Curatorial Assistant

OBJECTIVE
Curatorial Assistant will perform administrative and research activities to assist with all aspects of the planning and implementation of The Phillips Collection’s major 2021 Centennial exhibition, The Phillips Collects for a New Century. The position will also be a key contributor in collaborating on the project’s digital component. The position reports to the Senior Curator (the Project Manager) and will be an active member of an interdepartmental team and provide critical support in the activities of regular meetings of an external advisory group, comprised of scholars, practitioners, as well as community stakeholders. This is a temporary position (through December 31, 2021) funded by the Henry Luce Foundation.

DUTIES    

•  Assist curatorial and exhibitions coordinator in planning and implementation of The Phillips Collects for a New Century project, to include an exhibition, publication, and programs.
• Contribute to the development of interpretive and community engagement strategies.
• Collaborate with Phillips digital experience team and curatorial on the development and production of the project’s digital component, including adapting publication content and artist interviews for virtual platform.
• Coordinate logistics, background material, and recording of artist interviews.
• Maintain, update, and prepare reports of the exhibition checklist in Filemaker Pro.
• Support activities related to exhibition design and layout of the exhibition.
• Facilitate activities with interdepartmental and advisory group, including preparation of materials, drafting correspondence, and notetaking at meetings.
• Assist in final production of publication, including but not limited to proofing layouts and bluelines, color proofing, and distribution of catalogues.
• Conduct artist, conceptual and object-based research and organize into physical and digital files.
• Draft extended object labels and assist in coordinating submissions of curatorial and community labels.
• Other administrative or research duties to support Centennial project activities, as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS    

• Bachelor’s degree in Art History, Museum Studies, or Equivalent;
• Prior experience in the cultural sector, at least one year preferred.
• Outstanding oral and written communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to take direction and work collaboratively as part of a team.
• Excellent organizational and detail-oriented skills.
• Knowledge of modern and contemporary art, and interest in opening up more diverse, inclusive narratives that expand the understanding of the history of art.
• Knowledge of digital content delivery desirable.
• Ability to conduct, analyze, and organize primary and secondary research.
• Prior experience in community engagement desirable.
• Skilled in online, archival, and library research.
• Proficiency in Excel, Word, and Filemaker Pro.
• Enthusiasm for new forms of engagement in curatorial practice.
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize work, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to perform work in keeping with industry-wide best practices of diversity, equity, inclusion and access.