Senior Curatorial Assistant

Yale Center for British Art - Prints and Drawings

78422BR

CLOSED TO FURTHER APPLICATIONS

Museum Assistant 2

L34 - Local 34 (Yale Union Group)

Full time

Fixed

3 years from date of hire

Yes

2025-12-19T00:00:00Z

Labor Grade D

Click here to see our Wage Ranges

Central Campus

1080 Chapel Street
New Haven, CT 06510

Standard (M-F equal number of hours per day)

Museum/Curatorial

37.5

Working independently under the guidance of the department’s curator, the Curatorial Assistant provides robust curatorial support for exhibitions planned by the department during the term of the position, including Cazabon’s Trinidad and Traditions of Landscape Drawing (spring 2024); Turner 250 (spring 2025); and Company Painting: Artists and the British East India Company 1760 to 1830 (fall 2025), as well as works on paper collection rotations. The postholder will contribute art historical expertise, conduct scholarly research and writing, create layout plans, and support logistics. In addition, the position will be responsible supporting the day-to-day curatorial functions of the department, including loan administration, collection care and documentation, coordination of meetings and schedules, retrieving and reshelving works, invigilation, and supporting the department’s clerical and administrative functions.

This is a 3-year fixed duration position.

Assists in planning and organization of exhibitions and gallery rotations, including object research, writing on artists and historical themes, developing gallery plans and layouts. Creates and updates illustrated chdecklists, researches loans, handles database entry. Writes and edits labels, gallery texts, and interpretative materials. Writes project summaries and descriptions. Coordinates meetings, takes detailed notes, and provides follow up. Researches and catalogues works in the collection for exhibitions; develops specialized knowledge pertaining to the exhibitions; assists with provenance research. Serves as primary contact for the department; fields and answers enquiries; handles departmental correspondence, including thank-you notes and loan letters. Maintains and expands objects files; maintains departmental files. Prepares and maintains all records and documentation for the P&D collection. Tracks the movement of P&D objects for exhibitions, loans, and conservation
Prepares condition reports for acquisitions and loans to other institutions. Prepares documentation for new acquisitions and accessions new objects; identifies and applies appropriate housing for new acquisitions; prepares gift/purchase lists and drafts gift acknowledgment letters. Coordinates imaging requests and prepares works for photo services. Liaises with Conservation about collections care; rehouses collections as needed. Oversees periodic inventories of the collection
Acts as liaison to the Study Room; invigilates and provides backup to the Study Room; retrieves and reshelves works for visitors; provides support for class visits. Develops and monitors budgets for the curator. Provides administrative support, including ordering supplies and equipment. Oversees student workers.

1. Develops and modifies operational systems, educational programs and related teaching aids. 2. Serves as a principal source of information to the public, visiting scholars and students. 3. Explains and describes the collection and available reference material through workshops, lectures and in response to inquiries. 4. Prepares and monitors budgets, grants and financial material related to particular collection and exhibits. Maintains the order of and ensures the special care, security and proper user handling of collection or educational programs. 5. Identifies and implements conservation programs for collections. Reconstructs, repairs, and restores art/specimens using preservation and conservation techniques. Catalogues and makes specialized identifications of new acquisitions. 6. Selects art/specimens for display. Prepares collection for exhibition. May assist with installing and dissembling exhibits. Conducts research related to the collections and exhibits. 7. Coordinates and assigns teaching schedules. Composes correspondence related to the collections and exhibits. 8. Oversees and instructs other support staff. 9. May collect specimens for use in exhibits. 10. Performs clerical functions incidental to museum activities.

Two years of related work experience in the same job family and a Bachelor's degree in a related field; or an equivalent combination of experience and education.

Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills.

Proven organizational and administrative skills.

Proven ability to conduct independent art historical and bibliographic research.

Excellent computer skills (advanced proficiency in Microsoft suite); ability to efficiently learn new database applications.

Demonstrated physical ability and willingness to handle large solander boxes and portfolios up to 40 pounds.

MA in the history of art, in a relevant field (concentration in British art and history of empire preferred). Two years experience of working in an art museum or related field. Proven experience working with a prints and drawings collection. Proven ability of working independently in developing research and exhibition support

No

No

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