Application Deadline: Open until filled
The Curatorial Assistant is responsible for a variety of administrative and curatorial tasks related to both daily and long-range departmental and institutional operations for The Textile Museum Collection’s Curatorial Department at The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum.
The position serves one curatorial department, containing four curatorial staff members with 2-3 student hires and 1-2 fellow(s)/intern(s), with approximately 21,000 works of art, producing 3-4 potential collections rotations/focus exhibitions each year.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Department Administration
o Provide administrative support for the department by overseeing the maintenance of all department files and records
o Compile and organize data and statistics for reports
o Maintain the daily appointment and travel schedule for the curators
o Make travel arrangements as requested, and process travel-expense reports
o Assist in overseeing curatorial student associates, including creating and maintaining files for each, arranging access to the office spaces, training on the use of collections database, departmental computers, scanners, and software, and IPM and department procedures
o Assist curators with organization and preparation for department-related special events, including exhibition tours/luncheons/meetings/behind-the-scenes presentations/workshops
o Assists with coordination of logistical needs for artist/curator visits including arranging honoraria, travel, lodging, meals, and any event-related logistics. Assists with hosting visiting artists/curators, including itineraries, transportation, and entertainment
o Maintain departmental library, including conducting inventory
o Take minutes in departmental and task force meetings
Curatorial Support
o Provide support to curatorial projects initiated within the department. This includes gathering and analyzing art historical and scholarly texts, visual and object location information, and budgetary data, compiled to initiate and implement exhibitions and other curatorial project activities. After receiving art-handling training, assist with viewing appointments, as needed bases
o Assist curators with presentations including researching contextual images, collection images, and creating PowerPoint presentations
Department Liaison
o Act as the department’s liaison within the museum and with the public by managing inbound and outbound communications, and correspondence via telephone and email representing the department and the museum in a professional, courteous, and efficient manner
o Research and respond to public inquiries, liaison for collection access requests
o Develop and maintain knowledge of the departments’ donors and patrons as well as colleagues at peer institutions and dealers
o Manage yearly-donor acknowledgments
o Maintain and update the department’s database of patrons and contacts
o Assist in the management of the Textile and Costume Curators Forum by maintaining and keeping up-to-date distribution lists, managing meetings of the forum, and taking minutes
Collection Research and Support
o Assist curators in conducting or conduct object and provenance research for incoming object donations
o Manage acknowledgments to donors to The Textile Museum Collection
o Conduct research in areas of the collection to update the collections database
o Assist in cleaning and updating records in the collections database
Communication
o In tandem with the curator(s) work with Education, Development, and Marketing & Communications staff, prepare and edit materials to interpret, promote, and publicize exhibitions, collections, installations, and related public programs
o Assist with gathering and writing exhibition- and collection-related information pertinent to grant applications, final reports, and other institutional needs
o Work with the Education department to plan and coordinate public programs related to curatorial activities
QUALIFICATIONS
- B.A. or M.A. Degree in Art History or an equivalent combination of education and experience and the ability to work independently, mobilize and motivate others, establish priorities, meet deadlines, and handle numerous assignments concurrently are necessary.
- Candidate has to be highly responsive and resourceful; has a strong propensity to provide excellent service and support internally and externally in a professional and approachable manner.
- Knowledge and experience in curatorial practices and an understanding of relationships between art institutions, galleries, artists, curators, and auction houses are preferred.
- Knowledge of and familiarity with global cultures; respecting, including, and integrating all people from all backgrounds and cultures are highly desirable.
- Reading ability in one major foreign language, excellent public speaking skills, and the ability to work with multiple audiences also are highly desirable.
- Experience managing and building positive relationships with cross-institutional teams is welcomed as well as two to five years’ experience working in a curatorial environment, but not required.
Please apply through George Washington University’s career website: https://www.gwu.jobs/postings/104229.
