Curatorial Assistant

Introduction

The Amon Carter Museum of American Art (the Carter) is one of the country’s leading museums of American art. The collection includes significant holdings of nineteenth-century American landscape painting and Beaux Arts painting and sculpture, great depth in the work of Frederic Remington and Charles Russell, excellent examples of twentieth-century American modernism, and deep holdings of works on paper from the nineteenth century through the present day. The Carter is one of the major repositories of American photography in the world, ranging from early daguerreotypes and salted paper prints to site-specific installations by contemporary artists.

Position Description

The Curatorial Assistant will provide administrative and research support for the Carter’s curatorial initiatives, including assistance with curatorial research and planning and production of exhibitions, collection installations, and publications. The Curatorial Assistant will also maintain curatorial calendar and provide logistical support for the internal implementation of all exhibitions. This role serves as a key liaison between departments within the Museum for planning and the coordination of collections and exhibitions projects.

Responsibilities

Administration – 60%

• Maintain Curatorial calendar and workflow schedules by organizing meetings, working in the Museum’s project management program (Basecamp), and supporting clear lines of communication
• Assist with meeting preparation (including for Board of Trustees and Collection Committee meetings) by producing agendas, PowerPoints, and distributing attachments. Take and distribute meeting notes when requested.
• Oversee the coordination of exhibition and gallery labels, including working with internal and external editors and designers as well as the Museum’s production team.
• Archive label text by uploading text PDFs and InDesign files to corresponding records.
• Assist with creation of loan request paperwork.

• Assist in collaboration between Curatorial and Development departments in support of the Museum’s culture of philanthropy.
• Support planning for Curatorial department events, including symposia, dinners, and other programs.

• Coordinate preparation of yearly department budgets with assistance from the department and track expenses to ensure budgetary compliance; prepare purchase orders and check requests. 

• Make travel arrangements with itineraries for curators, conservators and visiting scholars as needed.

• Organize and maintain general departmental files.

• Draft, proof, and produce departmental correspondence.

• Maintain office and program supplies; assist with purchasing supplies for the department in accordance with budget and purchasing guidelines.
• Prepare Curatorial information for Annual Report, Board of Trustees Quarterly Reports, and other museum publications.
• Provide support to Executive Assistant as needed.
• Work closely with Database Registrar to build necessary reports and streamline workflow.
• Respond to general inquiries to the curatorial department.

Research – 40%

• Work closely with curators to assist with research, planning, and production of exhibitions, collection installations, and publications, including checklist and publication file organization.
• Assist curators with library and archive research for object files, provenance, and other needs.
• Conduct research and prepare reports on objects considered for acquisition.

Skills and Requirements

• Proficient with Microsoft Office, especially Word, PowerPoint and Excel; familiarity with collections management systems and Microsoft SharePoint desirable.
• Excellent organizational, proofreading, and communication skills (oral, written, and interpersonal)
• Must possess strong research and writing skills.
• Possess or develop familiarity with the Carter collections, Curatorial functions, conservation practices, and museum programming, and exhibitions.
• A working knowledge of the museum services and information pertaining to the Cultural District, Fort Worth, and North Texas area is desirable.

Key Characteristics/Traits

• Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding all sensitive museum information
• Ability to organize tasks and prioritize projects.
• Ability to work congenially and productively with staff and museum visitors.
• Personal accountability
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects concurrently
• Deadline oriented
• Rigorous attention to detail
• Ability to take initiative

Qualifications/Education

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in art history

• Experience with the exhibition and publication making process is desirable
• Prior museum experience is desirable
• Aptitude with computers and databases; proficient with MS Office products
• Knowledge of art historical research methods
• One to three years administrative work experience.
• Excellent communications skills; proofing and writing skills in composition, spelling, punctuation, grammar.

Other Job Requirements

• Successful completion of Background Check, pre-employment drug screen and MVR. 
• Smart Phone required.

Research shows that women and individuals from underrepresented backgrounds often apply to jobs only if they meet 100 percent of the qualifications. We recognize that it is unlikely that an applicant meets 100 percent of the qualifications for a given role. Therefore, if much of this job description describes you, then you are highly encouraged to apply for this role.

The Carter is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, the Carter will ensure that people with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodation. If reasonable accommodation is needed in this process, please contact hr@cartermuseum.org.