Andrew W. Mellon Post-Doctoral Curatorial Fellowships

We Are Committed to an Inclusive Workplace

At the Philadelphia Museum of Art, we actively seek to employ a diverse group of people who embody our organizational values.  We welcome and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply, including those from traditionally underrepresented groups in the museum field, who are inspired by our shared purpose and enjoy working collaboratively with others.

We are an equal opportunity employer All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship or immigration status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other protected status.

How You Will Contribute

We are looking for outstanding scholars to join our team as post-doctoral fellows funded by an endowment established by a generous grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.  These fellowships provide foundational training to scholars interested in curatorial careers in art museums while also supporting scholarly research on works of art.  We are one of the premier art institutions of the world with a collection comprising nearly 250,000 objects representing many different cultures and historical periods ranging from medieval art in Europe and the arts of China, Japan, and Korea to modern and contemporary art.  The collection is cared for by    eight curatorial departments: American Art; Costume and Textiles; East Asian Art; European Decorative Arts (including Arms and Armor); European Painting and Sculpture; South Asian Art; Contemporary Art; and Prints, Drawings and Photographs.

Mellon Fellows are fully integrated into a specific curatorial department that matches their area of study, collaborating closely with an individual curator as well as with other curatorial, conservation, education, information services and registrarial staff. Each Fellow will have access to the collections and to the museum’s library and will enjoy all the professional benefits extended to museum staff.

Working in consultation with their supervising curator, Mellon Fellows will develop individual projects that complement their research interests and align with the priorities of the department.  Research projects that contribute to the museum’s scholarly publications or exhibitions drawn from the permanent collections are encouraged.  In addition, as part of their general training, Fellows will have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of museum activities, such as exhibition and program planning, volunteer training, art history lectures and gallery tours.  Fellows will join a cohort of other fellows across the museum where bi-weekly gatherings and discussions focus on research-sharing and exploring the various functions of the museum, its departments, and its extensive collection.

The term of appointment for this Fellowship will be for two years beginning in September 2020 and ending in August 2022.  Mellon Fellows will receive a competitive starting salary and are eligible for full museum benefits, including medical, dental, and vision as well as paid time off.  Research and travel expenses up to $5,000 will be covered.

Your background and experience include:

• A Ph.D. in art history or related field that aligns with one of our curatorial departments.
• Demonstration of scholarly excellence and promise.
• A strong interest in pursuing a career as a museum curator.

Application Procedures

The deadline to submit applications is February 19, 2020.

Please include the following with your application:

• A cover letter outlining your interest in the fellowship.
• A statement, not to exceed 1,000 words, describing your area of research and potential relationship to the museum’s collections.
• A copy of a published paper or a writing sample (no more than 10MB); a link to the document is preferred.
• Curriculum vitae with education, employment, honors, awards, and publications.
• Three letters of recommendation emailed to HR@philamuseum.org.

What We Offer

Our employees are at the center of the museum and we encourage everyone to be actively engaged in museum culture and activities.  As an employee, you will have access to numerous museum perks including, but not limited to:

• Free general admission to the museum for you and your immediate family
• Discounted guest tickets for general admission and special exhibitions
• Discounts on gift memberships
• Special staff tours and presentations from our world-renowned curatorial staff
• Discounts at the museum restaurant, all museum cafés, and museum retail stores

We offer a competitive benefits package* for employees including:

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Fully paid short-term disability insurance, long-term disability insurance, and life insurance
• Health savings or flexible spending account program
• Retirement savings program with museum match
• Paid vacation, personal days, sick days, and holidays