The importance of art
San Antonio museum secures competitive nationwide grant to hire first curator of Latinx art
A view of the exterior of the McNay Mansion
The McNay Art Museum was one of only 19 arts organizations in the country to be awarded a grant from the Leadership in Art Museums initiative — in which over $11 million dollars are allocated to arts organizations across the country that have dedicated themselves to racial equity in their leadership positions.
As such, the McNay has announced via an official press release that they intend to utilize the LAM grant money to fund a brand new position at the museum — a curator of Latinx art.
The new curator will be responsible for taking care of the McNay's existing collection of artworks by artists of Hispanic and Latinx descent, in addition to expanding the collection to include new pieces. At the time of writing, the position has not yet been filled by the McNay.
According to the official job posting for the role on the McNay website (you can apply for the curator position here), the curator of Latinx art will also be responsible for ensuring that the McNay's collection of works by Latinx and Hispanic artists will be accessible to a wide audience, not only through the exhibitions themselves, but through community events, publications, educational opportunities and more. (The salary for the role is listed as a range, starting at $75K to an $80K maximum.)
The first ever curator of Latinx art at the McNay will also be in charge of promoting inclusion of the Latinx community at the McNay and throughout the city via ongoing, collaborative partnerships with other cultural organizations.
According to the job posting for the curator position, suitable candidates must have at least 5 years of experience working in a job position (or positions) that involved curatorial oversight and/or museum administration. Education-wise, ideal candidates for the curator role must have a Masters in one of the following - museum studies, Latinx studies, studio art, or art history.
A PhD is preferred, according to the job posting.
Matthew McLendon, McNay director and CEO, expressed his gratitude to LAM for the grant, stating in the official press release: "We are grateful to the Leadership in Art Museums partners for their transformational commitment to advancing the diversity, relevance and resonance of museums by better reflecting the communities they serve...Latinx artists are historically underrepresented in museums across the country, and it is our responsibility to strengthen the reflection of the San Antonio community in all that we do."
