What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant/Associate Curator position at AB500 Art Bridges, Inc.?
About Art Bridges
Art Bridges Foundation is the vision of philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton. Since 2017, Art Bridges has created and supported projects that bring outstanding works of American art out of storage and into communities. Art Bridges partners with a growing network of over 200 museums of all sizes and locations on nearly 900 projects—impacting more than 5.3 million people across 49 states and Puerto Rico—to provide financial and strategic support for exhibition development, loans from the Art Bridges Collection and Partner Loan Network, and programs designed to educate, inspire, and deepen engagement with local audiences. The Art Bridges Collection represents an expanding vision of American art from the 19th century to present day and encompasses multiple media and voices. For more information, visit artbridgesfoundation.org.
Required Documents to Apply:
Please provide a resume and cover letter.Job Description:
Position: Assistant Curator, Interpretation
Department: Curatorial
Reporting to: Curator & Director of Curatorial Initiatives
Location: Bentonville, AR
About Art Bridges Foundation
Art Bridges Foundation is the vision of philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton. Since 2017, Art Bridges has created and supported projects that bring outstanding works of American art out of storage and into communities. Art Bridges partners with a growing network of over 240 museums of all sizes on nearly 900 projects—impacting more than 5.3 million people across 49 states and Puerto Rico—to provide financial and strategic support for exhibition development, collection loans, and programs designed to educate, inspire, and deepen engagement with local audiences. The Art Bridges Collection represents an expanding vision of American art from the 19th century to present day and encompasses multiple media and voices. For more information, visit artbridgesfoundation.org.
About the Position
The Assistant Curator, Interpretation will work closely with the Curatorial and Learning & Engagement departments to create meaningful and accessible art experiences that engage diverse audiences. This role, in partnership with internal and external stakeholders, develops interpretive materials, programs, and digital content that bring loans and exhibitions to life. The Assistant Curator, Interpretation will also support exhibition planning, object research, and educational initiatives that foster community engagement and access to art.
Responsibilities
Interpretive Planning and Content Development
- Collaborate with curators and educators to design and implement interpretive strategies for exhibitions and art loans
- Develop written, audio, and visual interpretive materials, such as wall texts, labels, gallery guides, and multimedia guides
- Assist in creating and maintaining digital interpretive content for Art Bridges’ website and other platforms
Research and Curatorial Support
- Conduct research to support loans to partner organizations, including scholarly research, object history, and interpretive themes
- Provide assistance in the preparation of art object essays, labels, and other curatorial documents
- Participate in exhibition planning meetings and assist in the coordination of interpretive strategies
Audience Engagement and Educational Programming
- Collaborate with the Learning & Engagement department to develop programs and resources that enhance audience engagement consistent with Art Bridges’ funding and mission
- Conduct regular evaluations of interpretive materials and programs to assess impact and make improvements
Administrative and Project Management
- Assist in managing project timelines, budgets, and resources for interpretive projects
- Maintain accurate records and documentation of interpretive initiatives and project outcomes
- Supervise interns
- Work closely with curatorial research assistants
- Travel to partner museums and conferences when needed
Attributes that Support Your Success
- Passion for expanding access to American art
- Eagerness to join a new and growing organization and the dynamism that involves
- Ability and interest in working with people from diverse backgrounds, including age, race, ethnicity, gender identity, and lived experiences
- Positive attitude, collaborative spirit, and sense of humor
- Talent to manage multiple projects simultaneously
- High degrees of initiative and discretion
Qualifications and Skills
- MA in Art History or related discipline preferred, knowledge of American Art required
- 2-3 years prior curatorial experience required
- Demonstrated ability to translate complex ideas into accessible and engaging interpretive content for diverse audiences
- Familiarity with digital tools and platforms for interpretation, including audio guides, video production, and online engagement
- Experience with project management or coordinating public programs
- Knowledge of audience engagement strategies and evaluation methodologies
- Working relationship with collectors, artists, the art market, and scholars
- Demonstrated research skills
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Comfortable working with minimal direct supervision, managing multiple projects in a high-volume, fast-paced environment, and completing assignments on regular deadline
- Superior written and verbal communication skills; excellent analytical and critical thinking
- Demonstrated organizational skills with precise attention to detail
- Ability to travel regionally and/or nationally from time to time
- Ability to understand and maintain the highest levels of confidentiality
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: Position requires utilizing a computer and telephone for prolonged periods of time, good eye/hand coordination, verbal and written conversation with others, and lifting/carrying up to 10 lbs. Vision abilities required by the job include close vision.
Work environment: Work will be performed in an office environment full-time. The noise level in the work environment is typically low to moderate. Some overnight travel may be necessary on occasion.
