Rauschenberg Curatorial Fellow at the Studio Museum in Harlem

Summary

The Studio Museum in Harlem is accepting applications for The Robert Rauschenberg Curatorial Fellowship, a 12-month position designed to provide a comprehensive introduction to collection and exhibition management for a young professional who has demonstrated a commitment to the museum field, and specifically to artists of African descent. The fellow will work under the direction of the Director of Collection and Exhibitions on a wide range of tasks in support of projects ranging from the design of schedules for various exhibitions programming to spearheading collection stewardship goals oriented around permanent collection assessment and cataloging in preparation for the re-opening of the Museum’s first purpose-built facility. Some research and writing in service to the administration of programs, as well as designing charts and spreadsheets for data analysis will be expected. This fellow will work closely with the Director of Collection and Exhibitions to develop systems for exhibition and collection management that serve the diverse and novel programming generated by our curatorial team in addition to a cohort of Museum fellows.

The position will provide the successful applicant with the opportunity to interface with various internal museum departments as well as connect with external partners engaged in many facets of museum work. Professional development opportunities will be discussed and supported according to the applicant’s interest.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Assist the Director of Collection and Exhibitions with: planning toward the Museum’s opening projects; researching, drafting, and implementing various policies and workflows; coordinating meetings; and overseeing schedules for programming.
  • Provide organizational, administrative, and project support related to the Museum’s collections and exhibitions.
  • Assist with the coordination of activities with other departments at the Museum, including Communications, Education, and Public Programs and Community Engagement, to support the museum’s mission to artists in the collection and to the Harlem community.
  • Other duties as assigned

Key Stakeholders (who this position will interact with regularly):

  • Internal (excluding direct chain of command):
    • Curatorial
    • Registrar
    • Director’s Office
    • Development
    • Communications
    • Education
    • Public Programs and Community Engagement
  • External:
    • Museums and other cultural institutions
    • Galleries

Travel Requirements: No

Physical Demands: No

Requirements

Required Education/Qualifications & Work Experience (MUST be met for a candidate to qualify for this role):

  • Bachelor’s degree in art history, museum studies, or an adjacent field from an accredited college
  • Strong background in mid-twentieth century and contemporary art by artists of African descent
  • Interest in collection stewardship preferred
  • Familiarity with The Museum System (TMS/TMS Collections) and NetX
  • Advanced skills with Microsoft 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud
  • Experience working in a museum or adjacent cultural organization
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team
  • Flexibility in adjusting to shifting priorities with a proven ability to meet multiple deadlines.
  • Comfort working with people of diverse backgrounds and excellent organizational skills a must.

Required Competencies (Key Behaviors & Essential Abilities)

  • Commitment (Core Value) – to the mission and values of The Studio Museum in Harlem.
  • Collaborative (Core Value) – works well with others at all levels of the organization as well as with key external stakeholders
  • Initiative (Core Value) – takes self-directed, appropriate action to influence outcomes and / or drive progress and positive change.

APPLY HERE