Curatorial Assistant, Artists-in-Residence and Performance

Art and Wellness Enterprises • Bentonville, AR

12d • Onsite

About The Position

The Curatorial Assistant, Artists-in-Residence and Performance is an integral member of the Curatorial team, providing curatorial and administrative support for Artists-in-Residence and Performance programs at Crystal Bridges and the Momentary. The role supports research, planning, and implementation of activities including artist residencies, exhibitions, festivals, artist talks, performances, and special projects. The position works regularly with artists and their representatives, external contractors, community partners, and internal teams, connecting program development, audience experience, artist relations, and execution.

The Curatorial Assistant supports artists throughout the residency process, coordinates residency logistics, contributes research and written content, helps deliver artist-led public programs, and assists with project, budget, contract, and administrative coordination. The role also supports interns and volunteers, maintains project documentation, leads venue tours, and works collaboratively across museum departments. It is based on-site in Bentonville, Arkansas, with work taking place in offices, performance venues, museum spaces, and outdoors.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in art history or a related discipline.
• One to two years of experience in a museum, cultural organization, gallery, or other relevant professional setting.
• Knowledge of visual arts.
• Knowledge of performance, including music, theater, dance, performance art, and time-based media.
• Experience working with artists.
• Proven project coordination experience and success meeting deadlines in fast-paced work environments.
• Experience with, or ability to learn, specialized software systems including TMS, EMS, Workday, and Asana.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to maintain high ethical standards in curatorial work and high levels of confidentiality and discretion.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to facilitate teams of diverse personalities.
• Willingness to work weekends and evenings and adjust hours as required.
• Ability to travel independently, regionally and in communities served, and to obtain a passport for international travel.
• Ability to work at a desk and use a computer and telephone for prolonged periods, with good eye/hand coordination and close and distant vision.
• Ability to be present on-site for extended periods during bump-in, technical work, rehearsals, presentations, and bump-out, and to navigate museum buildings, trails, and grounds.
• Physical stamina to lift and carry supplies and sometimes assist with presentation-related elements.
• Unimpaired hearing.

Nice To Haves

• Curatorial experience.
• Experience working with living artists and their representatives.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications: Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Project, and OneNote.
• Demonstrated knowledge of current practices in producing events, supporting residencies, or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a key contact for artists connected with residency programs, supporting them from invitation through residency completion.
• Coordinate residency arrangements, including housing, transportation, community connections, and studio or on-site needs in collaboration with internal teams.
• Implement the daily operations of residency programs.
• Schedule site visits, tours, and studio visits for teams and visitors.
• Support research and content development for residencies, commissions, presentations, and performances.
• Write and support writing of program notes, descriptions, marketing copy, wall texts, internal content guides, and catalogue entries.
• Deliver artist-led public-facing opportunities under the Curator’s supervision.
• Support the design, development, and presentation of internal and external share-outs.
• Support development, maintenance, and monitoring of budgets with partner departments.
• Lead venue tours and brief staff and volunteers on program details.
• Schedule meetings, book rooms, prepare agendas, and distribute notes focused on next steps.
• Support review and execution of contracts.
• Coordinate Artists-in-Residence and Performance interns and volunteers.
• Organize, maintain, and archive project files and documentation.
• Support project management in collaboration with the Curator, internal departments, and outside vendors.
• Support the Curatorial team in the continued growth and improvement of the program.
• Collaborate with Curatorial, Operations, Guest Experience, Brand Strategy and Communications, Learning & Engagement, and Special Events teams.
• Organize and balance multiple tasks, including complex administrative work requiring discretion and confidentiality.
• Coordinate clear, timely, and documented communications across overlapping timelines and with external and interdepartmental contacts.
• Respond promptly and professionally to inquiries and help ensure communications are clear, timely, helpful, and documented.
• Suggest process improvements and ways to keep projects on time and within budget.
• Keep the supervisor informed of issues or changes in project scope.
• Help foster team creativity, collegiality, timeliness, and mutual respect, and generate solutions as challenges arise.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned to support evolving organizational needs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level