Project Curatorial Fellow

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

Project Curatorial Fellow – Rising Sun

The Exhibition Curatorial Fellowship at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) in Philadelphia, PA offers the opportunity for a highly qualified candidate with to gain professional curatorial experience at a nationally renowned museum of American art affiliated with a degree-granting fine arts art school. The main goal of the Fellowship is to support the upcoming, transformative, multi-site contemporary art exhibition “Rising Sun: Artists in an Uncertain America,” scheduled to open at PAFA and the African American Museum in Philadelphia, in March 2023.

One of the most ambitious and multifaceted Philadelphia art exhibitions in recent memory, Rising Sun will feature newly commissioned work by 21 leading contemporary American artists. The exhibition draws inspiration from the words of Benjamin Franklin, who pondered whether the sun was rising or setting on the country’s future during its formative years, and the lyrics “Facing the rising sun of our new day begun” from Lift Every Voice and Sing (or “The Black National Anthem”), written by James Weldon Johnson. In the midst of an uncertain and tumultuous contemporary moment, the 21 participating artists will critically engage with Franklin’s question – Is the sun rising or setting on the experiment of American democracy? – according to their individual points of view and artistic practices, forging new insights, connections, and discussions on inadequate history, the work of re-appraisal, reformation, reckoning, repair, and, ultimately, a collective way forward: “Facing the rising sun of our new day begun.”

The Curatorial Fellowship is a part-time, approximately 10 month term, position offering a mentored and structured curatorial experience at PAFA. The Fellowship will be designed to provide a professional bridge to a major institutional museum career. The Fellowship provides growth and development for outstanding candidates. The start date is determined based on the successful applicant’s schedule, but, ideally, in October 2022. This in-depth experience will ensure that the Curatorial Fellow has worked collaboratively with all museum staff, especially the curator’s manager of exhibitions, and educators, as well as marketing and development.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist with travel and guest arrangements, particularly for the installation period, and the preparation and submission of expense reports ensuring only reasonable submissions
• Work with other local partners and aggregate information about Rising Sun-related events and programming.
• Prepare and edit correspondence, reports, and presentations.
• Coordinate curator’s calendar and assist in scheduling meetings with the PAFA exhibition project team, as well as collectors, galleries, artists, and exhibition partners as requested by the exhibition curator.
• Assist with exhibition catalogue preparation, obtaining photographic material and rights and reproduction permissions, as well as proof reading and copy editing.
• Assist with research as assigned.
• Proofread and edit exhibition labels, brochures, invitations and other exhibition printed materials.
• Assist PAFA staff in the preparation and mailing of exhibition informational packets, loan letters, exhibition catalogues, and other materials as required.
• Other duties pertaining to the exhibition and its programming as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree and demonstrated study of contemporary art, Master’s degree in art history or related field strongly preferred.
• Museum or gallery experience preferred.
• Basic computer skills, including the use of collection management databases and Microsoft Office Suite required. Photo editing software skills preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal, written communication, and research skills.
• Excellent organization skills; ability to multi-task and meet deadlines.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to work collaboratively, as well as independently.