Curatorial Assistant/Fellow

Miami University (Ohio); Oxford (OH); On-site; USD 40,000 - 55,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefit Eligible

Job summary

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc. in Oxford, Ohio, is seeking a Curatorial Assistant/Fellow for the Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum. This temporary role involves assisting with exhibition preparations, writing educational materials, and developing digital content for a two-year period aimed at early-career professionals in art history.

Ideal candidates will hold a Master’s degree and have experience in exhibition development. This is a fantastic opportunity to engage with art collections and participate in educational programs.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Art History, Anthropology, Museum Studies, or related field.
• One year of experience in exhibition development at a museum or non-profit.
• Excellent writing and research abilities.

Responsibilities

• Assist Curator of Exhibitions with exhibition preparation.
• Research collections and write materials for exhibitions.
• Enter data into Collections Management System.

Skills

Excellent writing skills

Research independently

Knowledge of Collections Management Systems (TMS)

Ability to work in a team

Knowledge of art history

Education

Master’s degree in Art History or related field

Tools

Google applications

Adobe applications

Job description

Job Title: Curatorial Assistant/Fellow

Department: Art Museum

Worker Type: Temporary (Fixed Term)

Pay Type: Period Activity Pay

Benefit Eligible: Yes

Job Description Summary

The Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum (RCCAM) at Miami University seeks a Curatorial Assistant/Fellow to assist the Curator of Exhibitions and museum team members in the preparation of an exhibition and related highlights catalog publication, incorporating the history of the Art Museum and its collections. They will also contribute to the development of related digital media, video, blogs, and website content. This is a two‑year position (24 months) intended for an early‑career curator, arts researcher, or art historian who is a recent post‑graduate in art history, curatorial practices, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Research physical and digital collections of relevant objects, museum photographic and physical archives, including donor files, collections, exhibitions, and staff histories.
• Write didactic materials for exhibition purposes.
• Assist with selection of objects for display and relevant support images, and conduct image research and coordination of new photography.
• Write and edit text for panels, object labels, and catalog content.
• Enter information into The Museum System (TMS) database (Collections Management System) and create online catalogs of collections.
• Participate in educational program planning and facilitation.
• Help develop social media outputs with digital media team.
• Assist with design of installation plan and exhibition flow.
• Assist in preparation of classes and research visits involving access to physical and digital collections.
• Implement museum policies and procedures in accordance with university guidelines and professional best practices.
• May supervise student interns or employees.

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s degree in Art History or Anthropology, Museum Studies, Library Science, Arts Management, or a related field.
• At least one year of experience in exhibition development at a museum, arts, education, or non‑profit institution.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Museum Studies, Library Science, Arts Management, or related field such as Art History or Anthropology (two or more years of experience in exhibitions).
• Successful grant writing experience.
• Experience in archives and digitization best practices.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent writing skills and ability to research independently.
• General knowledge of history of art, familiarity with art materials and processes, and exhibition planning processes.
• Knowledge and use of Collections Management Systems such as TMS or similar.
• Knowledge of standard office procedures and equipment.
• Knowledge of computers and office applications, including Google and Adobe applications.
• Some knowledge of administrative procedures including budgeting, research, preparing reports, and evaluations.
• Ability to work well with others and as part of a team, ranging from student assistants, staff, faculty, and volunteer docents.
• Ability to manage simultaneous priorities and work effectively with other team members.
• Familiarity with American Alliance of Museums core standards and document requirements.
• Ability to communicate effectively in written form; skill in communicating effectively orally or in person as appropriate for the audience.
• Knowledge of federal and state policies and procedures relating to collections and exhibition ethics, and legal regulations relating to museum collections.
• Experience and knowledge of varied materials and preservation needs for collections in a museum environment.

For questions concerning the position, please contact Jason Shaiman, Curator of Exhibitions: [e-mail].

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Statement

Miami University, an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, encourages applications from protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Miami University prohibits harassment, discrimination, and retaliation on the basis of age (40 years or older), color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex/gender, status as a parent or foster parent, sexual orientation, or protected veteran status in its application and admission processes, educational programs and activities, facilities, programs or employment practices. Requests for reasonable accommodations for disabilities related to employment should be directed to ADA Faculty / Staff at miamioh.edu or 513-529-3560.