The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. Founded by philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton, Crystal Bridges is a public non-profit charitable organization.
Job Description:
Position Title: Curatorial Assistant, Contemporary Art
Position Type: Full-Time
FLSA Classification: Non-Exempt
Division: Art & Education
Department: Curatorial
Reports to: Curator, Contemporary Art
Compensation Range: $16.15 - $24.23
About Crystal Bridges & The Momentary:
Crystal Bridges is a museum of American art located in Bentonville, Arkansas. We explore the unfolding story of America by actively collecting, exhibiting, interpreting, and preserving outstanding works that illuminate the American heritage and artistic possibilities. Founded by Alice Walton in 2005, the museum opened in 2011 and is a public, non-profit charitable organization with free admission.
The Momentary is a new contemporary art space that opened to the public on February 22, 2020, in downtown Bentonville, Arkansas. A satellite to Crystal Bridges, the Momentary presents visual, performing, and culinary arts. The mission of the Momentary is to champion contemporary art’s role in everyday life and explore the unfolding story of contemporary American arts in an international context by actively commissioning and exhibiting outstanding works that explore new ideas and inspire action.
Position Summary:
The Curatorial Assistant works under the immediate supervision of the Curator of Contemporary Art. The curatorial assistant is responsible for providing curatorial and administrative support to this curator and the broader contemporary team. The curatorial assistant must be a team player and be able to balance multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously, manage project development and planning, and liaise with internal and external collaborators and colleagues. The position is full time at 40 hours/week.
Principal Responsibilities:
- Contribute to varied curatorial functions, including conducting and compiling object and image research as directed, fact checking, contributing to grant applications, writing art-object related copy and preparing presentations for internal and external use.
- Assist contemporary curatorial team with research and content development for the ongoing exhibitions program, including focus shows and large temporary exhibitions.
- Provide administrative support including, but not limited to, organizing and tracking projects and ongoing work; managing calendar and scheduling meetings; responding to internal and external queries via email and phone; maintaining information and files in collaboration with other departments; collaborating and coordinating work and content development across museum departments and with external partners and supporters; coordinating travel.
- Assist with preparation, production, and monitoring of curatorial budgets and reporting activities.
- Lead tours and deliver occasional gallery programs.
- Research potential acquisitions and prepare acquisition proposals.
- Support museum donor cultivation and stewardship through communications management, facilitation of visits, and relationship building.
- Assist contemporary team with publications by locating images, securing copyright permissions, compiling research as directed, fact checking texts and backmatter, mailing catalogues to photo and object lenders.
Additional Responsibilities
- Respond to art offers and assist with letters and e-mail correspondence.
- Help coordinate interns and volunteers in the curatorial department.
- Perform additional duties as assigned.
Qualifications and Skills:
Education, Training, and Traits
- B.A. in art history, American studies, history, museum studies, fine art, or related discipline
- A strong interest in contemporary American art required
- Demonstrated skill in organization and rigorous attention to detail
- Ability to meet deadlines and handle multiple tasks simultaneously
- Ability to work independently and as a team member
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Demonstrated research skills
- Experience in budget maintenance
- Positive attitude and collaborative spirit
- Ability to maintain the highest ethics as they relate to all aspects of curatorial endeavors, and to understand and maintain the highest levels of confidentiality
- Proficiency in using standard office equipment including copiers and telephone, as well as Microsoft 365 applications including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams; ability to train on effective use of additional software and databases as needed (e.g. Tessitura, Asana, TMS)
- Ability to speak, read, and write in Spanish a plus
Equivalent combination of relevant education and/or experience will satisfy the minimum requirements.
Work Experience
- Experience in a museum, cultural organization, or gallery setting preferred
Physical Demands and Work Environment:
The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Physical demands: In the work environment described below, position requires utilizing a computer and a telephone for prolonged periods of time, bending and stretching for filing, standing and sitting with the ability to move around galleries, the classrooms, and throughout the museum. The position requires verbal and written conversation with others. Visual acuity to review written materials is required for this job.
- Work Environment: Work will be performed in an office environment, museum spaces, and in communities served. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.
All offers of employment are contingent on your successful completion (where permitted by state law) of a confidentiality agreement and background check. In addition, you will need to provide proper identification verifying your eligibility to work in the United States on your first day of work.
Crystal Bridges is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a culturally diverse workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. We encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.
