Arnhold Associate Curator
Location: New York, US
Contract: Full-time
Seniority: Experienced
Salary: $85,000 – $102,000 (commensurate with experience)
Application deadline: 15 May 2026
About the Role
Reporting to the Nancy and Steve Crown Family Chief Curator, the Arnhold Associate Curator plays a central role in the Curatorial department, serving as an active voice in curatorial dialogue, a generator of new ideas, and a collaborative team member.
The role involves working closely on the organisation of large-scale monographic and thematic exhibitions, independently organising exhibitions and artist projects, and contributing to acquisitions and collection displays. This position is suited to a candidate with a strong art historical background and demonstrated engagement with contemporary art and artists.
Responsibilities
- Propose exhibitions, projects, and initiatives in keeping with the museum’s mission and values
- Manage all administrative aspects of exhibitions, including correspondence, reports, presentations, checklists, floor plans, and budgets
- Write didactic texts, with the possibility of contributing to exhibition catalogues
- Conduct scholarly research, including archival work and meetings with artists
- Collaborate with curatorial staff and departments including Conservation, Exhibitions, Education, Publications, and Advancement
- Liaise with external contacts such as artists, donors, galleries, and institutions
- Cultivate relationships with artists, trustees, patron groups, press, and peers at other institutions
- Serve as a curatorial liaison for patron groups or acquisition committees when required
- Represent the Curatorial department in internal and external stakeholder communications when required
Requirements
- M.A. in Art History
- Expertise in 20th and 21st century American art; experience in contemporary art preferred
- Minimum of 7 years’ experience in a museum, academic, or related context
- Demonstrated scholarship and strong organisational skills
- Experience with TMS, Microsoft Office, Excel, and PowerPoint
Compensation & Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage
- 403(b) retirement plan
- Generous paid time off
- Commuter benefits (parking and public transport)
- Admission to museums nationally
- Pet insurance and discounted Citi Bike membership
This position may be covered by UAW Local 2110.
About the Whitney
The Whitney Museum of American Art, founded in 1930 by the artist and philanthropist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, houses the foremost collection of American art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. From her vision arose the Whitney Museum of American Art, which has been championing the most innovative art of the United States for 86 years. The core of the Whitney’s mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit American art of our time and serve a wide variety of audiences in celebration of the complexity and diversity of art and culture in the United States. Through this mission and a steadfast commitment to artists themselves, the Whitney has long been a powerful force in support of modern and contemporary art and continues to help define what is innovative and influential in American art today.
