Latinx Curatorial Fellow

Organization: The Arizona State University Art Museum

Location: Tempe, Arizona (USA)

The Arizona State University Art Museum invites applications for the IMLS Latinx Curatorial Fellow. This three-year, grant-funded position is intended to provide a significant opportunity for an emerging scholar to gain professional curatorial experience. Reporting to the Senior Curator, the Curatorial Fellow will be exposed to aspects of curatorial operations, including exhibition planning, research and best practices in collection stewardship. The Curatorial Fellow will work on three specific projects, conducting research on a series of Chicanx prints and objects held in the Hispanic Research Center’s (HRC) collection in preparation catalogue produced by the ASU Art Museum and the HRC, produced on the occasion the year-long exhibition, “Chicano/a/x Prints and Graphics: Selections from the Hispanic Research Center’s Collection, 1985–2010.” The Curatorial Fellow will conduct research into the Museum’s 13,000+ object collection for the development of an original exhibition culled from the Museum’s permanent collection. The incumbent will also assist on upcoming exhibitions, such as the major retrospective exhibition, “Carmen Lomas Garza: Picturing the Familiar” while also undergoing research and writing for the Museum’s Latinx art collections to produce evergreen content to be deployed for various applications.

Essential Duties

The following list is not meant to be exhaustive of the duties and responsibilities of the incumbent.

• In close collaboration with the Senior Curator and the curatorial staff, responsible for the coordination and development of the second rotation of a year-long exhibition on Chicanx prints.
• With ASUAM curatorial staff and HRC staff, coordinate all aspects of catalogue production including: writing, editing, translation, photography, design, printing and distribution logistics.
• Work with curatorial staff to develop an original thematic presentation culled from the Museum’s permanent collection.
• Assist with upcoming exhibitions, such as the major retrospective exhibition, “Carmen Lomas Garza: Picturing the Familiar.”
• Together with the registration staff, work on digitization of ASUAM’s collection, including improving the digital records of key works and subgroups of the collection, arranging for photography, and appropriate tagging into the software system.
• Contribute curatorial texts and content to meet a broad range of Museum applications, including educational, press and development purposes.
• Participate in programs organized by the Museum’s department of co-creation and learning.
• Attend and participate in Collections Committee meetings to learn about collection stewardship and processes.
• Learn to oversee project budgets and long-lead timelines.
• Perform routine office and administrative tasks related to the department.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in a field appropriate to the area of assignment AND three (3) years of related experience; OR, Seven (7) years of related experience; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience and/or education from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.

Desired Qualifications

• Evidence of a Master’s degree in Fine Arts, Art History or related field with three years of museum experience preferred.
• Ability to develop relationships with donors, artists, faculty, students, and others who will further the Museum’s artistic and financial goals.
• Ability to work with a broad range of university and community audiences, student interns, and volunteers.
• Evidence of effective oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to speak and write articulately on behalf of this Museum, its mission, collection, and relevance today and in the future.
• Ability to work collaboratively with the Museum’s curatorial team and within the larger context of a contemporary art museum and university.
• Ability to work effectively in stressful situations involving changing priorities and tight timelines.
• Demonstrated interest in professional and best practices in museums and the ability to implement them.
• Evidence of original research, curatorial work, or publication in the field of contemporary ceramics and/or craft.
• Demonstrated knowledge of professional museum practice.

Working Environment

• This position is a hybrid position.
• Activities are performed in multiple environmentally-controlled buildings subject to extended periods of sitting, standing and walking.
• Walking moderate distances between site locations.
• Exposure to dust and other airborne materials.
• Regular activities require the ability to quickly change priorities which may include and/or are subject to resolution of conflicts.
• Clear communication to perform essential functions.
• Regular use of standard office equipment including, but not limited to: computer workstation/laptop (keyboard, monitor, mouse), printer, fax, scanner copier, calculator, telephone, and associated computer/technology peripherals.
• Receives managerial review of assignments for adherence to established objectives and goals.
• Provides a regular review of work activities to volunteers to ensure compliance with established standards.
• This three-year, grant-funded position is intended to provide a significant opportunity for an emerging scholar to gain professional curatorial experience.