Position: Assistant Curator, Visual Arts
Americas Society, New York
Americas Society seeks a highly organized and detail-oriented individual with a demonstrated interest in Latin American and Latinx art history and Spanish fluency. The ideal candidate will exhibit excellent oral, written, and computer skills, and demonstrate the ability to adapt to challenges and exercise flexibility in a fast-paced environment. This role will support the Visual Arts Department in our New York office and report to the chief curator and director of Visual Arts.
Principal Duties
Assistant Curator
- Advise and assist director of Visual Arts and guest curators in the research, conceptualization, organization, production, and implementation of exhibitions for Americas Society.
- Negotiate and coordinate loans of art objects with artists, collectors, and institutions in the United States and abroad.
- Help supervise unpacking, installation, de-installation, packing, and completion of condition reports for all art objects. Coordinate activities of curators, registrars, conservators, art handlers, and installers at Americas Society and tour venues as required.
- Present gallery lectures and tours to visiting groups and individuals for exhibitions.
- Coordinate editorial initiatives and publications. Organize schedules and contacts with editors, authors, designers, and suppliers.
- Write exhibition brochures, text panels, and labels for gallery exhibitions and cultural calendar brochures as required.
- Develop ideas for public programs and community outreach, overseeing the planning and implementation of the programs.
- Serve as panelist, speaker, etc. for public programs at Americas Society and other arts organizations and institutions when requested.
- Meet and maintain contact with art historians, curators, critics, art dealers, collectors, diplomats, and other arts and museum professionals locally, nationally, and internationally to maintain a high level of involvement and exposure in the art community.
- Regularly meet with and view work of Latin American, Canadian, Caribbean, and Latinx artists.
Gallery Operations
- Supervise daily operations of the gallery and gallery attendants.
- Supervise interns.
- Supervise design and installation of exhibitions in gallery. Locate and supervise exhibition designers, art preparators, installers, framers, mount makers, graphic designers, graphics fabricators, painters, pedestal and vitrine fabricators, and carpenters. Create work timetables and installation schedules for exhibitions.
- Create and implement budgets for all gallery installations, operations, and other activities.
- Supervise, coordinate, and facilitate activities of visiting conservators, registrars, preparators, and other museum professionals.
- Register loaned art objects, produce condition reports for all loaned art objects.
- Monitor and adjust gallery environmental conditions using recording hygrothermographs, psychrometers, reheat thermostats, humidistat, and central HVAC controls (with CFO).
- Oversee necessary conservation and restoration of loaned art objects included in exhibitions.
- Act as gallery and Americas Society liaison with all contractors dealing with any aspect of gallery operations.
- Supervise operations of art resource library, including books, periodicals, slides, videos, and artist files. Respond to requests for consultation and research, and facilitate access when required.
Americas Society Collection and Historical Premises
- Maintain documentation of Americas Society permanent collection, including paintings, works on paper, sculptures, furniture, and permanent fixtures that include and room of nineteenth-century French hand-blocked wallpaper.
- Coordinate conservation and restoration, framing, packing, crating, storage, and transit of permanent collection and loaned art objects as needed.
Qualifications
The candidate is expected to be a self-starter and strong team player who can balance multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. Knowledge in Latin American and Latinx art history as well as Spanish fluency are necessary. Other qualifications include:
- MA in art history with a focus on Latin American or Latinx art
- Excellent written and verbal communication, research skills, along with strong interpersonal skills
- Written and spoken Spanish at an advanced business level, Portuguese a plus
- Ability to work cross-departmentally
- Ability to multitask
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) required. TMS and other database knowledge a plus.
Application Submission: Please send your cover letter and resume with “Assistant Curator, Visual Arts” in the subject line to artgallery@as-coa.org. Note that only those candidates who will be considered for an interview will be contacted.
