Curatorial Associate

The Art Institute of Chicago shares its singular collections with our city and the world. We collect, care for, and interpret works of art across time, cultures, geographies, and identities, centering the vision of artists and makers. We recognize that all art is made in a particular context, demanding continual, dynamic reconsideration in the present. We are a place of gathering; we foster the exchange of ideas and inspire an expansive, inclusive understanding of human creativity.

Please click on the links below to view our competitive, comprehensive benefits package:

• Expected Range: $43,460 - $53,000 Annually

• Benefits
• PTO Overview
• Job Classification: Full Time Salary Staff
• Grade Level: 6

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

Spanning 1900 to the present, Modern and Contemporary Art maintains a collection that ranges from the beginnings of the international avant-gardes of the 20th century to the art of our present moment. The collection includes over 3,000 works, encompassing painting, sculpture, installations, time-based media, photography, and works on paper. Wide ranging in geography and scope—with particular strengths in European 20th-century modernism, International Surrealism, midcentury and postwar painting and sculpture, as well as the histories and contemporary legacies of Minimal, Post-Minimal, and Conceptual Art—the department maintains a regularly rotated and expansive presentation of its collection in more than 50,000 square feet of dedicated gallery space across two floors of the museum’s Renzo Piano-designed Modern Wing. The department additionally presents several large-scale and focused exhibitions and programs annually, including in the Donna and Howard Stone Film and Video Gallery and on the Bluhm Family Terrace, and actively collaborates with artists and scholars.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Under the direction of the chair, the curatorial associate supports the organization of departmental exhibitions, collection rotations, gallery reinstallations, and projects; provides administrative, curatorial, collection, and research support to the chair and curators; and conducts art historical and art market research about and related to works in the permanent collection, loans, and acquisitions. The curatorial associate composes website content, updates museum database records for publication to the website, and provides occasional administrative assistance to the chair.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Curatorial support: Under the direction of the chair, assists and participates in the development, organization, and implementation of exhibitions, rotations, reinstallations, and projects as assigned.* May serve as curatorial point-person on exhibitions and special projects. Supports the preparation of materials for advisory committee meetings.

Research: Assists with research for exhibitions, loans, acquisitions, and gifts.* May be asked to investigate ownership, publication, and exhibition histories for objects in the permanent collection and to write acquisition justifications, interpretive content, and exhibition-related materials. Conducts art historical and art market research about and related to objects in the permanent collection, loans, and potential acquisitions.

Collection database and website support: Following the guidance of the department’s collection manager, participates in efforts to maintain object records and files, update records and files with comprehensive information, and publish records online.

Stewardship: Supports departmental relationships with galleries, dealers, collectors, lenders, donors, peers, and committee members. Assists with related fundraising activities as directed.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer; must be able to remain in a stationary position 90% of the time.
• Occasionally moves about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc.
• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a copy machine and printer.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, ability to adjust focus, and the ability to sustain prolonged visual concentration.
• Occasionally handles art.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in art history or related field required. Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum 1 or more years of professional or internship curatorial experience in a museum or gallery setting required
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google suites preferred; ability to learn museum-specific collection database systems desired
• Familiarity with or specialization in Modern and Contemporary Art as demonstrated by educational background and/or with experience required
• Knowledge of foreign languages as appropriate to areas of specialty preferred
• The successful candidate should:
  • be highly detail-oriented and organized;
  • demonstrate initiative;
  • have an open-minded and collaborative approach to working and communicating with all colleagues across the museum;
  • and have strong research, writing, communication, multitasking, project management, and organizational skills.

CLOSING STATEMENT

The Art Institute of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits, hires and promotes qualified individuals without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, veteran status or citizenship. The Institute complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the Department of Human Resources at apply_help@artic.edu.

UNION INFO

This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by AFSCME Council 31.

Salary : $43,460 - $53,000