Curatorial Assistant, Photography
No deadline was specified for this listing. Published on 10 February 2026.
Application Deadline: Not specified
Salary: Commensurate with experience
Location: Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH), USA
Department: Photography
Reports to: Curator of Photography
About the Role
Reporting to the Curator of Photography, the Curatorial Assistant plays a central supportive role in the daily activities of the department, working closely with Curators and colleagues across the Museum. Collaboration is fundamental to the role, which involves engagement with multiple departments as well as public-facing interaction.
Responsibilities
Exhibitions – 40%
- Work with Photography Curators on all exhibitions, including permanent collection installations and special exhibitions
- Coordinate exhibition logistics across departments including Exhibitions, Conservation, Imaging, Matting & Framing, Graphics, Registration, Design & Production, Preparations, AV, Lighting, Learning & Interpretation, and Marketing
- Maintain and distribute updated checklists
- Prepare correspondence regarding exhibited works for artists, donors, and galleries
- Assist with writing and proofreading wall texts and labels; support label installation
- Prepare loan forms in collaboration with Curators and Registrars
- Coordinate catalogue production, including image rights, biographies, bibliographies, and checklists
- Schedule and manage installation photography
- Maintain multi-year exhibition and rotation calendars
Collection – 40%
- Assist with cataloguing the photography collection alongside the Associate Cataloguer and Registrar
- Maintain data standards within TMS (collection database)
- Ensure accuracy of collection information across print and digital publications
- Respond to collection and departmental enquiries
- Support other departments with photography-related research and acquisitions
- Assist with deaccession processes
Other Duties – 20%
- Support departmental patron events, including Photo Forum
- Assist with department-hosted programmes and events
- Liaise with other departments and circulate departmental updates
- Manage digital content for the department’s webpage
Skills, Knowledge & Abilities
- Broad art history knowledge with specialisation in the history of photography and photographic techniques
- Advanced research skills and strong writing ability
- Capacity to learn collection storage systems and lift boxes up to 25 lbs
- Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail
- Ability to manage multiple deadlines and projects
- Advanced computer literacy and ability to learn TMS database systems
Education & Experience
- MA in Art History or related field preferred
- Previous museum experience preferred
About the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) comprises more than 600 staff members and 1,000+ docents and volunteers. The museum is over 100 years old and ranks among the top 10 U.S. art museums by exhibition space, membership, endowment, and attendance, welcoming approximately 1 million visitors annually.
The institution includes multiple gallery buildings, a sculpture garden, two art schools, three dining venues, and two decorative arts house museums. Its encyclopedic collection contains more than 70,000 works across a wide range of media.
Working Conditions & Physical Demands
- Work across offices, galleries, storage, and exhibition spaces
- Regular interaction with artworks and archival materials
- Occasional evening, weekend, and holiday work for openings and installations
- Physical activity including standing, bending, ladder use, and light lifting
- Extensive computer and collections database use
- Exposure to controlled storage environments and variable lighting
- Collaboration with cross-departmental teams and external lenders
- High attention to detail for research, writing, and object handling
- Periods of intensive work tied to exhibition timelines
All essential job functions must be performed with or without reasonable accommodation. Background and reference checks are required.
Compensation
Salary is commensurate with experience and aligned with institutional pay structures, internal equity, and market benchmarks. Final compensation considers responsibilities, education, skills, and organisational needs.