Curatorial/Administrative Assistant | USA
Curatorial/Administrative Assistant
Deadline: Aug 6, 2017
Art transforms lives. It provokes us to think, to express, to explore our own creativity, to envision new possibilities. SFMOMA expanded the museum to provide a better experience for our visitors and a better home for our expanding collections, including the SFMOMA collection and the Fisher Collection, one of the finest collections of contemporary art in the world. The new SFMOMA, designed in collaboration with the architecture firm Snøhetta, opened May 14th 2016. With this project, we are transforming not just the museum’s physical presence, but also our contributions to the community, enhancing SFMOMA’s role as a place for learning, inspiration, and interaction for visitors from the Bay Area and beyond. We are making SFMOMA a magnet for contemporary art and for the audiences who will engage with it.
POSITION PURPOSE:
Reporting to the Curator of Contemporary Art, the Department Assistant will assist in the development of the new department, including administrative and curatorial responsibilities. The Department Assistant oversees all administrative, budgetary, and scheduling functions of the Contemporary Art department, facilitating communication and organization within the department and on behalf of the department with museum staff, donors, artists, and arts professionals. The Department Assistant assists in the research, development, and interpretation of works from the permanent collection and for special exhibitions and supports the department’s acquisitions process. The Assistant maintains advantageous relations with the art community including artists, collectors, dealers, donors, and staff from other museums.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Receive and screen telephone calls and emails; take messages; respond to inquiries from artists, museum and arts professionals, trustees, supporters, and the general public, providing information, which may require the use of judgment and the interpretation of department policies and procedures.
- Manage the department’s operations and budget, including the prompt processing of invoices, expense reports, and office supply orders; prepare annual budget, and monitor all departmental expenses.
- Draft a wide variety of documents, including correspondence, budgets, brief instructions or printed materials; reports; and announcements; review finished materials for completeness, accuracy, format, compliance with SFMOMA and departmental policies and procedures, and proper English usage.
- Develop and prepare agendas and meeting notices; attend meetings and take detailed minutes for transcription and distribution.
- Coordinate the curator’s schedule, including management of calendar and contact list; actively maintain and update the departmental mailing lists and send regular email updates on departmental activities.
- Maintain and update the departmental physical and electronic files and archive.
- Assist with preparation for Accessions Committee meetings. Prepare the agenda and packets for committee members. Attend meetings, prepare and distribute minutes.
- Maintain accurate records of all meetings, include voting tally, minutes, packet and attendance for each meeting.
- Assist in the preparation, coordination and implementation of Contemporary Art-organized and/or SFMOMA special events and programs, including but not limited to, generating guest lists, reserving facilities, procuring required equipment, confirming all arrangements, and greeting guests on behalf of the department.
- Research and manage travel budget and arrangements, including hotel reservations and transportation for curatorial staff and visiting artists.
- Maintain an orderly and efficient office, including sorting and prioritizing mail.
- Assist with collection and exhibition research including, but not limited to: research and compilation of biographies, chronologies, and exhibition histories, and documentation of individual works.
- Assist with drafting and producing correspondence, loan forms, manuscripts, exhibition wall labels, and other materials related to permanent collection and/or special exhibitions. Maintain computer database of checklists for exhibitions.
- Facilitate inter-departmental communication regarding research and exhibitions, working closely with departments of exhibitions, public programs, registration, installation, conservation, publications, and graphic design.
- Facilitate external communication with artists, collectors, lenders, dealers, scholars, and staff members from other museums.
- Oversee the work assignments and activities of interns and volunteers.
- Provide support for lectures and presentations, including the generation of digital images as needed.
- Act as spokesperson for the department and the Museum as needed, including occasional tours of the galleries
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education and Training: Master’s degree in Contemporary Art, Cultural Studies, Art History, or closely related field.
Work Experience: Minimum two years related experience.
Skills and Abilities: Knowledge of modern and contemporary art history and terminology, interest in international contemporary art, and excellent writing and communication skills essential. Strong organizational skills. Ability to organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments with a minimum of direction. Knowledge of standard office practices, letter writing, bookkeeping, filing, and the operation of common office equipment. Knowledge of correct English usage, including spelling, grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary. Ability to provide substantial office support including maintenance of calendar, database management, word processing, Power Point, faxing, filing, email correspondence, and answering telephones. Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet deadlines. Ability to prioritize and organize multiple activities, as well as supervise the activities staff members around a common project. Ability to communicate effectively with donors, artists, Museum staff, colleagues, and the general public, whether in person, on the telephone, or in writing. Familiarity and ease with working with computers and learning new software. Experience with PC work environments and Microsoft Office software suites. Familiarity with collection, digital asset, donor, and contacts management programs preferred. Familiarity with basic a/v equipment, such as video projectors, digital audio recording devices, photo and video cameras, and of image and video editing software applications preferred. Additional language skills, an additional asset.
More info: https://sfmoma.snaphire.com/jobdetails/ajid/R97u8/Curatorial-Administrative-Assistant,23259.html