Do you want to help make the world a better place with your exhibition planning skills? We are seeking a fixed-term Curatorial/Exhibitions Coordinator based in New York City, to provide curatorial and support for the Culture and Art program’s exhibitions program. This position provides sabbatical coverage for the program’s Project Head for exhibitions.
Culture and Art seeks to advance diverse artistic practices and strengthen locally-led cultural spaces, addressing the aesthetic, political, and capacity needs of arts leaders, individual artists, and cultural activists.
Culture and Art was created in 2019, incorporating the work of the Open Society’s former Arts Exchange and Documentary Photography Project programs, including the Soros Arts Fellowship and the Moving Walls Fellowship. The program seeks to advance diverse artistic practices and strengthen locally-led cultural spaces around the world, addressing the aesthetic, political, and capacity needs of arts leaders, individual artists, and cultural activists. It also serves to connect, convene, and sustain a global network of locally-led cultural organizations and initiatives working at the intersection of culture, art, and social change.
The Culture and Art exhibitions program includes: Moving Walls, an exhibition series that explores social justice and human rights issues through documentary practice; exhibitions featuring a broad range of Open Society-supported artists; and installations of artwork at Open Society’s offices and foundations.
As a Fixed Term Curatorial/Exhibitions Coordinator at Open Society, you will work with the Curatorial and Deputy Director to:
- support exhibition curation and pre-production for the Fall 2020 exhibition at Open Society Foundations-New York, including: artist research; liaising with curatorial team and artists to develop preliminary checklist and installation plans; gathering and monitoring receipt of all deliverable curatorial materials (image/video files, object information, artist statements and other texts, information and documents for contracting purposes); organizing all media and files, and facilitating team access and review of materials; vetting texts
- liaise with artists and internal departments (legal, facilities, etc.) to communicate installation needs and ensure compliance with building/facilities requirements, while ensuring that proposed installation plans optimize artists’ vision
- oversee some production, including: working with established vendors on caption printing, photographic printing, and fabrication
- oversee one artwork de-installation project at Open Society Foundations-Washington, D.C. (travel required)
- oversee outgoing art work shipments for off-site exhibitions, loans, and returns
- provide administrative support as needed for curation and design meetings, including file organization and preparing meeting materials
What we are looking for:
- 3-5 years of experience working in a curatorial, exhibitions, and/or registration department at a museum or gallery
- Experience working directly with artists, vendors, and fabricators on exhibition production and installation
- Strong organization and project management skills, and works efficiently under tight deadlines
- Strong interpersonal and diplomacy skills and proven ability to work on a team and align various interests
- Ability to build and maintain relationships with a wide range of people from diverse backgrounds
- Commitment to the Open Society Foundations’ values of diversity and inclusion
- Advanced computer skills, highly proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, including, Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint
- Excellent analytical and proactive problem solving skills
- Experience working with image and video files; working knowledge of Photoshop
Desirable (but not required):
- Experience with exhibition-quality photographic printing (preferred)
- Working knowledge of Photoshop and SketchUp
What we offer:
- Ample opportunities to learn and grow, from annual professional development allowances to onsite trainings and brown bag lunches with visiting experts.
- Top-notch benefits and perks designed for your well-being and a healthy work-life balance. With some variability according to location, this includes generous time off, flexible work arrangements, employer-paid health insurance, generous retirement savings plan, progressive paid parental leave, reproductive and family planning support, sabbatical opportunities, and much more.
- A commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace that enables everyone to bring their full self to work and make a positive impact on the world.
Employment Type: Fixed Term
Duration: 4-5 months with a possible extension
