Assistant curator

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The Heckscher Museum seeks a dynamic and experienced Assistant Curator with strong art historical research, writing, and verbal communication skills who is committed to engaging and expanding the Museum’s audiences. The Assistant Curator will support the Curator and collaborate with the Registrar & Exhibitions Manager in all aspects of creating and presenting exhibitions, and researching and caring for the Museum’s collection. The Assistant Curator will participate fully in shaping Curatorial Department projects, and will also work closely with colleagues throughout the Museum, including in Administration, Education, Visitor Experience, Development, and Building Services.

Principal Responsibilities: Collections

● Curate and co-curate rigorous, inventive, and engaging collections exhibitions

● Conduct scholarly research on the collection

● Research and propose possible acquisitions

● Maintain object and artist files and help to maintain the collections database

● Participate in all aspects of collections management and collections care

● Administer the Collections Stewardship Committee: preparing agendas, corresponding with members, scheduling and participating in meetings, and recording minutes

Principal Responsibilities: Exhibitions

● Assist the Curator and Registrar & Exhibitions Manager in all aspects of initiating, developing, and organizing a multi-year program of loan exhibitions and publications

● Conduct in-depth research on topics related to temporary exhibitions

● Research, write, edit, and help produce exhibition labels and other texts

● Organize the Long Island Biennial, including processing applications, corresponding with artists, organizing the jurying process, and determining the installation

● Participate in exhibition installations and deinstallations

● Collaborate across departments to assist with developing and implementing interpretive exhibition elements and programming

● Manage outgoing rights and reproductions requests

General Responsibilities:

● Assist with grant writing

● Maintain digital and hard copy curatorial files

● Help to create and update website and social media content

● Oversee calendars, checklists, and other planning documents

● Develop and maintain relationships on behalf of the Museum with professional colleagues and with all museum stakeholders

● Lead docent trainings

● Recruit and supervise interns

● Field inquiries from the public

● Perform other duties as appropriate for the support of curatorial activities and the Museum’s mission

Qualifications:

● Graduate degree in Art History or a related field required, PhD welcomed

● Expertise in at least one of the following: nineteenth-century European art, nineteenth-century American art, modern and contemporary American art

● Relevant prior collections and exhibitions experience

● Exceptional art historical research and writing skills

● Verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage specialist and general audiences

● Highly developed organizational skills, attention to detail, sense of responsibility, and ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously

● Ability to work well with all Museum stakeholders, including Board members, colleagues, volunteers, artists, and vendors

● Valid driver’s license and personal vehicle

To Apply:

Please submit a cover letter and a resume, including contact information for two professional or academic referees, to curatorial@heckscher.org. Additional materials, such as a writing sample, may be requested as part of the interview process. Applicants are encouraged to submit materials at their first convenience, and by March 19 at the latest. We recognize that it is unlikely that someone will meet 100% of the qualifications for a role. If much of this job posting describes you, please apply.

Compensation: Annual salary range, $50,000 to $55,000, commensurate with skills and experience. Excellent benefits package including: medical, dental, and vision insurance; generous paid time off including staff holidays, vacation, personal, and sick time; voluntary 403B employee retirement plan with a 401K employer contribution.

The Heckscher Museum of Art is committed to building a diverse staff and is an Equal Opportunity Employer, providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibiting discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.