Position Title: Curatorial Assistant Department: Curatorial
Reporting Relationship: Reports to Curator of American Art Posting date: July 12, 2021
Closing date: August 13, 2021
ABOUT THE NEWARK MUSEUM OF ART
We welcome everyone with inclusive experiences that spark curiosity and foster community.
We acknowledge the traditional homelands of the Lenape, also known as the Delaware, upon which The Newark Museum of Art resides.
Founded in 1909 and located in New Jersey, The Newark Museum of Art (NMOA) is the state’s largest museum and ranks twelfth nationally in terms of collection size. Global and diasporic, the collection includes more than 100,000 artworks, as well as significant holdings of science and natural history. From the classical world to the art of today, NMOA boasts exceptional examples and depth in the Arts of Global Africa, Arts of Global Asia, Arts of the Americas, including Native American art, Arts of the Ancient Mediterranean, and Decorative Arts. The American collection features works by major artists such as John Singer Sargent, Childe Hassam, Mary Cassatt, Sam Gilliam, Georgia O’Keeffe, Carmen Herrera, Jeffrey Gibson, and Mickalene Thomas. NMOA’s visitor- and community-centered approach responds to the evolving needs and interests of the diverse publics it serves by offering exhibitions, programming, a research library, paid internships, and local and global partnerships. A four-acre campus comprises the 1885 Ballantine House, a National Historic Landmark; the Alice Ransom Dreyfuss Memorial Garden; and Horizon Plaza. Under the leadership of Director/CEO Linda C. Harrison, NMOA has launched an era of transformation to create an engaged citizenry by reimagining the role of the art museum for the 21st century.
Position Description
The Curatorial Assistant provides administrative support to the Deputy Director, Collections & Curatorial Strategies, and the Curatorial Department. S/he is responsible for organizing and maintaining internal and external correspondence, answering basic research questions, interacting with visiting scholars, donors, and vendors, participating in the research and interpretation of the Museum’s global art collections, and coordinating incoming exhibition proposals.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Provides administrative support for the Curatorial Department including photocopying and scanning of collections-related materials
- Handles general incoming and outgoing correspondence and interoffice and external mail for the department
- Coordinates all incoming traveling exhibition proposals for curatorial review and related correspondence
- Serves as point person for exhibitions and community-related projects; works closely with individual Curators and collaborates with Marketing, Learning & Engagement, and Exhibitions departments
- Works with Curators and Collections Management; serves as greeter and liaison with visiting scholars and curators and facilitates external visits to study collection objects As requested by the Deputy Director, Collections & Curatorial Strategies, periodically conducts research and prepares visuals related to the Museum’s collection Coordinates with Registrar to integrate curatorial material into collection files
- Schedules meetings as necessary
- Works with the Deputy Director, Collections & Curatorial Strategies, to oversee selected exhibition project budgets and incoming traveling exhibition contracts as requested
- Serves as coordinator for the NJ Arts Annual, contact for artists, prospectus mailings, and artists submissions created for jurying by curator/guest curator
- Develops and manages Exhibition Schedules (implementation and calendar) and oversees the updating and distribution of these documents
- Assist with developing and updating exhibition content for website, including coordinating approved images and texts for new exhibitions
- Supports and contributes to digital content as NMOA shifts to include virtual presentations and new forms of engagement.
- Working with Curators and Marketing, serves on NMOA’s social media team, researching, drafting, and editing content for social media posts
Salary: $ 36,000 – $38,000, commensurate with experience
Qualifications:
• B.A. degree preferably in Art History, Museum Studies or Administration or an equivalent
combination of education and experience is desired.
• 1-2 years full time experience in a museum, gallery, or visual arts setting preferred.
• Must possess excellent interpersonal, organizational and writing skills.
• Familiarity with installation procedures and tools desirable.
• Exceptional attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects a plus.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint is required.
Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that are to be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable persons with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use speech or be able to hear; use hands for computer usage, and occasionally move around in the Museum galleries.
The Newark Museum of Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In addition, we aspire to make the Museum and our environment – staff, audiences, artists, programs, and exhibitions – reflective of the diversity of the city of Newark and to capture the spirit of access, inclusion, and equity in all we do. We strongly encourage and welcome applicants from our BIPOC, disabled, and LGBTQIA communities as they must be centered in the work we do.
If you are interested in applying for this position or have any difficulty using our online system and you need an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at:
Human Resources
The Newark Museum of Art
49 Washington Street Newark, NJ 07102 Fax: 973.642.0459 humanresources@newarkmuseumart.org
