Curatorial Assistant, Contemporary Art

Dallas Museum of Art•Dallas, TX

9h•Onsite

About The Position

The Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) is seeking a Curatorial Assistant to provide professional administrative and research support to multiple curators within the Curatorial Division. This role is one of three curatorial assistants and will serve as an interdepartmental coordinator, managing logistics and organizational needs for the Hoffman Family Senior Curator of Contemporary Art, the Lupe Murchison Curator of Contemporary Art, the Nancy and Tim Hanley Assistant or Associate Curator of Contemporary Art, the Cecil and Ida Green Curator of Asian Art, the Margaret McDermott Assistant/Associate/Curator of African Art, and the Marguerite S. Hoffman and Thomas W. Lentz Curator of Islamic Art. The position requires liaising with staff across the museum to ensure smooth communication and task management.

Requirements

B. A. in Art History or a related discipline, with a demonstrated interest in global postwar and contemporary art
General administrative and project management skills in a team setting
Ability to perform highly detail-oriented work with accuracy and strong organizational skills
Ability to multi-task at a fast pace and handle multiple requests from the curators
Excellent computer skills, including the most recent versions of Microsoft Office applications and Adobe
Ability to communicate and interact with supervisors, staff, patrons, dealers, artists, and trustees in a professional and considerate manner
Ability to maintain strict confidentiality

Nice To Haves

M.A. in Art History with a focus on global postwar and contemporary art
Some research background in Asian art and African art
Two years administrative work experience in an office environment
Experience writing and editing a variety of texts, including exhibition texts and labels
Experience working with TMS (The Museum System)
Experience conducting object- and primary-source based research, specifically bibliography, provenance, and exhibition history research

Responsibilities

Compose, transcribe, copy, and format correspondence, exhibition checklists, and spreadsheets
Manage administration of outgoing and incoming loans program and related gallery work
Coordinate, submit, and schedule work requests for all gallery-related projects and behind-the-scenes collections activities for each curator
Prepare expense receipts and serve as liaison with accounting
Make domestic and international travel arrangements including airline, hotel and ground transportation, and compile and verify itineraries for curatorial guests (ie visiting artists, scholars, etc.)
Reconcile receipts in accounting software as needed
Organize and maintain calendar schedules, contacts, and files for each curator
Prepare PowerPoint presentations for all curators for the purposes of, but not limited to, docent training, proposals for new exhibitions and new acquisitions
Assist in planning special events and facilitate patron visits including processing invitations, guest lists, and RSVPs
Handle incoming and outgoing telephone calls, email inquiries, and voicemail messages professionally and accurately
Receive and screen office visitors, and accompany them within the Museum when required
Serve as liaison to all museum departments on behalf of each curator when required
Update and improve object records in permanent collection database and for the museum website
Assist in research on the permanent collection, and for exhibitions, publications, provenance, and new acquisitions
Coordinate with office of Exhibitions and Interpretation, Education, Marketing and Communications, and Development regarding relevant curatorial projects
Procure research materials on behalf of curators and outside scholars upon request
Maintain and archive files (electronic and hard copy) according to museum standards for each curator
Assist in the administration of the annual Awards to Artists application, jurying, and reception event
Sort and process mail at least twice a week
Assist curatorial volunteers and interns with their assigned projects as required
Maintain and order office supplies as needed
Other duties as assigned