Predoctoral Research Fellow (California), ICAA Latinx Papers Project

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; California (MO); Remote; USD 15,000; Part time

Job summary

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston seeks a part-time Predoctoral Research Fellow for the ICAA Latinx Papers Project. This role involves assisting with the identification and processing of primary source documents related to Latinx art. Candidates should be enrolled in a PhD program in art history and demonstrate a focus on Latinx art. This remote position offers valuable experience in a collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in a doctoral program in art history or related field.
• Demonstrated background and/or specialization in Latinx art is required.
• Advanced reading knowledge of Spanish is required.

Responsibilities

• Assist with the vetting and selection of targeted documents related to art produced in California.
• Research selected documents and write their accompanying synopses and annotations for publication.
• Participate in weekly Latinx Papers project-team meetings.

Skills

Research

Writing

Collaboration

Spanish

Education

PhD in Art History

MA in Art History

Tools

Microsoft Office/365

Job description

Predoctoral Research Fellow (California), ICAA Latinx Papers Project

Job Category: Curatorial

Requisition Number: PREDO001612

Apply now

• Posted : May 6, 2025
• Part-Time

Locations

Showing 1 location

The Central Administration Building
5100 Montrose Blvd
Houston, TX 77006, USA

Description

¡Aquí Estamos!: Latinx Art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Call for Applications: Predoctoral Research Fellowship (California), ICAA Latinx Papers Project

Deadline to apply: June 27th, 2025

Project Description

Latinx art is an integral yet thus far significantly under-recognized part of American art. The MFAH understands “Latinx art” as work produced by artists of Latin American descent who were born or are active in the United States. This includes but is not limited to those who identify as Chicana/o, Puerto Rican/Nuyorican, Mexican American, Dominican American, Cuban American, as well as others born in Central, South America, or the Caribbean who have made the United States their country of residence. Despite Latinx artists’ critical contributions to U.S. art histories, their work has not benefitted from the same level of representation and visibility as their peers in mainstream arts institutions or university classrooms. The MFAH and its International Center for the Arts of the Americas (ICAA) are working to address this omission via ¡Aquí Estamos!: Latinx Art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. This multi-year, institution-wide initiative aims to transform this emergent field by opening critical pathways for the study and exhibition of Latinx art and artists within a major encyclopedic museum.

¡Aquí Estamos! will provide hands-on training for future museum and research professionals focused on Latinx art by placing fellows in Museum departments, including Curatorial, Conservation, Learning and Interpretation, and the ICAA. Mentored by key MFAH staff, emerging professionals and scholars will participate in an array of projects, including the ICAA Latinx Papers Project. Fellows will benefit from the unique opportunity to engage in the deep study of Latinx art within a cohort of ¡Aquí Estamos! fellows. Opportunities for collaboration and professional development will be facilitated by regular project meetings, workshops centered on critical issues in the field, and collaborative projects ranging from the development of collection object studies, interpretative materials, public programs, and/or publications.

Fellowship Description

A component of the larger ¡Aquí Estamos! initiative, the ICAA Latinx Papers Project seeks to significantly expand the representation of Latinx art within the ICAA’s groundbreaking Documents of Latin American and Latino Art digital platform. The Latinx Papers Project will focus on the preservation and dissemination of primary source materials —correspondence, manifestos, exhibition reviews, exhibition pamphlets, journal articles, etc.— that are critical to the field of Latinx art. A targeted selection of documents will be culled from key repositories across the United States. Participating ICAA Research Fellows will work with the ICAA headquarters and with partner repositories in Texas, California, Florida, Washington D.C., the Midwest, and the greater New York region to digitize, research, annotate, and publish thousands of documents to the Documents Project site.

Key to the ICAA Latinx Papers Project are emerging researchers who are well-positioned to make a significant contribution to this initiative and the field at large. Research fellowship opportunities recognize the importance of early career exposure to archival and primary source research in cultivating the next generation of scholars and curators in the field of Latinx art.

The ICAA is offering a part-time Predoctoral Research Fellow (California) the opportunity to assist in the identification and processing of primary source documents for the ICAA’s Documents Project platform. Fellows will work with the ICAA headquarters and with partner repositories with holdings related to California to select, digitize, annotate, and publish a carefully vetted selection of documents to the ICAA Documents Project. The fellow will accumulate expertise on major figures related to Latinx artists and art movements in California; develop advanced research skills by working closely with primary source documents; work with students performing field research in collaborating repositories; and gain familiarity with the systems and best practices for digital archive projects.

This is a one-year, part-time REMOTE position (appx. 15hrs/wk).

Candidates should be currently enrolled in an accredited PhD program in art history or related field. Candidates should demonstrate scholarly excellence and an academic focus in Latinx art and culture. Applicants with backgrounds historically underrepresented in museum professions are strongly encouraged to apply.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist with the vetting and selection of targeted documents related to art produced in California and held by collaborating repositories
• In collaboration with ICAA staff, research selected documents and write their accompanying synopses and annotations for publication to the ICAA Documents Project.
• Assist in the processing of documents by the ICAA headquarters in Houston.
• Propose, develop, and publish texts resulting from their project research for the ICAA’s Papelitos blog space and/or Working Papers series.
• As needed, assist with field research in partner repositories and assist with administrative duties related to the project.
• Participate in weekly Latinx Papers project-team meetings as well as informal workshops related to the ¡Aquí Estamos! initiative.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Currently enrolled in a doctoral program in art history or related field. Recent MA graduates (conferred between May 2024 and May 2025) may also be considered.
• Demonstrated background and/or specialization in Latinx art is required. Related knowledge of modern and contemporary Latin American art is desired.
• Candidates with substantial knowledge of, and proximity to, library and archives located in California are highly desired.
• Excellent research and writing skills
• Familiarity with archival and special collections research
• Ability to work collaboratively as well as independently; capable of self-managing workloads
• Advanced reading knowledge of Spanish is required
• Proficient in Microsoft Office/365
• Experience with online databases is helpful but not required.
• Must currently reside and be eligible to work in the United States

Anticipated Schedule

The anticipated term is September 8th, 2025—August 28th, 2026, but adjustments will be considered if needed. The fellowship is designed to complement and not compete with the student’s full-time academic commitments. Working schedule is flexible, but duties must be performed in accordance with deadlines and project milestones as established by the ICAA.

