Curatorial and Public Engagement Assistant at the Institute for Studies on Latin American Art (ISLAA)
Job Title: Curatorial and Public Engagement Assistant
Job Status: Full-time
Location: New York, NY
Salary: $50,000 to $55,000
The Institute for Studies on Latin American Art (ISLAA), a research institute dedicated to supporting the study and visibility of art from Latin America, is seeking a full-time curatorial and public engagement assistant to provide research, administrative, and logistical support for ISLAA’s exhibition program.
The curatorial and public engagement assistant will work closely with the chief curator and the curator and exhibition program manager on upcoming exhibitions of modern and contemporary Latin American art at ISLAA. Reporting to the curator and exhibition program manager, they will play an integral role in all aspects of exhibition production, from conducting curatorial research to preparing exhibition texts.
Based at ISLAA’s headquarters in Tribeca, the curatorial and public engagement assistant will also be the first point of contact for visitors and will be responsible for greeting members of the public, sharing information about current exhibitions, opening and closing ISLAA’s exhibition space, and maintaining its operation during public hours. Beyond the day-to-day requirements of this job, this role offers exciting opportunities to develop and spearhead projects alongside curatorial staff.
Inaugurated in 2019, ISLAA’s exhibition program provides a platform for new research and original perspectives on modern and contemporary art from Latin America. Organized by artists, guest curators, and curatorial staff, the exhibitions present artwork and materials from ISLAA’s collection and the ISLAA Library and Archives, and are accompanied by original booklets and public programs. In October 2023, ISLAA opened its new headquarters in Tribeca, which houses multiple galleries and a new research center, significantly enhancing our capacity for public engagement and dialogue.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Collaborate with chief curator and curator and exhibition program manager on the ideation of future exhibitions at ISLAA and the development of curatorial projects
- Greet members of the public, answer questions about exhibitions, and develop and lead guided tours of exhibitions to groups and individuals
- Develop relationships with ISLAA’s various constituencies by conducting outreach to schools and other institutions and coordinating tours and group visits
- Open and close exhibition space each day, restock exhibition materials, process sales of exhibition booklets and other publications, and maintain upkeep of exhibition space during public hours
- Assist with assorted logistics for ISLAA’s exhibition program, including checklist management, framing and conservation coordination, artwork shipping, and installation organization
- Write, edit, and proofread public-facing texts, including press releases, interpretive materials, artist bios, and online descriptions
- Conduct research for exhibitions, checklists, public programs, and other curatorial projects
- Work with curatorial staff to organize educational exhibition-related public programming
- Submit artwork and essay reproduction requests for exhibition booklets
- Assist with press outreach and respond to press inquiries for exhibitions
- Correspond with artists, curators, and estates about upcoming projects, and respond to general email inquiries from members of the public
QUALIFICATIONS
ISLAA encourages applications from arts professionals who are interested in curatorial work, have expertise in modern and contemporary Latin American and/or Latinx art, and are passionate about expanding narratives about modern and contemporary art.
Candidates should have a bachelor’s degree in art history or a related field; at least one year of experience working at an art institution; strong writing, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills; and effective time-management abilities. Candidate should also have the ability to lift objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
Advanced Spanish speaking, reading, and writing abilities are required. Working proficiency in Portuguese is preferred.
COMPENSATION & SCHEDULE
The curatorial and public engagement assistant is a full-time, in-person position based at ISLAA’s headquarters in Tribeca with a salary range of $50,000–$55,000. Health benefits and 401k are offered after three months of employment. This role will follow a Tuesday–Saturday schedule, from 10 AM to 6 PM, and will require occasionally working evenings during openings and events.
ABOUT US
The Institute for Studies on Latin American Art (ISLAA) supports the study and visibility of Latin American art. ISLAA recognizes Latin American artists and cultural movements as integral to the trajectory of twentieth- and twenty-first-century art. We seek to expand these narratives by creating opportunities for researchers, curators, and the public through grants, exhibitions, publications, and our art and archival collections. For more information, please visit islaa.org.
To apply for this position, please send a cover letter and your résumé to islaa.exhibitions@islaa.org, with “Curatorial and Public Engagement Assistant” in the subject line. Priority will be given to applications received by June 3. We look forward to hearing from you!
NOTE ON HIRING
Please note that job descriptions prepared by the Company serve as an outline only. Due to business needs, you may be required to perform job duties that are not within your written job description. Furthermore, the Company may have to revise, add to, or delete from your job duties per business needs. On occasion, the Company may need to revise job descriptions with or without advance notice to team members.
ISLAA is committed to the principles of equal employment. We are committed to complying with all federal, state, and local laws providing equal employment opportunities, and all other employment laws and regulations. It is our intent to maintain a work environment that is free of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation because of age (40 and older), sex, sexual orientation (including transgender status, gender identity or expression), pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions), marital status, race, national origin (including ancestry), disability, creed, religion, genetic information, HIV status, COVID-19 status (knowledge or belief of a person’s vaccination or COVID-19 post-infection recovery status or failure to take a COVID-19 test), military or veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws. The Organization is dedicated to the fulfillment of this policy in regard to all aspects of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, placement, transfer, training, promotion, rates of pay, and other compensation, termination, and all other terms conditions and privileges of employment.