Programs Coordinator at ICI – Museum Studies

Independent Curators International (ICI) supports the work of curators to help create stronger art communities through experimentation, collaboration, and international engagement. Curators are arts community leaders and organizers who champion artistic practice; build essential infrastructures and institutions, and generate public engagement with art. Our collaborative programs connect curators across generations, and across social, political and cultural borders. They form an international framework for sharing knowledge and resources — promoting cultural exchange, access to art, and public awareness for the curator’s role.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Programs Coordinator supports the organization and coordination of three areas of ICI programs — Exhibitions, Professional Convenings, and Library & Archive — advancing ICI’s mission and core values of promoting broad and inclusive access to contemporary art, experimentation, international engagement, cooperation and collaboration. Working closely with the Exhibitions Manager, the Programs Coordinator is responsible for the planning, preparation, and circulation of ICI’s touring exhibitions, and related publications and public programs. Working closely with the Executive & Artistic Director, the Programs Coordinator is responsible for the organization and coordination of Professional Convenings, serving curators and museum professionals. The Programs Coordinator is also responsible for the maintenance of ICI’s Library & Archive, ensuring that books related to all ICI programs are entered in the Library and cataloged and that all program documentations are compiled, preserved, and made accessible to ICI staff and broader communities of curators, as well as to the public. This is one of the two Programs Coordinator positions at ICI.

Responsibilities include the following:

Exhibitions

Support the development, production, and implementation of ICI’s program of traveling exhibitions.

Assist the Exhibitions Manager in planning and marketing traveling exhibitions
Work with guest curators, artists, and lenders to conduct research, assist in coordinating the production of artworks and new commissions, arrange photography and packing of artworks when necessary
Prepare, circulate and monitor loan forms and loan extensions
Maintain accurate information for checklists, itineraries, project descriptions and text panels; collect and organize visuals for exhibition publicity and catalogs
Produce installation instructions and communicate them to venues
Upon confirmation of venue participation, prepare presentation contracts, and liaise closely with all tour venues on the practical arrangements for each allocated exhibition
Help prepare and monitor condition reports
Prepare and send closing letters and packets at the end of exhibition tours
Assist on the coordination and production of exhibition catalogues, manage all publication permissions and rights to artists, 3rd parties, partnering galleries and institutions; assist in the distribution of publications to venues, artists and lenders, etc.
Develop exhibition-related materials needed by ICI staff for the purpose of advancing ICI’s exhibitions programs, including the in areas of marketing and fundraising

Professional Convenings

Support the development, production, and implementation of ICI’s Professional Convenings programs, including the Curatorial Forum in Chicago, and other closed-door sessions, mentorship initiatives, conferences planned throughout the year, often in collaboration with partner organizations; as well as the professional publications, including the Perspectives in Curating series.

Research potential participants; coordinate their contributions and participation in the program, including administering invitations, travel and accommodation, payments, and related logistics.
Work with ICI Collaborators to conduct research, assist in coordinating their contributions to Professional Convenings
Develop generative working relationships with partner organizations, as well as with ICI Collaborators, foster continued engagement with ICI through careful attention to the logistics of their participation before, during and after each program
Administer post-program transcription, if necessary, and post-program evaluations
Develop relevant materials needed by ICI staff for the purpose of advancing ICI’s exhibitions programs, including the in areas of marketing and fundraising
Coordinate professional publications production timelines; liaise with distributors, authors, designers, and copyeditors; administer all aspects of the production schedule including permissions and rights for reproductions.

Library & Archive

Maintain ICI’s holding of publications and program-related materials and documentation for internal use primarily, but with a goal to make it accessible to ICI Collaborators and the public.

Create and maintain records and databases that track the books and periodicals currently in the collection
Archive all images, video and audio documentation; format documentation for ICI’s website
Create and maintain ICI’s archive of documentation from all programs so that it can easily be recalled when researching a particular program or ICI Collaborator
Assist in the production of online publications that make elements of the Library & Archive more accessible to the public; liaise with writers, providing editorial support, copyediting text, securing image rights and credits, and publishing content online.
Maintain the online profile of the ICI Collaborators involved in ICI Programs on ICI’s website including a comprehensive archive accessible to the public containing documentation of all content generated by ICI Programs.

General Duties:

Assist in the preparation of annual budgets for Exhibitions, Professional Convenings, and Library & Archive and monitor these on a regular basis. Manage day-to-day budgeting, classify programs-related income and expenses for ICI’s bookkeeper, as needed
Conduct outreach, hire and supervise programs interns
Maintain a database of contacts and relationships related to Exhibitions, Professional Convenings, and Library & Archive
Produce exhibition-related copy for website, social media and other marketing material; assemble and prepare exhibition-related materials for production of semi-annual brochure, as well as mailing lists for its distribution

Educations and Experience Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree is required; preferably in Art History, Museum Studies, or Studio Art
A minimum of two years gallery or non-profit art space work experience is required
Previous art handling experience is required as well as the administration of exhibitions
Experience with digital photography and archiving
Fluency in a second language, including reading, writing, and speaking is preferred
Ability to drive and drivers license is a plus

Salary and Benefits: Starting salary is $40,000. Employee benefits include health insurance, retirement plan, paid vacation, paid holiday and sick time.

Hours:
Full time, office hours. Occasional evening and weekend events in New York. Occasional travel.

Application:
To apply, please submit cover letter and resume to Becky Nahom, Exhibitions Manager by February 28: becky@curatorsintl.org