Curatorial Research Assistant

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Department: AI Global Contemporary

About the Department

The Smart Museum, founded at the University of Chicago in 1974, currently houses more than 16,000 objects from a wide range of cultures and historical periods. As a university museum situated within one of the great research institutions of the world, the Smart is guided by an educational mission focused on the teaching and research of art and ideas, and by a commitment to making the arts accessible to the University community and wider public through our collection and special exhibitions, academic and community engagement, and public programs. The Museum plays a central role in the University’s arts initiative, which has brought extraordinary new focus and energy to the arts on campus. Overall, the arts play a distinct role in fulfilling the University of Chicago’s commitment to open discourse and rigorous inquiry informed by the diversity of ideas, identities, and experiences. Within this context, the Museum collaborates closely with other units on campus as well as institutions and scholars in the city and across the country. The Smart Museum is widely known for its ambitious exhibitions and programs; its exhibition projects often arise from partnerships with other institutions and travel nationally and internationally. Its collaborations with scholars and students, often led by the Feitler Center for Academic Inquiry, have animated its collection both historically and conceptually. At the same time, The Smart Museum is also deeply dedicated to engaging its surrounding communities through Public Practice programming that offers visitors of all ages a transformative experience involving significant and often unexpected examples of artistic expression. The Smart Museum in particular is a unique site where members of our community—both on campus and beyond—come together to exchange diverse perspectives and ideas through the lens of art objects and artistic practices.

Job Summary

The job researches subjects to support the planning, development, and evaluation of the University’s museum exhibitions. Works with the education department on education programs related to collections.

Working at the Smart Museum of Art, the Curatorial Research Assistant works with the museum’s curatorial department under the leadership of Curator of Global Contemporary Art and in partnership with other academic departments including the Department of Art History to advance our collective commitment to expanding the fields of art history and museum practice. The Curatorial Research Assistant is responsible for providing research, administrative, communications, and logistical support for, and coordination of exhibitions and collections management for Global Contemporary Art and the broader Smart Museum’s curatorial focus. The Curatorial Research Assistant will have research experience and specialization in modern and contemporary, preferably with a focus on global and/or transnational art histories. They will also be knowledge in current museum practices and actively committed to making the field more diverse, inclusive, and equitable.

The Curatorial Research Assistant reports to the Curator of Global Contemporary Art and works closely with the Curatorial Team and Exhibitions & Publications Manager.

This is a full-time benefits eligible position.

Responsibilities

Assists and coordinates exhibition research, logistics, and production.
Manages and tracks exhibition progress; provides logistical and administrative support for exhibitions.
Coordinates and schedules meetings. Drafts and circulates agendas and meeting materials.
Compiles and updates exhibition checklists.
Updates and maintains exhibition files and exhibition timeline.
Drafts loan letters and tracks communication as needed with lenders.
Manages correspondence and communication with UChicago and Smart
Museum employees, and with galleries, artists, and collaborating institutions.
Drafts and circulates announcements.
Drafts exhibition texts including gallery texts and label copy, exhibition introductions, and other didactic texts.
Works closely with the Museum’s external relations team to develop plans to promote exhibitions and related programs to diverse audiences on campus, throughout the south side, across Chicago, and beyond.
Collaborates with education and interpretation colleagues and with faculty, students, staff, and civic partners to organize workshops, seminars/webinars, conferences, and other collection and exhibition related programs. Plans, executes, and staffs select exhibition related events.
Conducts research at varying points throughout the development of the exhibition, including bibliographic research.
Exhibition administration as needed, including but not limited to invoicing, expense reporting and budget tracking.
Maintains object files.
Researches collection objects, especially new acquisitions.
Drafts acquisition justifications, object labels, and other didactic texts, as needed.
Assists in the re-installations of permanent collections galleries, with an emphasis on diversifying the presentation of our permanent collection and expanding the narratives told through the collection.
Coordinates travel for visiting artists and scholars by booking travel, developing travel itineraries, and processing receipts and generateing expense reports in the University’s GEMS system.
Provides research, administrative and logistics assistance for special projects.
Assists with grant proposal writing and other funding applications, as needed.
Conducts research on other topics and artists as needed.
May require some travel as necessary for specific exhibition research and/or as a courier.
Supports museum-wide priorities such as the Smart’s 50th Anniversary,
Collections Review activities, and advancing Smart Museum IDEA (Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) initiatives.
With guidance from others, helps commission new work and develops exhibitions to advance the University’s visual arts efforts.
Coordinates support for museum programs through fundraising efforts.
Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

Master’s degree.
PhD.

Experience:

Professional work experience in higher education, museum, non-profit arts sector, arts administration, or similar professional work experience.
Previous experience in a university or similarly complex institution.
Background related to the arts or higher education.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

Demonstrated fluency in Microsoft Office products.
Proficiency in TMS.

Preferred Competencies

Strong organizational and analytical skills.
Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills, characterized by the ability to listen, speak, and write well, with a strong commitment to customer service.
Manage confidential information with discretion and tact.
Flexibility and adaptability to new programs in an emerging and changing environment.
Organizational and human relations skills with ability to collaborate well and supportively and cultivate good relationships with colleagues within the
Museum and its many collaborators.
The temperament to work with a diverse and demanding population is expected.
Must be self-directed and self-motivated, able to set goals and develop projects.
Clear, effective, and tactful oral and written communication skills; handle sensitive information with discretion.
Prioritize and execute multiple tasks simultaneously with an ability to view a project in its entirety.

Working Conditions

Travel to campus and/or non-campus locations for museum business.
Work some evenings and weekends.

Application Documents

Resume/CV (required)
Cover Letter (required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family: Museum & Arts

Role Impact: Individual Contributor

FLSA Status: Exempt

Pay Frequency: Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 37.5

Benefits Eligible: Yes

Drug Test Required: No

Health Screen Required: No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required: No

Posting Statement

Applicant Inquiry Form.<span>Applicant Inquiry Form</span>The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University’s Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

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