to have General Liability Insurance for at least $1,000,000. The SI must be listed as additional insured for the General Liability insurance.
*Note that insurance options can be discussed with Smithsonian Risk Management Office if the contractor does not have such insurance at time of selection.
Immigration Documentation
The contractor must have a valid passport. If necessary, the contractor is responsible for obtaining necessary authorization to travel to and work in the United States.
DUNS Number
A DUNS number is a unique nine-digit identification number available for each physical location of your business or service and is needed to register in the System for Award Management (SAM).
DUNS numbers are provided through Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) at no charge when you contact D&B via toll free telephone call within the US of 1-866-705-5711, or at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform, or via email at help@dnb.com. Indicate that you are requesting a DUNS number to assist with eligibility for U.S. Government contracts.
New DUNS numbers for U.S. vendors will be active and available for SAM registration within 1-2 business days of request; DUNS numbers for international vendors will be active and available normally within 2-5 days of request.
System for Award Management (SAM) Registration
It is a requirement that current and prospective recipients of contract and purchase orders awarded by the SI (businesses and individual contractors) must complete registration and maintain an active record in the System for Award Management (SAM).
The SAM requires a one-time registration, with annual updates, and allows vendors to control the accuracy of the business information they enter. The financial data you enter, which includes the electronic funds transfer (EFT) data collected by SAM, will assist the SI in paying your invoices and complying with the Federal Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996.
You may complete or update your information in SAM online at http://sam.gov. Questions regarding the process may be directed to the Federal Service Desk online at www.fsd.gov or via toll free call (within the US) to 1-888-606-8220. There is no charge for registering in SAM.
If yours is the acceptable price quote and you are selected for award, your valid and active registration with SAM must be verifiable by SI staff administering this procurement prior to contract or purchase order award, and at the time any modifications or amendments to awards might be required.
SI Credential
If a contractor employee assigned to the SI under this contract will have an association with SI that will be greater than thirty (30) days, determined either at time of contract award or anytime during contract performance, and will need access to staff-only areas of SI controlled facilities and leased spaces, the employee shall be required to receive an SI Credential.
Contractors who require an SI Credential shall be required to undergo and pass an appropriate background investigation and complete security awareness training before an SI Credential is issued. Contractors whose associations with the SI will be less than 30 days shall not receive a background investigation or SI Credential, however, they must be always escorted by Credentialed personnel when in staff-only areas of SI facilities.
The following actions shall be required to be completed by the SI Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR) and successful vendor:
- The COTR shall provide an OF-306, Declaration for Federal Employment form, for each of the Contractor’s employees who will be assigned to the SI for 30 days or longer. The OF-306 forms must be completed by each person and returned by the Contractor to the COTR, or other designated SI employee, within ten (10) workdays from receipt of the forms by the Contractor.
- For contractors to SI organizations outside the Washington DC and New York City areas, forms SF-87, Fingerprint Cards, shall be provided to the Contractor by the COTR or other designated SI employee. Each form SF- 87 must be returned to the COTR, or other designated SI employee, within ten (10) workdays from receipt of the forms by the Contractor. When necessary, the forms SF-87 shall be submitted by the Contractor with the OF-306.
Homeland Security Policy Directive 12 (HSPD-12)
PDF downloads
OCon SI 147A Purchase Order Terms & Conditions
OCon SI 147B -SI Privacy and Security Clause
