Curatorial Assistant (Art Center/Museum Coordinator)

Borough of Manhattan Community College; New York (NY); On-site; USD 62,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

BMCC’s Shirley Fiterman Art Center seeks a Curatorial Assistant to support the exhibition program and related events. You will work with the Director and campus partners to organize, install, and deinstall exhibitions while managing digital content and outreach.

The role requires strong communication, multitasking, and meticulous attention to detail. A Bachelor’s degree is required, with a Master’s degree preferred; prior museum/gallery/non-profit experience is a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree is required.
• Master’s degree is preferred.
• Strong written and oral communication skills are essential.
• Experience in a museum, gallery, or nonprofit setting is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist with organizing the exhibition program and events.
• Coordinate with artists, gallery partners, and staff; oversee installation and deinstallation.
• Maintain day-to-day running of gallery space with the Director and campus.
• Manage digital aspects of exhibitions (website, social media, database, digital files).
• Organize loan and consignment paperwork, including insurance and artwork images.
• Assist with press materials, development and outreach (invites, e-blasts, newsletters).
• Ensure compliance with campus policies; assist with gallery budget.
• Handle invoices, purchasing, and BMCC purchasing guidelines.
• Hire and manage gallery interns and work-study students.
• Assist in creating gallery brochures, catalogs, posters, and postcards.
• Develop and install gallery signage and coordinate tours.

Skills

Personable

Proactive

Multitasking

Strong communication

Attention to detail

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree (preferred)

Job description

POSITION DETAILS

The Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) is a vibrant, pluralistic learning community committed to students’ intellectual and personal growth. The College bridges the economic and educational opportunity gap for students, more than half of whom are the first in their families to attend college. Working to strengthen a culture of care inside and outside the classroom, we share a passion for learning with students from around the world. Strategically located in downtown Manhattan, the College is in close proximity to the artistic communities of Tribeca and SoHo, the dynamic downtown financial district, and the center of New York City government at City Hall. BMCC prides itself on the diversity of our students. We are an inclusive community that promotes an atmosphere of mutual respect for each member’s ethnicity, gender, age, disability, religion, political preference, sexual orientation, gender identity, and national origin, among other personal characteristics. BMCC’s motto speaks to this shared sense of purpose and possibility: Start Here, Go Anywhere. We strive to increase degree completion, successful transfer, career achievement, and service and leadership within our community, New York City, and beyond.

POSITION DETAILS

The Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) is a vibrant, pluralistic learning community committed to students’ intellectual and personal growth. The College bridges the economic and educational opportunity gap for students, more than half of whom are the first in their families to attend college. Working to strengthen a culture of care inside and outside the classroom, we share a passion for learning with students from around the world. Strategically located in downtown Manhattan, the College is in close proximity to the artistic communities of Tribeca and SoHo, the dynamic downtown financial district, and the center of New York City government at City Hall. BMCC prides itself on the diversity of our students. We are an inclusive community that promotes an atmosphere of mutual respect for each member’s ethnicity, gender, age, disability, religion, political preference, sexual orientation, gender identity, and national origin, among other personal characteristics. BMCC’s motto speaks to this shared sense of purpose and possibility: Start Here, Go Anywhere. We strive to increase degree completion, successful transfer, career achievement, and service and leadership within our community, New York City, and beyond.

The Shirley Fiterman Art Center is located in Fiterman Hall, a building gifted to BMCC in 1993 by the Fiterman family, which was rebuilt in 2012 with an expanded gallery space of approximately 2,800 sq ft. The Fiterman Art Center is a non-profit institution dedicated to organizing exhibitions of contemporary art and cultural programming through which it seeks to promote and enrich the educational mission of BMCC and serve as a cultural resource for the BMCC and Lower Manhattan communities. These exhibitions are intended to foster diverse gallery programs that welcome engagement with contemporary art and explore its role in society at a free, public venue.

The Curatorial Assistant reports to the Director.

Including The CUNY Title Overview, Responsibilities Include

• Assist with organizing the exhibition program and all related events.


• Assist in managing five exhibitions per year, including coordinating with artists, gallery partners, and staff, and overseeing installation and deinstallation.


• Work with the Director and campus to maintain day-to-day running of gallery space.


• Manage all digital aspects of exhibitions, including website and social media updates, management of the database, and all digital files.


• Manage the hiring and scheduling of professional art handlers and art shippers, and coordination with all other outside vendors.


• Organize loan and consignment agreements and additional paperwork for all exhibitions, including insurance, checklists, and obtaining and editing artwork images.


• Assist with producing press materials and with development and outreach, including creating and sending event invites, e-blasts, and newsletters.


• Work with administration to ensure compliance with all campus policies and procedures.


• Assist with managing the gallery budget.


• Manage all invoices, purchasing and supply needs, and payments. Follow BMCC Purchasing Department guidelines on matters such as gathering estimates for invoices, submitting requisitions, and creating purchase orders.


• Assist with hiring and managing gallery interns and work-study students.


• Assist with creation and production of gallery brochures, catalogs, posters, and postcards.


• Assist in development of gallery signage.


• Coordinate visitor services and class/group tours.

Qualifications

MINIMUM

Bachelor's degree required.

Preferred

• Master's degree


• Qualified candidates should be highly personable, proactive, adept at multitasking, have strong written and oral communication skills.


• Meticulous, detail-oriented approach to all tasks.


• Excellent technical and interpersonal skills.


• Background in art history or arts administration and previous experience at a museum, gallery or non-profit preferred.

Cuny Title Overview

Coordinates day-to-day operations of a museum, gallery, or art facility.

• Assists exhibit designers, artists, and curators in the preparing and installing works for viewing; serves as liaison to tradespeople and others involved in exhibit construction


• Administers gallery activities, such as maintaining information on equipment, materials, and other inventory; updating web pages, organizing gallery events, organizing promotional efforts such as mailings, and preparing catalogs


• May supervise daily gallery operations


• Performs related duties as assigned.

CUNY TITLE

Assistant to HEO

FLSA

Non-exempt

Compensation And Benefits

Salary range is $61,525-$68,470, Salary commensurate with education and experience.

CUNY's benefits contribute significantly to total compensation, supporting health and wellness, financial well-being, and professional development. We offer a range of health plans, competitive retirement/pension benefits and savings plans, tuition waivers for CUNY graduate study and generous paid time off. Our staff also benefits from the extensive academic, arts, and athletic programs on our campuses and the opportunity to participate in a lively, diverse academic community in one of the greatest cities in the world.

CLOSING DATE

November 7, 2026

JOB SEARCH CATEGORY

CUNY Job Posting: Managerial/Professional

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

CUNY encourages people with disabilities, minorities, veterans and women to apply. At CUNY, Italian Americans are also included among our protected groups. Applicants and employees will not be discriminated against on the basis of any legally protected category, including sexual orientation or gender identity. EEO/AA/Vet/Disability Employer.

Job ID:

32967

Location:

Borough of Manhattan CC

Job Type:

Full-Time