The Yellowstone Art Museum seeks a smart, curious, and energetic specialist in the fine arts for the position of Assistant Curator. This is a position for a serious entry-level curatorial professional with a good eye and a strong interest in contemporary American art. The successful candidate will have a minimum of a B.A. or B.F.A. in art, art history, museum studies, or similar, and two years of relevant experience. Requirements include excellent communication skills, both written and oral; graphic design abilities; project management skills; inventiveness; a strong work ethic; excellent attention to detail; and a desire to help exciting visual arts exhibitions and programs become a reality. Submit a resume, cover letter, and three references. Candidates invited to interview will be asked to bring recent samples of their graphic designs. This is a fulltime, exempt position with a salary in the mid-30s. AA, EOE

Reports to: Senior Curator

Supervisory responsibilities: None

Status: Fulltime, exempt

Position summary
The Assistant Curator assists the Senior Curator and other curatorial department staff with exhibition curation, planning, and design, as well as department organization and support. The position is also responsible for graphic design for the museum’s exhibitions and related needs. 

Primary responsibilities
Permanent collection

  • Assist in the refinement of a permanent collection that will further growth of a distinctive identity for the institution.
  • Assist in the preparation of accession recommendations.
  • Assist with timely and accurate cataloging of new acquisitions; catalog existing works in the permanent collection as time permits.
  • Respond to public inquiries about art and collection artists within areas of expertise.

Resources on art, artists, and museum’s exhibition history

  • Work with the Registrar to organize and maintain exhibition and collection images and records to provide easy access to all files.
  • Maintain readily accessible and up-to-date image selection on museum’s shared drive relating to current and upcoming temporary exhibitions.
  • Organize and maintain individual artist files to expedite retrieval of information.
  • Maintain temporary exhibition log and archive past exhibition files appropriately.

Department support

  • Assist with curatorial correspondence to provide prompt, accurate, and professional contact with all artists, volunteers, and other museum professionals.
  • Organize all incoming proposals and deliver prompt response to artists and other lenders as directed by Senior Curator and/or Executive Director.

Exhibition support

  • Assist in the development and writing of exhibition concepts, interpretive copy, catalog essays, and other written material, as appropriate.
  • Coordinate activity with guest curators, exhibition brokers, contractors, and other in support of a varied temporary exhibition program. The Assistant Curator will often take the department’s organizational lead on incoming pre-curated exhibitions.
  • Assist in the management of temporary exhibition planning calendars.
  • Assist with curatorial research as requested by Senior Curator and/or Executive Director.
  • Work with education staff to achieve appropriate interpretive planning for exhibitions.
  • Assist with the preparation of object labels or other exhibition needs as requested.
  • Assist with the physical movement and installation of art objects to ensure safety of art and people.
  • Serve as courier for art and exhibitions, as needed.

Graphic design

  • Develop collateral materials for temporary exhibitions, including announcement cards, gallery graphics, catalogs, and other needs.
  • Assist in the preparation of site signage and other general graphic needs, as requested.
  • Collaborate with marketing staff to ensure coordinated design of all exhibition-related communications and appropriate recognition of sponsors.

Secondary responsibilities

  • Participate in departmental planning meetings, full staff meetings, project-specific meetings, and trustee committee meetings, as requested. Participate in strategic planning with other staff, trustees, and appropriate committees.
  • Review marketing, education, and other material produced on art, the museum’s collection, and the exhibitions to ensure accuracy.
  • Coordinate with facility rentals, special events, and security staff to ensure a safe and hospitable environment.
  • Represent the institution within the local and professional communities.
  • Train and supervise volunteers.
  • Consult on submissions for retail sale, the Art Auction, and Summerfair, as requested.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Minimum skills and qualifications:

  • BA or BFA
  • Two years’ relevant curatorial or gallery experience
  • A passionate interest in art and knowledge of regional and/or contemporary American art
  • Strong written and oral communication skills
  • Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Office suite, digital image management, InDesign
  • Excellent design abilities
  • Good physical shape: able to climb ladders, lift 40+ pounds, and operate machinery (with training)
  • Excellent organizational, project management, and multi-tasking skills
  • Detail-oriented, manual dexterity, problem-solving abilities
  • Valid Montana driver’s license

How to apply:
Submit a resume, cover letter, and three references to curator@artmuseum.org, or mail to Yellowstone Art Museum, 401 North 27th Street, Billings, MT  59101

Please reference museum-employment.com when applying for this job.
This job posted by MERC from April 22 through July 23.