Curatorial Assistant [Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, New York, NY]

Description

The Curatorial Assistant in the Department of Exhibitions at the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World (ISAW) is a full-time staff member reporting to the Exhibition Director and Chief Curator.  The Exhibitions Department is a dynamic group responsible for curating and organizing two exhibitions annually, each with a catalog and some that tour both nationally and internationally. The Curatorial Assistant is an important member of the exhibition team aiding with the study, interpretation, and display of objects, providing bibliographic and interpretive support, and creating educational materials for the general public including special interest, university and high school groups.

The Curatorial Assistant provides in-depth bibliographic and content research for exhibition projects. With the Exhibitions Director, the position visits source museums and works directly with local curators and/or guest curators to select objects for exhibitions. The Curatorial Assistant also facilitates communication with local curators throughout the time-line of an exhibition, including discussion of checklist information, bibliography, and the interpretive presentation of exhibited materials.  Under the supervision of the Exhibitions Director, the position also prepares a preliminary checklist of objects, and organizes and/or revises the checklist as exhibition progresses.   In addition, the Curatorial Assistant aids with the production of scholarly exhibition catalogues, fact checking catalogue essays and reading manuscripts for clarity.  The position generates the bibliography for catalogue, reviews all captions for consistency and accuracy of information; and aids in creating informational tables as well as detailed maps. The Curatorial Assistant will also participate in all phases of the design and installation of a given exhibition project.

Requirements

M.A. in a field in the humanities, Ph.D. preferred.

3 years in the museum setting with both research and writing responsibilities, 3-5 years preferred.

Understanding of the major movements, periods, and cultures in ancient art history.

Ability to perform research in an academic library, and ability to research and write on art historical topics in an efficient and effective manner.

Reading knowledge of at least one foreign language preferred.