International Center for the Arts of the Americas (ICAA) Research and Metadata Development Fellow, Latinx Art
Application deadline: 31 July 2026
Fellowship Term: September 2026—August 2027
Work Location: Remote
Project Description
Organized by the International Center for the Arts of the Americas (ICAA), ¡Aquí Estamos!: Latinx Art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is a multi-year, institution-wide initiative that is opening critical pathways for the study and exhibition of Latinx art and artists within a major encyclopedic museum. Key to the initiative are emerging researchers who are well-positioned to make significant contributions to the expanding field of Latinx art. ¡Aquí Estamos! provides hands-on training and mentorship for a cohort of future museum and research professionals focused on Latinx art. These fellowship opportunities recognize the importance of early-career exposure to curatorial, conservation, and museum interpretation practices as well as archival and primary source research in cultivating the next generation of scholars and museum professionals.
A component of the larger ¡Aquí Estamos! initiative, the Latinx Papers Project aims to significantly expand the representation of Latinx art within the ICAA’s groundbreaking Documents of Latin American and Latino Art digital platform. The Latinx Papers Project is focused on the preservation and dissemination of primary source materials —correspondence, manifestos, exhibition reviews, exhibition pamphlets, journal articles, etc.— that are critical to the field of Latinx art. A targeted selection of documents will be culled from key repositories across the United States. Participating ICAA research fellows work with the ICAA headquarters and collaborating repositories across the U.S. to digitize, research, annotate, and publish thousands of new documents to the Documents Project site
Fellowship Description
The ICAA is offering a Research and Metadata Development Fellow the opportunity to assist in the research, processing, and publication of primary source documents for the ICAA’s Documents Project digital platform. The selected fellow will accumulate expertise on major figures related to Latinx art and art movements; develop advanced archival research skills; gain familiarity with the systems and best practices for digital archive projects; and learn to work within a highly collaborative research model. Additionally, the fellow will develop cataloguing skills using controlled vocabularies as well as the creation of project-specific, culturally competent metadata.
Primary Responsibilities and Opportunities
- In collaboration with ICAA staff, research and develop cataloguing metadata, including name authorities and topic descriptors, and generate database records for incoming documents
- Under the guidance of ICAA staff, research selected documents and write their accompanying synopses and annotations for publication to the ICAA Documents Project
- As needed, help to identify and/or liaise with potential collaborating repositories
- As needed, perform on-site research in collaborating repositories
- Propose, develop, and publish texts resulting from their project research
- Participate in weekly Latinx Papers Project-team meetings as well as workshops and other enrichment activities
- As needed, assist with administrative duties related to the project
Qualifications
- Student currently enrolled in a PhD program in art history or related field. Applicants who recently received a MLIS degree (conferred within 2025-2026) are also strongly encouraged to apply.
- Demonstrated background or expertise in Latinx art is required. Related knowledge of modern and contemporary Latin American art is desired.
- Proficiency in Spanish (verbal and written) is required
- Familiarity with or interest in cataloguing, metadata, and controlled vocabularies
- Familiarity with content management systems specific to archival and cultural heritage institutions such as Omeka
- Excellent research and writing skills
- High attention to detail and organization
- Ability to work collaboratively as well as independently
- Previous experience working with archives and special collections is required
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office/365
- Must currently be eligible to work in the United States
For more information on the opportunity, including the application process, please visit the link below.
Image credits: Via the MFHA Website
