Curatorial Assistant, Photography

Schedule: Full Time, 35 hours/week, at least three days working onsite

Reporting to the Curator and Head of Photography, the Curatorial Assistant supports all aspects of the work of the Photography Department. The Curatorial Assistant is responsible for various tasks related to the Accessions program, including scheduling, data inputting, correspondence with artists and galleries, preparation of Power Point presentations, and other administrative duties, as assigned. The Curatorial Assistant also supports the Department in the management and interpretation of the permanent collection, the organization of temporary exhibitions, and the execution of administrative projects. As a key member of a dynamic team, this junior position facilitates communication and workflow within the department and on behalf of the department with museum staff, donors, artists, and arts professionals.

Responsibilities & Duties

• Assist with development and production of Accessions Committee meetings. Prepare Power Point presentations and defense documents. Attend meetings, prepare and distribute minutes.
• Assist with duties related to exhibitions, including inputting data, producing checklists, library research, file management, and liaising with other departments.
• Create artist and object records and maintain database of checklists for exhibitions.
• Draft correspondence, loan forms, manuscripts, exhibition wall labels, and other material related to the permanent collection and/or special exhibitions.
• Review finished materials for completeness, accuracy, formatting, compliance with SFMOMA and departmental policies, and proper English usage.
• Assist in the preparation, coordination, and logistics for special events and programs, including but not limited to, generating guest lists, reserving facilities, procuring required equipment, confirming arrangements, and greeting guests on behalf of the department.
• Facilitate external communication with artists, collectors, lenders, dealers, scholars, and colleagues from other museums.
• Oversee department email and inbox.
• Develop and track master departmental calendar; coordinate weekly departmental meetings.
• Draft communications from the Photography Department, including newsletters for Photography Accessions and invitations to department events.
• Process invoices, reimbursements, and expense reports for payment, as needed.
• Maintain, update, and archive physical and electronic files belonging to the department.
• Coordinate and manage travel arrangements, including hotel reservations and transportation for curatorial staff and visiting artists, as needed.
• Assist with collection and exhibition research including, but not limited to, research and compilation of biographies, chronologies, exhibition histories, and documentation of individual works.
• Provide support for lectures and presentations, including the generation of Power Point presentations.

Qualifications & Skills

• Master's degree in Art History, or related field with an emphasis in Photography.
• Minimum of two (2) years, full-time curatorial or education experience within a museum or cultural institution.
• Knowledge of the history of photography and excellent writing and communication skills.
• Ability to set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments with a minimum of direction.
• Knowledge of correct English usage, including spelling, grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary.
• Ability to provide substantial office support including maintenance of calendar, database management, word processing, Power Point, filing, and email correspondence
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Ability to prioritize and organize multiple activities with other staff members around a common project.
• Ability to communicate effectively with donors, artists, Museum staff, colleagues, and the public, whether in person, on the telephone, or in writing.
• Familiarity and ease with PC work environments and Microsoft Office software suites. Familiarity with Asana or other project management software preferred.
• Familiarity with collection, digital asset, donor, and contacts management programs as well as basic a/v equipment (video projectors, digital audio recording devices, photo and video cameras), and image editing software applications preferred.
• Additional language skills, an asset.

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