Suzanne Andree Curatorial Fellow

Philadelphia Museum of Art; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 40,000 - 53,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free general admission to the museum

Discounted guest tickets

Discounts on gift memberships

Special staff tours and presentations

Discounts at restaurant/cafés/stores

Job summary

The Philadelphia Museum of Art invites applications for the Suzanne Andree Curatorial Fellowship in the Prints, Drawings, and Photographs department. The fellowship provides mentorship and hands-on curatorial experience working with the PMA's collection of works on paper.

Reporting to the head of PDP, the fellow will help catalog, research, and prepare condition reports, assist with exhibition planning, and coordinate study room access; the term is 2 years, beginning October 19, 2026, with a

Qualifications

• Master's degree in art history is required.
• Graduate experience beyond an M.A. degree is preferred.
• Passion for works on paper and specialization in prints and drawings.
• Ability to work collaboratively.
• Ability to multi-task and manage longer-term assignments.

Responsibilities

• Provide access to and maintain schedule for the Abigail Rebecca Cohen Study Room, including visitor outreach, art movement, oversight of class visits and individual appointments, and coordination of presentations
• Research and catalogue the collection and respond to queries
• Assist curators with exhibition and publication planning, management, and implementation
• In consultation with Paper Conservation, prepare condition reports and preliminary research for potential acquisitions
• Assist with collections assessments and other projects related to curatorial functions as assigned by curatorial staff
• Prepare assignments for bi-annual departmental committee meeting, including justifications for potential acquisitions, PowerPoint presentations, and present assigned works of art or topic to committee
• Perform a variety of departmental administrative tasks as needed
• Perform other duties as assigned

Skills

Collaborative work

Multi-tasking

Research and cataloguing

Communication

Project coordination

Education

Master's degree in art history

Graduate experience beyond an M.A. degree

Job description

We Are Committed to an Inclusive Workplace

At the Philadelphia Museum of Art, we actively seek to employ a diverse group of people who embody our organizational values. We welcome and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply, especially those from marginalized and underrepresented groups in the museum field, who are inspired by our shared purpose and enjoy working collaboratively with others.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship or immigration status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected status.

The department of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs (PDP) invites applications for the Suzanne Andree Curatorial Fellowship. The endowed fellowship is intended to serve as preparation for an advanced career in a museum by providing professional mentorship and extensive firsthand experience with curatorial work in the graphic arts. Reporting to the head of the department, the fellow is a fully integrated member of PDP and works within the department and Paper Conservation on the cataloguing, interpretation, care, display, and growth of the PMA's collection of over 162,000 works on paper, which range from the fifteenth century to the present day. In addition, fellows have the opportunity to organize programs related to their research.

Specifically, you will:

• Provide access to and maintain schedule for the Abigail Rebecca Cohen Study Room, including visitor outreach, art movement, oversight of class visits and individual appointments, and coordination of presentations
• Research and catalogue the collection and respond to queries
• Assist curators with exhibition and publication planning, management, and implementation
• In consultation with Paper Conservation, prepare condition reports and preliminary research for potential acquisitions
• Assist with collections assessments and other projects related to curatorial functions as assigned by curatorial staff
• Prepare assignments for bi-annual departmental committee meeting, including justifications for potential acquisitions, PowerPoint presentations, and present assigned works of art or topic to committee
• Perform a variety of departmental administrative tasks as needed
• Perform other duties as assigned

Your background and experience include:

• Master's degree in art history required

• Graduate experience beyond an M.A. degree is preferred

• A passion for the variety and diversity of works on paper within the collection; demonstrated commitment to scholarship in art history and museum work with a specialization in prints and drawings

• An ability to work collaboratively

• An ability to multi-task and negotiate competing priorities while managing longer-term assignments

• Prior experience in a museum environment or similar art institution is preferred

Your background and experience include:

• Master's degree in art history required
• Graduate experience beyond an M.A. degree is preferred
• A passion for the variety and diversity of works on paper within the collection; demonstrated commitment to scholarship in art history and museum work with a specialization in prints and drawings
• An ability to work collaboratively
• An ability to multi-task and negotiate competing priorities while managing longer-term assignments
• Prior experience in a museum environment or similar art institution is preferred

Position and Compensation Details

• The salary for this position is $46,561.
• This position is Full-Time, Exempt, and 35 hours per week.
• This position is part of the AFSCME Local 397 bargaining unit.
• This position reports to The Brodsky Curator of Photographs and Head of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs
• This is a 2-year term position, beginning October 19, 2026, and ending August 25, 2028.
• Physical requirements:
  • Able to remain stationary for extended periods of time, to utilize computers and other office equipment required of this job, to perform physically administrative duties in a typical interior office environment, gallery, or exhibit space, and to access most public and staff areas of the museum campus
• Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

Institutional Requirements

• Upholds the professional standards of the field, always acts in a manner that is consistent with the best interests of the museum and protects and enhances its reputation and standing within the community of museums.
• Adheres to the museum’s code of ethics and Employee Handbook and avoids any real or perceived conflicts of interest.
• Shows respect for co-workers and visitors and an understanding of and appreciation for the diversity of the museum’s staff, volunteers, and audiences.
• Maintains confidentiality.
• Adheres to all museum protocols, procedures, rules, and policies.

Application Timeline

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage candidates to apply early as the position will close once we have a robust applicant pool or a candidate has been selected.

What We Offer

Our employees are at the center of the museum. As an employee, you will have access to numerous museum perks including, but not limited to:

• Free general admission to the museum for you and your immediate family
• Discounted guest tickets for admission
• Discounts on gift memberships
• Special staff tours and presentations from our curatorial and conservation teams
• Discounts at the museum restaurant, museum cafés, and museum retail and online stores

We offer a comprehensive benefits package for employees including:

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Fully paid short-term disability insurance, long-term disability insurance, and life insurance
• Health savings or flexible spending account program
• Retirement savings program with museum match
• Paid vacation, personal days, sick days, and holidays

*Eligibility for certain benefits is based on a variety of factors including the employee's regular schedule and tenure.