Curatorial Assistant

The Curatorial Assistant will provide curatorial, research, and administrative support to the Curator of Art as we navigate an active exhibition program and focus increasingly on the strategic growth of the collection. The Curatorial Assistant will play an essential role in supporting all aspects of exhibition development and collection stewardship, working closely alongside colleagues in Audience Engagement, Curatorial, Collections Management and Registration, Development, Exhibitions, and Marketing to shape a dynamic art program in the new Bruce.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Exhibitions:

• Assist the Curator of Art with all aspects of research, writing, planning, and organizing loan exhibitions and related publications.
• Assist the Curator of Art with implementing temporary exhibitions, including rotations of the permanent collection galleries.
• Research, write, and edit section text and label text, and help produce interpretive content or other forms of digital engagement.
• Collaborate with staff across departments to assist in the interpretation and presentation of loan objects and exhibition-related content and public programming.
• Work with colleagues in Collections Management and Registration to facilitate internal image rights and reproduction requests relating to works on loan, including for Marketing/PR and Education purposes.
• Work with colleagues in Marketing & Communications to help research and clear copyright for loaned objects when needed for exhibition-related press, publicity, or printed materials.

Collections:

•  Assist the Curator of Art in identifying and researching potential acquisition candidates for gift, purchase, or bequest, including writing acquisition justifications and preparing paperwork for quarterly Collections Committee meetings.
• Assist in identifying and researching potential candidates for deaccession.
• Conduct in-depth research on artists and objects in the collection, including provenance.
• Develop and maintain Curatorial object files.
• Assist Collections Management and Registration Department as we prepare to move and rehouse our collections on-site. Responsibilities include participating in all aspects of collections management and collections care; coordinating new photography; and verifying object information across various internal and external records including our collections management database, object files, and website.
• Update and add information into collections management database, in collaboration with the Collections Manager.
• Respond to general curatorial inquiries about the collection, and coordinate and supervise visits from scholars and the public.

General Responsibilities:

• Assist with fundraising and field donation offers for exhibitions and programs in collaboration with Development staff.
• Participate in public programming as needed in collaboration with the Department of Audience Engagement.
• Write social media posts and contribute content for the website and other forms of digital engagement.
• Assist with the implementation of new procedures and policies in the Art Curatorial department and across the museum.
• Provide administrative support for the Curator of Art and perform other day-to-day duties as needed.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Required Education/Experience/Skills:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in art history or related field, Master’s degree welcomed.
• Professional Experience: Minimum of 1-3 years’ curatorial experience in a museum or comparable experience in a related institution.
• Broad knowledge of art history with expertise in modern and contemporary art, photography, or Indigenous art preferred, as well as an interest in interdisciplinary approaches to art history.
• Strong commitment to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within the museum.
• Outstanding writing and research skills, with experience conducting archival and object-based research.
• Exceptional organizational and time management skills, and attention to detail, with the ability to take initiative and handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work independently and collaborate effectively with colleagues and other stakeholders within the museum.
• Familiarity with Google applications and Office 365, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Experience with collections management databases a plus.