MACLA Curatorial Fellowship

Collections That Care; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 47,000 - 50,000; Part time

Job summary

MACLA in San Jose invites applications for a paid Curatorial Fellowship focused on Chicanx/Latinx contemporary art. Fellows assist the Visual Arts Curator across planning, installation, de-installation, and documentation, with duties including exhibition checklists, catalogue production, and digital content creation.

The program spans 10 months, with 15–25 hours per week during the academic year and 25–30 hours in summer.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required; graduate studies preferred.
• On-site work in downtown San Jose; ability to lift 30 lbs.
• Commitment to arts and culture organizations.

Responsibilities

• Assist in planning, researching, installing, and de-installing exhibitions.
• Contribute to exhibition checklists, catalogues, and documentation.
• Create digital content and archive materials for public platforms.
• Collaborate with the Visual Arts Curator on fellow-led projects.

Skills

Curatorial research

Exhibition planning

Artist interviews

Documentation

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Art History / Visual Culture / Latin American Studies

Job description

Summary

MACLA is creating a pipeline for Latinx students interested in contemporary Chicanx/Latinx art and culture scholarship to increase diversity and representation in the field. Ideal candidates are interested in pursuing a career as a curator, arts administrator, and/or cultural worker. Curatorial Fellows will work under the direction of the Visual Arts Curator. Fellows will be involved in a range of curatorial projects including the various stages and aspects of planning, installing, and de- installing exhibitions. Fellows will collaborate on exhibition checklists, graphics, catalogue production, and documentation. Fellows will also gain experience in arts administration and professional expectations in the workplace.

Description of the paid curatorial fellowship:

• Visual Art Exhibitions: With a focus on Chicanx/Latinx contemporary art, the Fellow will participate in the planning, research, installation, and evaluation of exhibitions and related public programs, while earning the byline as Co-Curator for one exhibition. The Fellow will produce digital products, including writing a curatorial statement/brochure, adding to an online archive, and producing content for aforementioned digital archive to be published on social platforms and printed. The Fellow will gain insight into how our exhibitions are curated, spending a third of the fellowship focusing on the gallery installation process. Fellows are expected to assist in quarterly exhibition installation, which involves painting walls, using power tools, handling artwork, and lifting large objects weighing a minimum of 30lbs.
• Studio Visits: Curatorial Fellows will be invited to join the Visual Arts Curator on artist studio visits. With the guidance of MACLA’s curator, studio visits will provide the opportunity to interview artists and build meaningful relationships.
• Gallery Visits: As an opportunity for insight into practices, the Curatorial Fellows will visit local and regional arts organizations, along with one trip to a national Latinx arts institution.
• Gallery Front Desk: This position is expected to cover at least one gallery shift (open gallery hours are Wednesday – Sunday 12-5PM).

Key Details

Compensation: $34.45/hour

Duration:10 months

Schedule:15–25 hours/week (academic year); 25–30 hours/week (summer)

Deadline:ASAP (Posted September 27, 2026)

Eligibility

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required; graduate students are preferred. An ideal candidate has a BA degree in Art History, Visual Cultural/Criticism, Latin American History, Cultural Anthropology, Sociology, Chicano/a/x Studies, or equivalent.
• MACLA will prioritize candidates who are committed to working with arts and culture organizations.
• Must be able to work on-site. MACLA is located in downtown San Jose. MACLA cannot provide travel or relocation stipends.
• As a part of our commitment to health and safety, COVID-19 vaccination is required for all current and newly hired employees, contractors, interns, and fellows.
• Must be able to lift 30lbs.

About

MACLA/Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana is an inclusive contemporary arts space grounded in the Chicano/Latino experience that incubates new visual, literary, and performance art in order to engage people in civic dialogue and community transformation.