Curatorial Assistant, Contemporary Architecture
Organisation: The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
Location: New York, NY, USA
Salary: $74,858 gross per annum
Department: Architecture and Design
Job Type: Full-time
Work Arrangement: On-site (minimum 4 days per week; some weeks require 5 days on-site)
Reports to: Chief Curator, Architecture and Design, and Department Manager
Application Deadline: 7 August 2026, 5:00 pm EDT
About the Role
The Museum of Modern Art is currently accepting applications for a Curatorial Assistant in the Department of Architecture and Design who will provide support for upcoming contemporary architecture exhibitions, collection-based rotation displays, and acquisitions to the collection.
The Curatorial Assistant will work with colleagues across the Museum and with external colleagues to provide preparatory assistance and logistical support that ensures exhibitions, collection care, public programmes, department operations and other daily functions are smoothly executed.
Responsibilities
- Assist senior curatorial staff in all areas of their responsibilities, including administrative work such as taking detailed meeting minutes, preparing presentations, drafting internal and external communications, and scheduling meetings.
- Support research and preparation for exhibitions, collection rotations, publications, acquisitions, online content, collection records, bibliographic and biographical files, committee meetings, loans and general curatorial enquiries.
- Assist with the preparation of exhibitions and collection-based rotations, including scholarly research and writing.
- Help arrange loans, prepare catalogues, create exhibition checklists in CEMS and related platforms, and coordinate exhibition preparation across departments including conservation, photography, framing, construction, lighting and interpretive materials.
- Assist with the preparation and installation of wall labels, publication texts, image rights and other exhibition materials.
- Communicate with living architects and collaborators to support the selection, contextualisation and display of architectural models, drawings and other forms of representation.
- Conduct daily inspections of works on display in galleries and temporary exhibitions and assist with any necessary follow-up.
- Respond to public and scholarly enquiries regarding works in the collection and conduct gallery tours.
- Work with curatorial interns and other assigned staff.
- Stay informed about contemporary architecture through gallery and museum visits, publications and architect studio visits, sharing observations with senior staff.
- Perform other duties reasonably related to the role.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in architectural history, architecture or a comparable academic field required. A Master’s degree is preferred.
- Relevant professional experience within the department’s area of focus.
- Expertise and strong knowledge of contemporary architecture at local, national and international levels.
- Interest in the history of architectural display at MoMA and curiosity about developing new exhibition models.
- Ability to work collaboratively within a curatorial team, with openness to feedback, learning and mentorship.
- Excellent research, writing, organisational and communication skills.
- Exceptional attention to detail, professionalism and discretion.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Working knowledge of standard office software and procedures.
- Reading knowledge and verbal fluency in at least one language in addition to English.
