(Temp) Curatorial Assistant at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Job Title: Curatorial Assistant
Job Status: Full-time, temporary
This is an onsite, Boston-based, temporary position from February through the end of June, 2024. Local candidates strongly preferred. No agencies, please.
Location: Boston, MA
Salary: $23.56 – $24.52
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Core Values
Isabella Stewart Gardner believed that art had the power to change lives and she built a beautiful, personal, and immersive Museum setting to do so. Today the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (ISGM) is a living embodiment of her bold vision; it’s a dynamic place where ideas and creativity in all its forms inspire visitors. Through exhibitions, music, programs, and performances we strive to tell new stories and challenge assumptions by engaging diverse voices and community members.
Our Core Values are:
- Creativity is our Legacy
- Community is our Purpose
- The Collection is our Catalyst
- Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion are our Commitments
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum seeks to connect past with present, develop and sustain mutually beneficial partnerships with our local communities and artists, expand and diversify our audiences, and generate opportunities for creativity. We are firmly committed to creating both an inclusive work culture and a welcoming visitor experience. Our five-year strategic plan outlines the Museum’s core values, goals, and initiatives that serve as a renewal of Isabella’s promise for the Museum to be a place for the education and enjoyment of the public forever.
Position Summary
The Curatorial Assistant – Temporary plans and supports the activities of the Collections department and participates on a cross-departmental team as part of the Access to the Collection digitization project.
Essential Functions and Primary Responsibilities
Collection and Exhibition Information
- Catalogue collection objects in the collection management database following established workflows and style guides. Research collection objects using archival, registration, curatorial records, and secondary sources.
- Administer collection image requests.
- Provide collection information for editorial content; fact check content; check color proofs of collection images used in collateral and shop merchandise.
- Answer and direct internal and external collection inquiries.
- Maintain and update curatorial object files and research library.
- Contribute to the Inside the Collection blog, collection wiki, and support social media posts about the collection.
- Provides research, logistical, and exhibition checklist coordination and support for the William and Lia Poorvu Curator of the Collection.
Administration
- Support the William and Lia Poorvu Curator of the Collection by managing their calendar, making travel arrangements, and creating presentations.
- Support the department by creating meeting agendas, managing budgets, and processing payments.
- Manage the office including supplies and departmental records by creating, maintaining, updating, and archiving files.
- Track and record attendance and press for departmental projects and programs including exhibitions.
- Plan departmental events by coordinating with museum operations, completing work orders, ordering catering, and event set up and breakdown.
- Manage departmental contacts and outreach.
- Manage, track, and renew departmental memberships and subscriptions.
- Coordinate the production of signage related to long-term object moves and installs.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Core Competencies
- Thoroughness
- Conceptual thinking
- Initiative
- Oral and written communications
- Building collaborative relationships
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor’s degree required with a major in art history; Master’s degree in art history and/or museum studies preferred.
- One to three years’ employment in a museum or art gallery. Prior experience of a cataloguing project preferred.
- Ability to follow detailed, established workflows with a meticulous attention to detail.
- Ability to work independently, meet deadlines, and a willingness to learn.
- Demonstrated ability to work in fast-paced and demanding environment while maintaining a professional and positive attitude.
- Superb communication skills (verbal and written); able to troubleshoot and multi-task diplomatically.
- Strong computer skills, including proficiency with MS Office, Google Workspace, basic Photoshop and image manipulation, Adobe Acrobat Pro, and databases. Basic knowledge of collections management databases preferred.
- Respect of confidentiality of sensitive collection and museum data is a must.
- Legal authorization to work in the United States.
COVID-19 Protocols
All employees of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum are required to provide their COVID-19 vaccination status. If you are not vaccinated, you will need to participate in an interactive process to request a religious or medical accommodation and to submit weekly test results, in addition to following other federal, state and CDC recommendations.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion is one of the core values we hold close to our business practices. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is committed to affording equal opportunities to qualified individuals regardless of race, color, gender, gender identity, genetics, military/veteran status, pregnancy, religion, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, or any other basis prohibited by applicable laws.
Request an Accommodation
Applicants with disabilities who are unable to fully access ISGM’s online application system may contact us at hr@isgm.org for assistance with a reasonable accommodation.