What are the responsibilities and job description for the Andrew W. Mellon Curatorial Fellow (Fixed Term) position at RISD - Rhode Island School of Design?
Job Summary
RISD Museum is pleased to announce a fellowship funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, a three-year term position within the Museum's department of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs. This is an exciting opportunity for a junior scholar who wishes to pursue a curatorial career. The fellowship is a full-time role that offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance; four weeks of paid vacation time; personal and sick time; 14 paid holidays; and more.
We seek applications from candidates who will actively contribute to the RISD Museum’s initiatives related to anti-racism, social equity, inclusion, and sustainability. The successful candidate will embrace our core values and be welcoming, curious, collaborative, and bold and will align with the RISD Museum Way by focusing on making and creativity, recognizing and valuing diversity as central to excellence, and actively contributing to the RISD Museum’s strategic initiatives.
In alignment with the strategic plan and under the guidance and supervision of the Museum's Associate Curator for Prints, Drawings, and Photographs, The Andrew W. Mellon Curatorial Fellow will be responsible for supervising and overseeing the activities of the department’s study room, especially teaching from the collection, while participating in all aspects of the department’s curatorial work, including proposing and executing exhibitions that are audience-engaging yet rigorous in developing new understandings of work in the collection. They will conduct research related to new acquisitions; interact with scholars, students, and the public to answer questions about the Museum’s Prints, Drawings, and Photographs collections; and deliver presentations on the collection, among other tasks.
Priority consideration will be given to applications received on or before Tuesday, April 2.
The RISD Museum acquires, preserves, exhibits, and interprets works of art and design representing diverse cultures from ancient times to the present. Distinguished by its relationship to Rhode Island School of Design, the Museum educates and inspires artists, designers, students, scholars, and the public through exhibitions, programs, and publications. The RISD Museum is committed to building a diverse and inclusive community where members from all backgrounds can learn and create. With the goal of increasing the diversity of the museum profession, we aspire to create a climate that recognizes and values diversity as central to excellence.
Essential Functions:
- Oversee and actively engage in activities and classes within the department’s active study room. Act as the primary liaison between the department and faculty teaching from the collections, and between the department and students accessing the collection during weekly open hours. Relying on knowledge and expertise of the subject matter and the collection, regularly make presentations and impart knowledge of the collection to classes (anticipated 3-4 classes per week) either independently or in partnership with faculty and/or other museum staff. Actively engage with faculty in order to determine and select objects from the Museum collection that align with curriculum objectives and reinforce learning outcomes. Educate and meet with students and visitors to see works that are not on view and offer context regarding the history and other relevant artistic information for the work. Direct student employees, interns, and the department’s faculty fellow, and ensure strict adherence to policies, protocols, and procedures related to handling of objects and accessing storage spaces. With an aim to be welcoming and accessible while centering creativity and making, work with the Curator and Assistant/Associate Curator to encourage greater use of the collection by RISD, Brown University, and area colleges’ faculty and students.
- Conduct research to accurately catalogue the collection, especially keeping up with new acquisitions, assess potential gifts, maintain and generate object files, answer queries about the collection, interact with scholars, students, and the public on collection matters, and, when requested by Curator or Assistant/Associate Curator, present new acquisitions at the Fine Arts Committee.
- Become familiar with the collection’s more than 32,000 works on paper on an ongoing basis and undertake research in area of expertise to curate an exhibition to be presented in the third year, preferably in collaboration with a faculty member from Brown and/or RISD, with the possibility of developing a smaller collection-based exhibition earlier in the fellowship. At the request and under the direction of the Assistant/Associate Curator and Curator, participate in processes related to departmental rotations of works on paper and exhibitions by engaging in the selection of works to put on view and writing accompanying gallery labels.
- Oversee use of and access to the departmental storage area and, in conversation with Curator and Assistant/Associate Curator of Prints, Drawings; Photographs and Curator of Asian Art; and paper conservation, ensure the special care, housing, security, and proper handling of collections. At the request of the Curator or Associate Curator, serve as a courier for the Museum.
- Facilitate presentations and learning opportunities and impart knowledge either independently or in group settings to docents, the general public, and other museum constituents on the collection and exhibitions. Subject matter includes but is not limited to highlighting new acquisitions, facilitating public events, imparting knowledge based on individual interests, and providing thematic overview for works of art.
- Either independently or with the department’s Curator and Assistant/Associate Curator, engage in business-related travel to explore potential acquisitions and to attend scholarly conferences and relevant exhibitions. Makes recommendations to the department curators based on information obtained during travel.
Additional Functions:
- Assist with additional departmental activities as assigned, including but not limited to: providing logistical support for departmental projects, booking class spaces on Altru, attending departmental meetings, and supervising student employees, facilitating audience engagement, and ensuring accessibility for all kinds of visitors to the museum, etc.
Required Knowledge/Skills/Experience
- Ph.D. or ABD in Art History or closely related field required.
- Demonstrated interest in and knowledge of the history of prints, drawings, or photographs.
- Ability to effectively impart knowledge to others.
- Strong commitment to object-based teaching.
- Ability to handle original works of art with care.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to be a team player in an active office environment.
- Computer literacy, including the ability to utilize software programs such as Word, Excel, Workday, and database management tools (Museum Plus, Altru, etc.).
- Prior Museum and/or teaching experience preferred.
Union:
No
Work Schedule:
35 hours per week, 12 months per year
Employment Status:
Exempt, Full-time, Term (3 years)
Grade:
515EX
Work Modality:
On-Campus
Documents Needed to Apply:
Cover Letter, including a copy of a published paper or a writing sample
Curriculum Vitae
Salary Grade Structure
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please upload all required documents.
The successful candidate will be required to meet our pre-employment background screening requirements.
RISD recognizes diversity and inclusivity as fundamental to its learning community and integral to an art and design education. We welcome candidates whose experience has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to diversity and excellence. RISD is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, or any other protected characteristic as established by law.
For internal use only - Job Family:
Museum Curatorial
