The Curatorial and Design department supports initiatives — including research, exhibitions and publishing — that help to build respectful relationships and mutual understanding with cultural communities represented through MOA’s collections.

MOA’s curators are actively involved in a wide range of individual and collaborative research projects. These have resulted in the development of protocols and Memoranda of Understanding with partner communities, innovative exhibitions, journal and book publications, community workshops, research opportunities and conference presentations. They serve the university by teaching and giving guest lectures at MOA, participating as members of graduate-student committees, training interns and working closely with colleagues in other departments. They also serve the broader community by responding to information requests from the public, regularly giving curatorial tours of the galleries, facilitating community research visits and representing MOA at diverse public events, exhibition openings and ceremonies throughout the Lower Mainland.

The curators are responsible for the documentation and development of MOA’s collections; their work with originating communities aims to help revitalize the connections between objects, people and knowledge. Specific areas of curatorial expertise and collections responsibility are included in the listing below. Related tasks in collections development include working closely with donors during the acquisitions process, researching potential acquisitions and organizing evaluations for tax receipts.

The Bill McLennan Research Award

The Bill McLennan Research Award was established by the Doggone Foundation to honour the legacy of MOA Curator Bill McLennan, who was deeply committed to promoting and supporting research linked to Indigenous Northwest Coast art and its broader historical contexts. This award is to support student research into Indigenous Northwest Coast art, culture, history or technologies.

Apply for the award here.

Ceramic Artist in Residence

The Museum of Anthropology at UBC (MOA) invites applications for the Ceramic Artist in Residence, a four-month residency program running annually from May to September. This residency is open to practising ceramic artists interested in exploring how MOA’s world-renowned collections can inform and inspire their practice.

Apply for residency here.

Department members

• Karen Duffek, Curator, Contemporary Visual Arts + Pacific Northwest (Department Head)
• Mitiana Arbon, Curator, Pacific
• Jennifer Kramer, Curator, Pacific Northwest
• Fuyubi Nakamura, Curator, Asia
• Nuno Porto, Curator, Africa + South America
• Susan Rowley, Curator, Arctic + Public Archaeology
• Jordan Wilson, Curator, Pacific Northwest and Contemporary Indigenous Art
• Amina Chergui, Curator, Education
• Tzu-I Chung, Curator, Public Programs + Engagement
• Damara Jacobs-Petersen, Curator, Indigenous Engagement
• Joshua Doherty, Projects Manager, Design
• Pavneet Pal Singh, Projects Manager, Design