Curatorial Assistant

Responsibilities:

• Assists Curator of Modern & Contemporary Art and Assistant Curator of Modern & Contemporary Art and acts as the department’s chief liaison across the museum campus. The scope of the position reflects all departmental activities related to collections and exhibitions.
• Specific duties regarding the collection will include coordination of major reinstallation of permanent collection for the opening of a new building on the museum’s campus in 2020. Additional collection responsibilities include research and documentation of collection holdings and in support of new acquistions: maintaining and creating collection files within the department and in TMS (the museum’s universal database).
• Duties related to special exhibitions will include catalogue research, writing, editing, and proofreading; preparation of loan forms and exhibition checklists; installation planning and coordination of interdepartmental work orders; preparation and distribution of didactic materials; label production and installation.
• Additional duties will also include assisting in the coordination of the contemporary@mfah and the African American Art Advisory Assoication patron groups; assisting both the general and scholarly public requiring information on or access to the museum’s collection; and occasional public lectures and museum tours

• Establishing and maintaining contacts within the active arts community in Houston, nationally, and abroad, and staying current with new scholarship are also high priorities.

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:

• A thorough grounding in 20th-Century art history and critical writing, and a general knowledge of contemporary art.
• Sophisticated and lucid research, writing, proof-reading, and communication skills are essential.

• Excellent organizational skills and computer experience (PC word processing, PowerPoint, and database).
• Experience with cataloging objects and data entry in collection management database

• In addition to English, a second language is required.
• An enthusiasm for the museum profession, the ability to work collaboratively, and to approach a broad range of tasks with a positive outlook.

• An ability to work effectively under pressure and meet deadlines. Prioritize tasks and organize multiple activities, as well as support and guide the activities of staff members around a common project.

Education and Experience:

• M.A. or equivalent in Art History is required.
• A minimum of one-year’s experience in curatorial or related museum work required.

How to Apply:

Send resume to Human Resources, Job 19-185CUR, P.O. Box 6826, Houston TX 77265-6826; Fax 713-639-7508 or email: jobs@mfah.org