Curatorial Assistant at MoMA PS1
Job Title: Curatorial Assistant
Job Status: Full-time
Location: New York, NY
Salary: $58,400 – $60,500
About the job
MoMA PS1 champions how art and artists are at the intersection of the social, cultural, and political issues of their time. Providing audiences with the agency to ask questions, access to knowledge, and a forum for public debate, PS1 has offered insight into artists’ diverse worldviews for more than 45 years. Founded in 1976 by Alanna Heiss, the institution was a defining force in the alternative space movement in New York, transforming a 19th-century public schoolhouse in Long Island City into a site for artistic experimentation and creativity. With an annual budget of approximately $12M, PS1 has been a member of New York City’s Cultural Institutions Group (CIG) since 1982, and affiliated with The Museum of Modern Art since 2000.We recognize that a successful candidate will meet many of the requirements listed on this job description, but may not meet 100% of the qualifications. If much of this job description describes you, we encourage you to apply for this role.
Organizational Structure and Supervision
The Curatorial Assistant reports to the Chief Curator and is a key member of the curatorial team. The Curatorial Assistant collaborates closely with the Curator, Assistant Curator, and other Curatorial Assistants, and regularly works with other departments including Exhibition Planning and Registration.
Specific Responsibilities
- Conducts and prepares bibliographic and biographical research of current and future exhibitions.
- Helps project, plan and track exhibition related expenses, and in collaboration with the Senior Curatorial team, helps maintain exhibition budgets.
- Supports exhibition and artwork production, and participates in weekly production meetings.
- Conducts catalogue research and publications
- Manages with the Senior Curatorial staff the preparation of exhibition checklists and press releases and coordinates and schedules work to be done within the Museum and without, in such areas as conservation, photography, public information, matting and framing, construction, lighting, etc.
- Coordinates with the Registrar on all aspects of maintaining and caring for displayed artwork. The Curatorial Assistant expedites arrangements for custodial, registration, and preparation work as required by the curators in the maintenance of gallery exhibitions.
- Liaises with artists and organizations involved in exhibitions and related programs.
- Assist with the writing and installation of wall labels and text. Answers general curatorial inquiries, and conducts gallery tours as necessary for visitors.
- Conducts on-going research of artists, specific works, locations of works, photograph sources, and answers related inquiries from the public and scholars with regard to such information.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree and 2 or more years’ experience in curatorial positions or equivalent experience
- Strong knowledge of contemporary art
- Proven experience in managing and executing the production of exhibitions—working with colleagues and artists to realize ambitious exhibitions and programs
- Highly organized, detail oriented, proactive, excellent time management, efficient, with flexibility to manage rapid and frequent shifts in priorities
- Strong intrapersonal skills with excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Superior judgment, high level of professionalism, and initiative
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Google platforms, Adobe, and other standard office procedures and equipment
Salary Range: $58,400 – $60,500
Benefits include 20 days paid vacation leave, 10 days paid sick leave, 10 paid holidays and 3 paid personal days, participation in the Museum’s 401(k), life insurance, medical/health (including visual and dental) and a defined benefit pension plans.Please be advised that due to the high volume of applicants, we are only able to contact those candidates whose skills and background best fit the needs of the open positions. Thank you for your interest in employment opportunities at MoMA PS1.MoMA PS1 is an equal opportunity employer and considers all candidates for employment regardless of race, color, sex, age, national origin, creed, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or political affiliation.