Curatorial Assistant

A full-time Curatorial Assistant position, reporting to a senior Curator working primarily in prewar art, is available. The incumbent will assist the Curator with scholarly projects as well as a variety of project-related administrative tasks. Excellent research and writing skills are essential, as well as a deep  knowledge of twentieth-century art history.  

Responsibilities include:

• Assistance in planning, research, organization and installation of exhibitions
• Assistance with catalogues and other publications, both print and digital
• Research on artists for curatorial projects and acquisitions
• Writing didactic labels, press releases, and other copy
• Support for the American Fellows patron group
• Serving as liaison with artists, donors, and gallerists
• TMS data entry
• Support for acquisitions for the Whitney’s permanent collection, including coordination with Conservation, Registration, and Documentation departments
• Overall administrative support
• Other tasks as needed to support the work of the Curatorial department

Job requirements:

• Demonstrated knowledge of and interest in twentieth-century American art and art history, with a particular interest in art from the first half of the twentieth century
• 1-2 years of gallery, museum or relevant experience
• Excellent organizational skills
• Experience with TMS, Adobe Acrobat, and Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Excellent writing, research, and communication skills, with attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to handle several projects simultaneously and meet deadlines
• The capacity to take initiative, work thoughtfully, quickly, thoroughly, and collegially, and respect the day-to-day process
• Some knowledge of exhibition preparation procedures is useful

Compensation & Benefits: 

• Fixed compensation of $55,000 per annum
• Medical, Dental, Vision, 403(B) elections
• Generous PTO benefits
• Commuter benefits - parking and mass transit
• Admission to world-renowned museums across the city and nationally
• Pet insurance and discounted membership for Citibike
• This role may be covered by UAW Local 2110

The advertised pay rate is not a promise of a particular wage for any specific employee. The specific compensation offered to a candidate may be dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, education, special licensing or qualifications, and other factors.

Not sure you meet 100% of our qualifications? Research shows that men apply for jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria. Yet, women and other people who are systematically marginalized tend to only apply if they meet every requirement. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Whether you’re new to arts and culture administration, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or take the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar. Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interest in the arts and culture space and what you hope to bring to this role.

About the Whitney:
The Whitney Museum of American Art, founded in 1930 by the artist and philanthropist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, houses the foremost collection of American art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. From her vision arose the Whitney Museum of American Art, which has been championing the most innovative art of the United States for 86 years. The core of the Whitney’s mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit American art of our time and serve a wide variety of audiences in celebration of the complexity and diversity of art and culture in the United States. Through this mission and a steadfast commitment to artists themselves, the Whitney has long been a powerful force in support of modern and contemporary art and continues to help define what is innovative and influential in American art today.

EEO Statement:
The Whitney Museum of American Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Museum does not discriminate because of age, sex, religion, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital status, partnership status, veteran status, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, or any other factor prohibited by law. The Museum hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled. The Museum encourages all qualified candidates to apply for vacant positions at all levels. This description shall not be construed as a contract of any sort for a specific period of employment.

COVID guidelines:
The health and safety of our Museum community is the highest priority. As such, the Whitney Museum is requiring all newly hired staff members to be fully vaccinated and boosted with an FDA authorized and/or approved COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment. Requests for reasonable accommodations for medical, religious, or other reasons will be considered in accordance with applicable law.