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Curatorial Assistant, Photography

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
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Where the Power of Art Engages the Spirit of Community

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art invites all people to explore the art in its care, and through its vast collections, the depths and complexities of human experiences.

We strive to create a sense of belonging, where staff and volunteers can do meaningful work connecting people to art. We create an informed, invested group of staff and volunteers through shared values and open, direct and respectful communication. We embrace IDEAS (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access and Sustainability) in every aspect of our ideals and aspirations, as we believe these values to be paramount to success.

Each staff member and volunteer embodies the institution’s commitments and agrees to exhibit behaviors that align with them. We hold one another to these expectations so that, together, we may know, own, energize and sustain our culture and the institution for generations to come. 

*The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art complies with city, state and federal orders related to COVID-19, including vaccination mandates. This position requires on-site work at the museum. 

CURATORIAL ASSISTANT, PHOTOGRAPHY

The Curatorial Assistant, Photography, is responsible for a variety of administrative and curatorial tasks related to both daily and long-range departmental and institutional operations for the Museum. The Curatorial Assistant provides support to the Curator(s) and curatorial projects initiated within the department and those assigned to the department, conducts collection-based and new acquisition research, assists with all facets of exhibition preparation and implementation; liaises and collaborates with constituents both internal and external, and upholds the museum’s mission to be a site where the power of art engages the spirit of community.

The Curatorial Assistant may also have the opportunity to write object labels, generate original exhibitions for gallery rotations, lead collection-based and museum-wide tours, assist with the mentoring of Fellows/interns, and serve on committees/task forces.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES/ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
  1. Departmental Administration and Accounting – Oversee the maintenance of all department files and records; track and assist in the preparation of check requests, budgets, reports, and annual documents; compile and organize data and statistics for reports.
  2. Schedule and Travel Management – Maintain and manage the daily appointments and travel schedule for the Curator(s); make travel arrangements as requested; process travel expense reports and check requests.
  3. Department Liaison – Act as the department’s liaison within the museum and with the public by: managing inbound and outbound communications and correspondence via telephone and email representing the department and the museum in a professional, courteous, and efficient manner.
  4. Patrons and Art-World Colleagues – Develop and maintain knowledge of the department’s donors and patrons as well as dealers and colleagues at peer institutions; maintain and update department’s database of patrons and contacts.
  5. Communication: In tandem with the Curator(s) work with Education, Development, and Marketing & Communications staff to prepare and edit materials to interpret, promote, and publicize exhibitions, collections, installations, and related public programs. Assists with gathering and writing exhibition- and collection-related information pertinent to grant applications, final reports, and other institutional needs.
  6. Acquisition Support – Assist in all aspects of acquisition consideration and processing, including organization of information and correspondence; communication with donors and sellers; tracking schedules and deadlines; conducting research on provenance, exhibition, and published references; and assisting with the preparation of required paperwork.
  7. Research Support - Assist in research related to the collection, potential acquisitions, and exhibitions, including provenance research and label writing. Responsible for TMS data entry.
  8. Exhibition Support – Assist in all aspects of exhibition organization, including creating checklists; attending and taking notes at exhibition meetings; tracking schedules and deadlines; and reviewing marketing, design, registration, preparation and education-related components as necessary. With support from the Curator(s), opportunity to generate focus exhibitions.
  9. Programming – Work with the Public Programming department to plan and coordinate public programs related to exhibitions and collections, as requested. Assists with coordination of logistical needs for artist/curator visits including arranging honoraria, travel, lodging, meals, and any event-related logistics. Assists with hosting visiting artists/curators, including itineraries, transportation, and entertainment
  10. Staff Supervision – Assist with the training and supervision of the activity and development of Fellows/interns and project assistants as appropriate.
  11. Other – Complete all other duties as assigned or requested for the general support of the departments and the institution.
CORE CAPABILITY REQUIREMENTS
Education/
Experience
  • M.A, Degree in Art History or equivalent combination of education and experience. Knowledge of American history, American art history or history of photography strongly preferred.
  • Two – Five years’ experience working in a curatorial environment.
  • Core Capabilities
  • MUSEUM KNOWLEDGE: Knowledge and experience in standard museum and curatorial practices, and understanding how the art world (of art institutions, galleries, artists, curators, auction houses) operates.
  • DETAIL ORIENTED: Must be accurate, efficient, well-organized, and detail-oriented with the ability to work independently and proactively.
  • COMMUNICATION: Excellent written and verbal communications, grammar and spelling skills along with proven excellent email and telephone skills and ability to interact with Museum staff and general public in a polite and courteous manner.
  • TECHNICAL ACUMEN: Proficient in Microsoft Office programs, especially Outlook, PowerPoint and Excel. Proficient in remote networking programs, such as Teams, Zoom, and Skype.
POSITION SPECIFICATIONS
Job Family Curatorial - Photography Salary Grade 6
Salary Range: $52,200 - $58,770 per year
Salary is commensurate with experience
FLSA ClassificationExemptWorking ConditionsWhile performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to communicate verbally and in writing; visually observe and assess; traverse from one location to another; sit at a desk for extended periods of time; and perform repetitive movement of hands and fingers – typing and/or writing. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Work Schedule/Travel ExpectationsMonday to Friday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM with the ability to work beyond office hours to meet project deadlines or assist with occasional events as needed.
0–5% of Travel Required

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.