Museum Instructor/Curatorial Assistant (Temporary)

Brooklyn Museum; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 45,930 - 56,137; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

401(k) plan

Pension plan

Paid time off

FSAs/HSAs

Employee assistance

Museum discounts

Café discount

Hybrid work schedule

Job summary

Brooklyn Museum in Brooklyn, NY is seeking a Museum Instructor/Curatorial Assistant for a temporary, up-to-11-month role to support the 2027 Brooklyn Now exhibition. Reporting to the Senior Curator of Contemporary Art, the role will collaborate with core project teams and assist with checklists, interpretation, installation and related programming.

This position emphasizes scheduling, communication, and logistics, with duties spanning administrative support, registrar coordination, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in art history, fine arts, museum studies, visual culture, or a related humanities discipline, or two to three years of museum experience.
• Highly detail-oriented, organized, and able to prioritize complex projects.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Experience with collaborative projects.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and basic office functions.
• Familiarity with collection databases such as The Museum System (TMS).

Responsibilities

• Attend team meetings and prepare notes.
• Provide general administrative support.
• Maintain and update exhibition checklists.
• Coordinate with artists and track correspondences.
• Support installation/deinstallation and related materials.
• Assist Registrars with incoming works and loan agreements.
• Assist Registrar training for artwork arrivals.
• Coordinate with internal teams to ensure timely project delivery.

Skills

Oral & written communication

MS Office

Google Workspace

Team collaboration

Attention to detail

TMS familiarity

Education

Bachelor’s degree in art history or related humanities

Tools

The Museum System (TMS)

Job description

Museum Instructor/Curatorial Assistant (Temporary)

Museum overview

The Brooklyn Museum is a world-renowned cultural institution dedicated to preserving and showcasing art, history, and heritage. Our mission is to bring people together through art and experiences that inspire celebration, compassion, courage, and the will to act. Our vision is to serve as an institution where art is a powerful force for personal transformation and social change. Celebrating our differences and learning about our diverse communities through our collections, exhibitions, and programming is the core of who we are and what we do.

We are committed to creating and cultivating a community of talented, passionate people who are inspired to make the Museum an important hub of community activity and a great global destination. Our staff have the opportunity to grow their professional skills and work collaboratively with colleagues they admire and respect. Read more about our story here.

About the role

The Brooklyn Museum is seeking to hire a Museum Instructor/Curatorial Assistant for a temporary position, dedicated to support the planning, implementation, and related programming for the 2027 Brooklyn Now exhibition. Reporting to the John and Barbara Vogelstein Senior Curator of Contemporary Art, the Museum Instructor/Curatorial Assistant will work closely with the core exhibition project teams for the show and will liaise with all departments. The Museum Instructor/Curatorial Assistant will support all areas of the exhibition development including checklists, interpretation, and the installation and deinstallation of the works, as well as related programming. The Museum Instructor/Curatorial Assistant will ensure timely implementation focusing on scheduling, internal and external communications, logistical needs, and support as needed.

This is a temporary role not to exceed 11 months.

Responsibilities

• Attend all team meetings unless otherwise noted, and facilitate the preparation and meeting notes
• Provide general administrative support
• Assist maintaining and updating exhibition checklists
• Assist tracking correspondences with artists
• Assist with other exhibition materials (i.e., wall labels, image set and captions, artwork fact sheets, etc.) and coordination with internal teams as directed
• Assist with Registrars department on incoming works and with artist communications regarding loan agreements and shipping/deliveries
• Attend Registrar training for assistance with incoming works
• Assist Registrar and Project Manager with art installation and deinstallation

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in art history, fine arts, museum studies, visual culture, or a related humanities discipline, or two to three years of experience in a museum or other cultural organization
• Highly detail-oriented, organized, and able to prioritize complex projects
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Experience with collaborative projects
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and basic office functions (e.g., scanning, filing)
• Familiarity with collection databases such as The Museum System (TMS)

Department: Exhibitions

Reports to: John and Barbara Vogelstein Senior Curator of Contemporary Art

Salary: $51,034.00 annualized ($28.04/hour)

Union status: Union – DC37 Local 1502

FLSA status: Non-Exempt

Position type: Full-time, Temporary, not to exceed 11 months (exact timeframe TBD)

Schedule: 35 hours per week, Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm

Benefit Offerings

The Museum provides competitive compensation along with generous benefits and perks for all eligible employees. Individual benefit offerings may vary based on position type and union status.

• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance
• 401(k) Savings Plan and Pension Plan
• Generous paid time off, including annual vacation leave, sick leave, and 13 Museum holidays
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) & Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) for eligible pre-tax health care, dependent care, and commuter expenses
• Employee Assistant Program
• Free admission to various NYC museums and cultural institutions
• Early access to Museum exhibitions
• Invitations to staff-only programs, tours, and on-site engagement events
• Opportunities to participate in community initiatives and Museum programs
• 40% discount for staff in Museum shops
• 20% discount at Museum café
• All positions are based in Brooklyn, New York, with some eligible for a hybrid work schedule (three days on-site / two days remote)

Apply Today

We recognize that it’s unlikely that any candidate will meet 100% of the desired qualifications for a role. If much of this job description resonates with you, we strongly encourage you to apply today. We’re committed to welcoming candidates with a wide range of experiences and perspectives – especially those who see themselves contributing to our mission to bring people together through art and experiences that inspire celebration, compassion, courage, and the will to act.