Curator of Costume and Textiles and Head of Department

Curator of Costume and Textiles and Head of Department We Are Committed to an Inclusive Workplace At the Philadelphia Museum of Art, we actively seek to employ a diverse group of people who embody our organizational values.

We welcome and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply, especially those from marginalized and underrepresented groups in the museum field, who are inspired by our shared purpose and enjoy working collaboratively with others.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship or immigration status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender identity and / or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected status.  The Philadelphia Art Museum seeks an inspired and forward-thinking curator to lead its distinguished department of Costume and Textiles—an extraordinary opportunity to shape the future of one of the most significant collections in the country.

At a pivotal moment of renewed institutional commitment to the field, the museum invites a dynamic leader to bring vision, creativity, and scholarly depth to a department poised for transformative growth.     Reporting to the Chief Curator, the successful candidate will craft and implement the department’s program, shaping acquisitions, exhibitions, and publications that highlight the relevance of fashion and textiles within historical and contemporary contexts.

As the head of the department, they will have the opportunity to build their team with support for new hires.

The curator also will collaborate with colleagues from departments across the institution and with partners locally, nationally, and internationally to extend the reach, impact, and relevance of the museum’s collection.

In doing so, they will play a vital role in advancing the museum’s broader goals around community engagement, education, and artistic excellence.   Specifically, you will :

• Provide curatorial leadership in the planning, development, and interpretation of the costume and textile collection.
• Manage all aspects of collection activity, including research, installations, exhibitions, publications, acquisitions, deaccessioning, and loans.
• Consult and collaborate with other museum departments — such as Conservation, Registration, Installation & Packing, Exhibition Planning, among others—to ensure the preservation and presentation of the collection.
• Work in partnership with the Learning and Engagement teams to develop educational content, including gallery labels and related materials.
• Help maintain and enhance the museum’s files, database, and digital records of the costume and textile collections.
• Participate in public-facing programs such as lectures, gallery talks, tours, and guide training.
• Direct and support original research on the collection and emerging areas of interest in the field.
• Contribute essays and catalogue entries to museum and external publications, supporting the museum’s commitment to research and scholarship.
• Promote collaboration within and between curatorial departments, ensuring a cooperative and integrated approach to museum projects.
• Engage with academic scholars, designers, educators, conservators, and other museum professionals to support the museum’s research and programming.
• Represent the museum in various professional organizations.
• Work with the Advancement Department to secure funding, cultivate donor relationships, and support collection growth and programming.
• Supervise department staff members, including curators, fellows, and assistants fostering professional development and a collaborative team environment.
• Work closely with Conservation staff on the care, storage, and display of the collection.
• Develop and manage the department’s annual operating budget.
• Lead preparations for the biannual Curatorial Committee meetings, including reports and presentations.
• Serve on internal committees as assigned.
• Perform related duties as required.

Your background and experience include :

This position reports to Chief Curator Physical requirements :

Application Timeline Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.  We encourage candidates to apply early as the position will close once we have a robust applicant pool or a candidate has been selected.

As an employee, you will have access to numerous museum perks including, but not limited to :