Stipend

The ICAA Research Fellow (California) will receive a $15,000 stipend. As this position is part-time, benefits will not be provided to the fellow. Please note that the MFAH is unable to offer tuition assistance or remission.

Application Instructions

Qualified applicants should apply online, which will be the most effective way to ensure consideration.

1. Visit the MFAH Careers page at - https://www.mfah.org/about/careers/

2. "Click" on All current employment opportunities

3. Scroll through the listings to find this role.

4. "Click" and apply!

Please submit the following materials to MFAH Careers by June 27th, 2025:

• Letter of interest describing your experience and professional goals as relevant to this opportunity (maximum 1500 words)
• Academic writing sample (maximum 12-15 pages)
• The name and contact information for at least two (2) academic or other relevant professional references

Applications or letters of interest sent via mail, fax, or direct email to a staff member will not ensure consideration. Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

About the MFAH

The MFAH is an organization comprised of 600+ employees and 1,000+ docents and volunteers. The museum is more than 100 years old and ranks nationally among the top 10 art museums in exhibition space, memberships, endowments, and attendance, with 1M visitors annually. Our multifaceted institution includes multiple gallery buildings, a sculpture garden, two art schools, three eateries and two house museums for decorative arts. The encyclopedic collection numbers more than 70,000 works of art in a wide range of media.

Department Overview

The MFAH is an internationally recognized leader in the fields of Latin American and Latinx art. Over the last 20 years, the Museum built a core collection of post-World War II modern and contemporary art with over 850 emblematic works in all media from Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and the United States. During this time, the MFAH acquired works by major Latinx artists including Allora & Calzadilla, Carlos Almaraz, Margarita Cabrera, María Magdalena Campos-Pons, Adriana Corral, Teresita Fernández, Jay Lynn Gomez, Luis Jiménez, Carmen Lomas Garza, César A. Martínez, Daniel Jospeh Martinez, Narsiso Martinez, Antonio Martorell, Ana Mendieta, Amalia Mesa-Bains, Camilo Ontiveros, John M. Valadez, and Vincent Valdez. To date, the Museum’s holdings in this area encompass 400+ works by 70+ artists.

In 2001, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH), established the Latin American Art Department and its research arm, the International Center for the Arts of the Americas (ICAA). The mission of the ICAA is to collect, exhibit, research, and educate audiences about the diverse artistic production of Latin American and Latinx communities. The ICAA organizes research-based exhibitions, maintains a dynamic publications program, and develops research and education projects that complement the MFAH’s renowned collections of Latin American and Latino art. The ICAA’s cornerstone initiative is the Documents of Latin American and Latino Art digital archive project, which is dedicated to recovering primary source documents and critical texts related to Latin American and Latinx art and making them accessible to a worldwide audience.

Position Available

Title: Predoctoral Research Fellow (California), ICAA Latinx Papers Project

Academic Level: Current PhD student or recent MA graduate

Supervisor: Dr. Arden Decker and Dr. Liz Donato

Department: Curatorial, ICAA

Schedule: Part-time (appx. 15 hrs/wk)

Term: September 8th, 2025—August 28th, 2026

Location: Remote

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

• Work will be performed remotely in a home, office, and libraries and archives.
• Ability to collect and analyze research and data as well as verbal information to reach logical recommendations and conclusions
• Ability to work under deadlines and sometimes changing requirements or expectations in an appropriate manner
• Job duties will include extended sitting, standing, and working with a computer

With or without reasonable accommodation, the individual selected must have the capacity to perform effectively all essential functions. In addition to the other demands mentioned, the demands of the job may or will include:

• Must undergo and meet company standards for relevant criminal background and professional reference checks
• Seeing, hearing, speaking, and writing clearly in order to communicate with staff, guests and others
• Good vision or corrected by use of glasses and/or contacts for reading and viewing abilities.

Equal Opportunities for All

At the MFAH, we believe that diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusivity are fundamental to our organization. We welcome all candidates whose experience has prepared them to contribute to our organization and our pledge for workplace diversity, inclusion, and excellence.

Our commitment to our policy and practice of nondiscrimination represents more than good intentions. It provides for employment decisions that are made without regard to race, creed, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as established by law or any other reason unrelated to your ability to join and contribute to our organization and support our mission to provide a museum experience for all.

Research shows that women and individuals from underrepresented backgrounds often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We recognize that it is highly unlikely that an applicant meets 100% of the qualifications for a given role. Therefore, if much of this job description describes you, then you are highly encouraged to apply for this role.

The MFAH is equally committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals interested in employment with the organization. As part of this commitment, we want to ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation needed to 1) participate in the job application or 2) interview process; 3) perform essential job functions; and/or 4) participate in the benefits and privileges of employment with the MFAH. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact the human resources department: [e-mail].

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.