Curatorial Assistant
Department: Curatorial Affairs
Reports to: Associate Curator
Date posted: December 19, 2019
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Schedule: Full-Time; Three-Year Renewable Term
The Jewish Museum seeks a Curatorial Assistant who is capable of independent thinking and content generation, as well as supporting others in planning, researching, and executing exhibitions. The Curatorial Assistant will begin their tenure working on a major exhibition devoted to the years 1962-1963-1964 in New York, culminating in a museum-wide installation in 2021. Through work on this exhibition and others, the Curatorial Assistant will develop and maintain excellent relationships with guest curators, artists, designers, scholars, collectors and curatorial colleagues within and beyond the Museum.
The Jewish Museum is committed to diversifying its curatorial staff to more adequately reflect its diverse audiences. The Museum therefore encourage candidates from a broad range of cultural, racial, and religious backgrounds and experiences, especially those which have been historically under-represented among museum professionals. As an identity-based institution, the Jewish Museum believes that serving the full breadth of its community requires cultural competency and enthusiasm for diversity of all kinds.
Responsibilities:
- Play an essential role facilitating a major exhibition covering the years 1962-1963-1964, including tracking a sizeable checklist, helping to schedule meetings, processing image requests, undertaking intensive archival research, liaising with outside specialists and partners, identifying and securing objects for loan, and assisting in the workflow of many curators and staff members.
- Work with team to identify contexts for exploring themes of the global diaspora, including — and in parallel to — Jewish experience.
- Provide foundation research for major projects in development, including assembling documentation on individual artists, movements and works of art, maintaining relationships with studios and galleries, and liaising as needed with artists and their representatives.
- Work with staff in education, digital media, marketing, visitor services, operations, communications and development to ensure smooth communication and deadline coordination for projects in development.
- Prepare preliminary exhibition checklists. Research and locate objects for exhibitions and acquisitions. Secure loans and maintain effective relationships with lenders.
- Write and edit text for label copy, press releases, catalogues, brochures and exhibitions, including text panels, essays, and catalogue entries.
- Train docents, including walkthroughs and lectures in consultation with education department.
- Arrange for exhibitions to travel. Help prepare prospectuses, budgets, materials, and instructions for exhibitions and objects to travel.
- Review proposals from artists, donors or vendors for gifts/purchases of works of art.
- Draft clear and succinct exhibition narratives to be utilized for communications, fundraising for exhibitions, acquisitions and soliciting major gifts.
- Assist the collections manager in supervising cataloging of permanent collection; do research as necessary; schedule conservation evaluations and arrange for framing and conservation of works in permanent collection in consultation with registrar.
- Perform administrative functions in connection with daily museum and departmental business. Participate in the work of museum committees as assigned.
- Interview and supervise project assistants, administrative assistants, interns and temporary employees–assign tasks and schedules, and monitor work plans.
- Actively engage social media outlets to extend message of the artistic program and the museum more broadly.
- Collaborate with peers in cross-departmental dialogue and idea development.
- Travel as time and budget allow for conferences, symposia, and professional development purposes.
Requirements:
- M.A. degree in Art History or Curatorial Studies
- 1-2 years museum experience; curatorial experience preferred
- Broad knowledge of art history, with emphasis on modern and contemporary art. Expertise in one or more of the following areas preferred: Latinx, East Asian, Southeast Asian, African American, feminist, and/or queer art and artists
- Knowledge of and/or interest in Jewish history and culture
- Excellent organizational, interpersonal, written and verbal skills
- Ability to work independently and take initiative
- Computer and digital media literacy; working knowledge of TMS a plus.
Send Resume with Cover Letter To:
Associate Director, Human Resources
The Jewish Museum
1109 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10128
The Jewish Museum is an Equal Opportunity Employer.