Curatorial Assistant, American Paintings, Sculpture & Drawings

Position Summary

Working under the supervision of the Curator of American Paintings, Sculpture and Drawings, the Curatorial Assistant will support the curator in the research, management and development of projects in a lively department, including publications, exhibitions, permanent collection presentations, and collection development. Enthusiasm for United States art history from the colonial era through the 1960s and for visitor engagement are essential, as are excellent verbal and written communication skills and the enjoyment of teamwork. This individual will effectively coordinate with museum staff across departments, engage with the public and participate in donor stewardship, and perform administrative tasks critical to the function of the department.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

Working under the direction of the Curator of American Paintings, Sculpture & Drawings, duties include, but are not limited to:

• Research and document objects in the collection and related topics and stay current on new scholarship and on-line resources.
• Assist in the development, planning and installation of temporary exhibitions and the museum’s permanent collection.
• Play a significant role in publications management, including manuscript preparation, rights and reproductions, proofreading and liaising with authors, photographers, and publishers.
• Assist the curator with the acquisition of objects for the collection, including research, writing and cataloging duties with the collections management database.
• Write for scholarly publications and accessibly for the general public.
• Write and present scholarly lectures and public gallery talks.
• Educate docents and volunteers with regards to the department’s collection areas and exhibitions as assigned.
• Respond to outside queries from scholars and the public. Meet with visiting scholars and assist them with the use of the museum’s collections and resources.
• Assist with the Friends of American Paintings, Sculpture and Drawings group in partnership with the curator and key staff.
• Attend internal curatorial, exhibition planning, and other meetings, as assigned. Attend special events as requested, some after conventional museum hours.
• Other special projects and departmental duties as assigned.
  
  

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Art History, American History or American Studies with strong interests in United States art history and a desire to actively participate in new strategies for visitor engagement and the presentation of American art collections. A master’s degree and previous museum experience are preferred.
• Excellent organizational skills, detail oriented, and the ability to multitask and keep concurrent projects on track to meet deadlines.
• Must possess excellent written and oral communication skills and strong research abilities in libraries, archives and online. Requires the ability to read, analyze and interpret documents and write gallery texts, business correspondence, lectures and articles.
• Must be proficient with computers, including the Microsoft Office Suite, and have the facility to master TMS, the museum’s collections management software, to make exhibition checklists, catalogue objects and perform other tasks.
• Clearly and concisely present information and respond to questions from a variety of constituents. An enthusiasm for sharing knowledge with a variety of audiences.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders.