Curatorial Assistant, Collections 

The Studio Museum in Harlem is seeking a Curatorial Assistant, Collections, to join the growing collections team responsible for the Museum’s permanent and study collections and archives. A division of the Curatorial department, the Collections team, is working toward a complete inventory and storage move of the collections. The Curatorial Assistant, Collections will serve an integral role in the execution of this multi-year project.  

In addition, they will work closely with collections curator(s) on research, exhibition planning and administration, acquisitions and loans, and collection maintenance and stewardship. The Curatorial Assistant, Collections will collaborate with colleagues on increasing access to the collections by documenting works, artists and other constituents, and archival materials; expanding the collections’ presence on the Museum’s website; and managing internal and external rights and reproduction requests. The Curatorial Assistant, Collections reports to the Associate Curator, Permanent Collection. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Work closely with Collections team on: 
  • Research on and writing about collection artists and works of art 
  • Exhibition research and administration, including preparing loan requests, assisting in the preparation of checklists and didactic materials, and liaising with other departments on installation, catalog production, etc. 
  • Reviewing, cataloging, and conditioning works of art 
  • administration around Acquisition Committee meetings and gifts to the collection 
  • Maintenance of the collection and its related files. 
• Serve as the curatorial point person to expand the collections’ presence on the website 
• Manage all rights and reproduction requests 
• Catalog all aspects of the collections’ inventory in TMS Collections and NetX, including objects, constituents, loans, appraisals, and exhibition history, working closely with the Collections Database Manager. 
• Answer queries from the general public and scholars regarding the collections. 
• Provide support for general departmental administration, including scheduling, invoicing, and co-managing interns. 
• Assist with special projects as assigned. 

Key Stakeholders (who this position will interact with regularly): 

Internal (excluding direct chain of command): 

• Curatorial, Registrar, Communications, Education, and Public Programs and Community Engagement 

External: 

• Artists, estates, galleries, visitors, scholars, other institutions, and donors 

Travel Requirements:    ☒ Yes   ☐ No  

      If yes, update the below section: 

Percent travel required: 0—10% 

Physical Demands: ☒ Yes   ☐ No 

80% of time spent sitting at the computer 

Ability to carry and lift up to 25 pound

Qualifications:

Required (items listed as “required” MUST be met for a candidate to qualify for this role): 

• Strong background in mid-twentieth century and contemporary art by artists of African descent 
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in Art History or a related field 
• Familiarity with The Museum System (TMS/TMS Collections) and NetX 
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud 
• Experience working in a museum or cultural organizations 
• Excellent oral and written communication skills 
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team 

Desirable: 

Knowledge of museum standards and practices of registration, art handling, conservation, and collections storage requirements and procedures. 

Competencies:

Required (items listed as “required” MUST be met for a candidate to qualify for this role): 

• Commitment (Core Value) – to the mission and values of The Studio Museum in Harlem. 
• Collaborative (Core Value) – works well with others at all levels of the organization as well as with key external stakeholders 
• Initiative (Core Value) - takes self-directed, appropriate action to influence outcomes and / or drive progress and positive change.  

Salary is commensurate with experience within the guidelines of a small not-for-profit. Competitive benefits package is provided, including medical, dental, life and long-term disability insurance, retirement account, and substantial vacation. 

Application:

The position is open until filled. Send resume, cover letter and two writing samples to jobs@studiomuseum.org please include “Curatorial Assistant” in the subject line of your email.