Curatorial and Programs Associate

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Full Time Exempt
Clerical
San Jose, CA, US
Requisition ID: 1026

Position Summary

The Curatorial and Programs Associate provides support for the Curatorial team in the day-to-day coordination of the department, and plays a crucial role in developing, executing, and evaluating mission-based, engagement-focused programs for adult audiences. They aid with the smooth functioning of the department including research, and coordination of exhibitions, commissions, publications, installations, and curatorial public programs. Working cross-departmentally, the Curatorial and Programs Associate participates with colleagues in related grant writing, fund development, and interpretive programming. They work as a team player, in concert with the education, marketing, development and related departments; and provide support to the curatorial team for the Acquisitions Committee.

Duties and Responsibilities, include but are not limited to:

Administrative: coordinate departmental schedules, field curatorial inquiries from scholars and general public; generate correspondence for curators and Executive Director for exhibitions, publications, and collections; develop and coordinate materials for acquisition committee meetings; research and organize images for exhibitions; filing for exhibitions; catalog and track all exhibition proposals and responses; coordinate documentation of exhibitions and permanent collection; attend and contribute to relevant SJMA internal meetings including curatorial department meetings, exhibition team meetings, programming meetings, and interface with other departments including development and marketing/communications; facilitate departmental communication.
Public Programs: With the curatorial and education teams, develop, and implement public programs that connect SJMA programs to community partners and area visionaries, including coordinating contracts, travel, and hosting visiting speakers, artists, and performers.
Curatorial: Coordinate SJMA or guest-curated exhibitions as assigned; provide research, administrative, and writing support to curators; conceive and organize exhibitions and special projects, including permanent-collection exhibitions; and format and/or author related exhibition wall labels and didactic materials.
Publications: create and prepare publications materials including “endmatter” (e.g. Bibliographies, biographies, and chronologies) for SJMA publications; act as SJMA liaison with manager of publications and related staff in publication process; research and write materials as assigned.
Outreach: provide primary source information on upcoming exhibitions to development and marketing departments; conduct tours of exhibitions; conduct docent slide presentations; coordinate with docents and teaching artists; participate actively in the San José and Silicon Valley arts community.
Budget: Serve as departmental budget assistant on exhibitions and curatorial department projects as assigned.
Collection: Coordinate meetings and correspondence; research and write short essays for potential acquisitions; take minutes at Acquisitions Committee meetings; respond to queries from Registrar and assist with providing and executing loan agreements; provide information and background about works of art in permanent collection; provide information and fact checking for the collection database (Embark).

Minimum Qualifications

Passion for contemporary art and engaging community in the Bay Area ecosystem
Knowledge and experience working with San Jose and Silicon Valley communities preferred
Strong research, organizational, and writing and editorial skills
Project management and public speaking experience preferred
Detail oriented
Ability to multitask and problem solve
High energy, strong motivation, and hands-on work ethic
Computer proficiency in MS Office programs, Photoshop and database systems required, and eagerness to integrate technology into SJMA processes. Proficiency with TMS or Embark preferred, or aptitude to learn HTML, video production or editing media skills desired

Special Requirements

SJMA is currently operating on a hybrid in person / remote work model, which is evolving based on COVID-19 conditions.
Ability to work evening and weekend hours as required.

Education and/or Experience

Bachelor’s Degree in arts, humanities, museum studies or related field required; MA or equivalent training preferred.
Two years museum, private collection or gallery experience and demonstrated knowledge of community engagement, collection management, exhibition development and curatorial and museum practices.

About Us

Founded in 1969 by artists and community leaders, the San José Museum of Art (SJMA) is the only modern and contemporary art museum in Silicon Valley. Its dynamic program, which balances socially relevant traveling exhibitions with critically engaging shows drawn from a collection of 2600+ works, resonates with defining characteristics of San José and the Silicon Valley—from its rich diversity to its hallmark innovative ethos. Projects touch on timely topics from migration and identity to artificial intelligence and include significant original and touring exhibitions by both nationally and internationally acclaimed artists and emerging and under-recognized practitioners. SJMA supports its exhibition program with substantial arts education and outreach efforts, a strong commitment to community partnership, and a core commitment to nurturing a sense of belonging and welcome for all members of the racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse community. The Museum has a publicly stated commitment to ensure that the majority of artist on view in any given season are women or artists of color and works to eliminate barriers to access by offering weekend and evening hours, eliminating admission fees for students and teachers, and providing exhibition didactics in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese––the three official languages of San José.

Applicant must receive a favorable background check.

As SJMA operates in a City of San Jose-owned building, applicants must comply with the City’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

We are an equal opportunity employer. SJMA seeks talented people of all backgrounds – we value diversity of cultures, races and ethnicities, gender expressions, and abilities. Candidates who are BIPOC, LGBTQ+, bilingual or multilingual, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

To Apply

To apply, please visit https://sjmusart.org/about/employment.

Due to the high volume of interest, regrettably, we cannot respond to individual applicants. If you are selected as a potential candidate, SJMA will contact you to schedule an interview.

No phone calls, please.