Art Bridges Fellow at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Description

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, especially those from marginalized and underrepresented groups in the museum field, who are inspired by our shared purpose and enjoy working collaboratively with others.

We are proud to be 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

The Art Bridges Fellow at the Philadelphia Museum of Art will be part of the inaugural cohort of the Art Bridges Fellows Program, a nationwide program that is dedicated to offering foundational learning and career development opportunities for individuals from traditionally underrepresented groups in the museum field.

The three-year Art Bridges Fellowship at the Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) will provide a motivated individual the opportunity to work with the staff of the museum’s Conservation Division, gaining professional experience in preparation for a career as a conservator, museum collections care specialist, curator, or other museum professional. Working under the direction of experienced conservators, the Fellow will receive a comprehensive introduction to the varied activities involved in the preservation and restoration of a large museum’s diverse collection of art and design. The Art Bridges Fellow will primarily work with and learn from Conservation staff. A focus throughout the fellowship will be the Fellow’s participation in conservation activities related to the Art Bridges Initiative in Pennsylvania.

The Conservation Division works in close coordination with other departments across the museum—Curatorial, Registrar, Facilities, Education, Digital Resources and Content Strategy, and Development, among others—and the Fellow will be exposed to a broad landscape of museum interests and functions. The Art Bridges Initiative is a partnership between the PMA and eight other museums across the Commonwealth. Its goal is to engage diverse audiences in American art through special exhibitions that draw from the Philadelphia Museum of Art collections.

The Fellow will enjoy the support of the PMA Fellows Group, which provides early-career informational resources and opportunities for interaction with other PMA fellows pursuing careers in museum work. Additionally, the Fellow will be mentored by members of the museum’s senior staff. The term of appointment for this Fellowship will be three years beginning July 11, 2022 and ending July 10, 2025.

Position and Compensation Details:

• The initial salary for this position is $40,560
• This position is full-time, exempt, and 35 hours per week
• This position is part of the AFSCME Local 397 bargaining unit
• COVID-19 vaccination required
• Relocation, professional development, and other activities will be supported
• Benefits outlined under “What we offer”

How to Apply

Please submit the following application materials online by April 30, 2022:

• Letter of interest that responds to the following three prompts:
  • The reasons for your interest in a museum career, including your interest in museum conservation and preservation of cultural heritage
  • How you identify as a person representing diversity in terms of culture, background, or experience, and why increasing diversity/representation is important within the museum field
  • Drawing on your areas of study, background, extracurricular activities, or other experiences, how you can contribute as an Art Bridges Fellow

• Resume
• College transcript(s) (unofficial copies are acceptable)
• Contact information for three references; at least two should be professional or academic references

The deadline to apply is April 30, 2022. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage candidates to apply early.

What We Offer

Our employees are at the center of the museum. 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 admission
• Discounts on gift memberships
• Special staff tours and presentations from our curatorial and conservation teams
• Discounts at the museum restaurant, museum cafés, and museum retail and online stores

We offer a comprehensive 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

*Eligibility for certain benefits is based on a variety of factors including the employee’s regular schedule and tenure.

Requirements

Specifically, you will:

• Assist with ongoing collection preservation activities such as environmental monitoring light levels
• Support lab maintenance activities, including records management, such as sample logs and chemical inventories, and preparing materials for conservation treatment
• Help test materials for stability and suitability for object display or treatment
• Participate in conservation examinations and condition assessments of works of art, including potential loans for the Art Bridges Initiative in Pennsylvania, and in scientific research, treatment, preparation, packing, shipping, and installation activities as opportunities arise
• Carry out conservation treatments under the discretion and direction of museum conservators
• Engage in museum audience and community outreach to communicate and help promote the value and relevance of cultural heritage study and preservation
• Attend two Art Bridges Fellows convenings in Bentonville, Arkansas, each year, including a month-long residency and orientation from July 11 to August 5, 2022
• Other duties as assigned  

Your background and experience include:

• Interest in a museum-field career
• Bachelor’s degree; introductory science coursework advantageous
• Art studio or craft skills
• Strong writing and communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to meet deadlines
• Demonstrated ability to work successfully with others in a team environment, or independently, as required