OverviewROM is Canada’s largest museum of Art, Culture and Nature. Located in Toronto, Ontario, ROM aims to be a leading global museum through inclusive, transdisciplinary thinking, digital practices, and innovation.ROM is uniquely positioned to become a vibrant hub for Sikh Art & Culture. The South Asian community is the largest visible minority in Canada, with a substantial Sikh/Punjabi presence. The position of Curator of Global Sikh Art & Culture aligns ROM’s Strategic Direction with community, scholarly, and global partnerships.The PositionROM seeks a thoughtful, strategic curator with strong communications and alliance-building skills, and a background in historical and contemporary art and diasporic arts related to the mid-17th-century janamsakhi tradition, the former Sikh kingdoms, and the Punjab region. Reporting to the Co-Chief Curator of Art and Culture, the Curator will lead programming and presentation of Sikh art and culture through galleries, exhibitions, and other initiatives, in collaboration with local communities, artists, and scholars locally and globally. The curator will develop and implement a strategy to build ROM’s Sikh art and culture collection, guided by ROM’s institutional vision for broader South Asia galleries and in collaboration with the Senior Curator of Global South Asian Art & Culture. ROM offers opportunities to expand holdings in line with best practices and an acquisition development plan to be developed by the curator. The curator will expand ROM scholarship through publications, lectures, and research, and will champion cross-cultural perspectives within ROM’s transdisciplinary storytelling model.The Global Sikh Art & Culture program, housed within ROM’s South Asia Initiative, will explore Sikh and diasporic histories and artistic contributions through global connections.ROM’s Sikh collection is modest in size but of high quality. It includes historical paintings, works on paper, arms and armour, photographs, textiles, and contemporary art. The curator will be a specialist with broad interest in Sikh art and culture as it relates to diasporic Canada and the contemporary world, with knowledge across historical periods and media and a focus on how Sikh arts draw from and transcend existing practices.The primary activity is to galvanize the growing collection to support an ambitious program of Sikh art and culture across ROM. Anchor activities include developing an inaugural gallery in collaboration with Interpretive staff; expanding the collection; and creating a public engagement framework of educational programs for visitors and learners of varied ages and backgrounds. The curator will develop temporary exhibition ideas aligned with ROM’s overall strategy, emphasizing community engagement, inclusive representation, narrative-building grounded in shared authority, and transdisciplinarity. ROM aims to rebalance narratives by sharing non-dominant cultural perspectives, with resulting exhibitions traveling to other museums and Sikh diasporic communities.ROM is open to a range of candidates from Associate to Senior Curator, depending on experience and strategic goals. Candidates passionate about Sikh art & culture from the wider Punjab region (present-day India and Pakistan)



and diasporic areas are encouraged to apply.Duties & ResponsibilitiesExhibitions and CollectionsWithin the Global South Asia collections, steward the Sikh art and culture collection: growth, study, rotation, display, care and record-keeping, provenance research, digitizing, and publication.Curate ROM’s Sikh art and culture collection with collaboration among external community stakeholders and internal colleagues to generate visitor-centric, transdisciplinary exhibitions.Develop innovative interpretive approaches for the Sikh Art and Culture Gallery as part of ROM’s gallery planning, in alignment with the vision of the Senior Curator of Global South Asian Art & Culture.Develop integrated themes and narratives situating Sikh art & culture within the broader South Asian context.Establish a 10-year Sikh art and culture collection development plan aligned with ROM’s mission and strategic planning.Enhance the collection and expand opportunities for interpretation and public engagement through strategic acquisitions and loans.Work with Sikh partners and museum leadership to steward collaborations that may lead to repatriation or restitution of objects, as appropriate, in line with ethical standards.Public Programs and OutreachCollaborate with museum educators to initiate programs and school curriculum related to Sikh art and culture, engaging with broad audiences including Sikh and non-Sikh communities.Propose, prepare, and deliver public programs, lectures, tours, and workshops for the general public, academic peers, volunteers, and cultural organizations.Engage Sikh diaspora communities in the Greater Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada, and globally, including business and cultural communities.FundraisingIn collaboration with fundraising staff, cultivate support for exhibitions, galleries, programs, symposia, acquisitions, research grants, and fellowships through professional organizations, foundations, and patrons locally and internationally.Research and PublicationsMaintain professional affiliations in scholarly and museum curatorial organizations and committees.Strengthen connections with University of Toronto and other academic institutions in the Greater Toronto Area.Explore and promote relationships with museums and cultural organizations nationally and internationally.Education & ExperienceAdvanced education in South Asian art history, visual culture, material culture, anthropology, history, or a related field with specialization in Sikh or Punjabi art and culture, or equivalent experience.Strong record focusing on Sikh arts and heritage through curatorial, academic, or community activities.Ability to read and write Gurmukhi is required. Punjabi is preferred; Urdu and/or French are assets.Embodied connection to the Sikh/Punjabi community with knowledge of contemporary histories and concerns.Strong museum background, knowledge of peer institutions,



and experience developing programs and exhibitions with internal and external stakeholders; provenance experience is an asset.Track record of working with community partners to build institutional trust; navigating contemporarypolitics and differing points of view is a plus.Peer-reviewed publications are an asset; cross-appointmentto the University of Toronto is possible.Personal CharacteristicsIntellectually curious with a broad range of interests.Ambitious for ROM and its networks locally and internationally.Responsive, a strong communicator, and proactive in seeking partnerships and input from community members.Able to prioritize in a large, multi-layered museum environment.Comfortable sharing authority with diverse stakeholders.Works well in a team to build new experiences for ROM’s visitors.Aspirational yet patient, capable of setting incremental goals.Sensitive to cultural heritage and aware of societal pressures in this field.Language RequirementProficiency in Punjabi and GurmukhiFrench is an assetROM does not require “Canadian experience.” International applicants with equivalent experience are encouraged to apply.ROM CuratorsFacilitate research on the collection by visiting scholars and develop your own program of original scholarly research related to ROM collections and exhibitions.Collaborate with the ROM Library to build resources on Sikh art and culture.Participate in fulfilling the museum’s learning mission and may engage in university teaching or supervising interns and students at the museum.CompensationThe salary range is $78,047-$166,647 CAD, in accordance with the union collective agreement and based on years of experience.ROM is open to candidates from Associate Curator to Senior Curator, with salaries increasing by rank and experience under the Collective Agreement.Full benefit coverage includes medical and dental plans, life insurance, long-term disability, and a pension.This is a unionized position and the Curator will be a member of the ROM Curatorial Association (ROMCA).This is an existing position.Information SessionROM will host a virtual information session to help prospective applicants learn more about the chance. Attendees will hear about the Curator role, ROM’s South Asia Initiative, and the Museum's broader strategic direction, with questions invited about the position, expectations, and application process. We strongly encourage interested candidates to attend.Date:April 22, 2026Time: 12:00 PMLocation: Virtual (Microsoft Teams)Register here:Click here to registerUse of Technology in ScreeningROM uses technology-assisted tools (including JazzHR TalentFit) to support the review and screening of applications. All hiring decisions are made by human reviewers.HOW TO APPLYApplicants are encouraged to apply electronically by submitting a single PDF file containing the following documents:A cover letter expressing interest in the position, including examples of past experience in exhibitions, programs, and collections, as well as proposed research areas and projects, and salary requirementA curriculum vitaeNames and contact information for three references, and your professional relationship. References will not be contacted without prior permission of the applicantApplication deadline: May 15, 2026.#J-18808-Ljbffr

📌 Curator Of Global Sikh Art And Culture - C$78,047 - C$166,647 A Year (Winnipeg)
🏢 ROM
📍 Winnipeg