Exhibitions Coordinator, Glassell School of Art

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston•Houston, TX

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Exhibition Coordinator reports directly to the Dean of the Core Residency Program & Exhibitions and supports the overall operations of the exhibitions program. This role contributes conceptual input on auxiliary programming and gallery layouts and works closely with MFAH staff to coordinate the Glassell exhibition program across departments. The Exhibition Coordinator is responsible for managing multiple projects within the Exhibitions Program, a key benefit for Glassell students. This position plays an integral role on the team, supporting all administrative aspects of school exhibitions with the goal of creating and implementing shows that both inform and engage students while fostering an inviting and accessible space for visitors. An essential function of the Exhibition Coordinator’s role is to oversee the planning and implementation process for gallery installations and temporary exhibitions across three galleries, while also managing numerous day-to-day details—often handling multiple installations and exhibitions simultaneously. Key areas of coordination include assisting with project planning; tracking and maintaining multiple project schedules; archiving and organizing contractor relations and documents; and ensuring that all interdepartmental communications are clear, adhere to required procedures, and meet specified deadlines. One of the Exhibition Coordinator’s primary responsibilities is to ensure that the gallery spaces are prepared for artwork installation and to manage the entire installation process—from gallery preparation through the return of artworks. The duties of this position are complex, requiring the Exhibition Coordinator to be professional, proactive, and highly organized; to be a strong problem solver; to excel in planning and structuring timelines; to work well with the student body; and to have the energy and ability to balance multiple tasks while embracing teamwork and collaboration.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in an applicable field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, with an understanding of contemporary art.
Experience in an art gallery, museum, or related cultural environment preferred.
Demonstrated knowledge of current practices in exhibition management, design, and development.
Experience with and demonstrated proficiency in fine art handling and installation practices, including painting.
Experience managing administrative and operational tasks across multiple projects, timelines, and stakeholders.
Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
Strong organizational, planning, and task management abilities.
Ability to prioritize effectively and manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment under pressure.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
Experience with Adobe Creative Cloud preferred, or willingness to learn.

Nice To Haves

Experience in an art gallery, museum, or related cultural environment
Experience with Adobe Creative Cloud preferred, or willingness to learn.

Responsibilities

Work closely with the Dean of the Core Residency Program & Exhibitions to keep Glassell’s multi-year exhibition calendar.
Collaborate with the Dean of the Core Residency Program & Exhibitions to formalize annual exhibition program plans, supporting goals such as programmatic excellence, scheduling exhibitions, and developing new exhibition proposals that align with the institution’s mission.
Assist with the overall administration and installation of exhibitions across all three Glassell galleries, ensuring that communications, logistics, execution, and budgets are well managed.
Coordinate with visiting artists, curators, and faculty jurors for specific exhibitions throughout the year.
Develop detailed exhibition timelines; collaborate with the Dean of the Core Residency Program & Exhibitions and the Associate Director of the Glassell School of Art to create preliminary budgets; monitor exhibition expenses; identify cost-saving measures when applicable; and ensure projects remain within the allocated budget.
Provides occasional support for Junior School exhibition programs, as needed.
Develop, communicate, share, and track schedules for all exhibition and installation work.
Coordinate with approximately 300–400 exhibiting students, faculty, and alumni on exhibition timelines and artwork delivery for roughly 17–20 exhibitions per year.
Handle and transport all objects on-site using safe and appropriate procedures.
Prepare labels and other didactic materials for exhibitions; coordinate with graphics and publications teams to produce signage and catalogs as needed.
Coordinate with the facilities team to move exhibition display materials and/or fixtures in support of installations, including, but not limited to, pedestals, lighting, and A/V components.
Order exhibition supplies and liaise with outside contractors for fabrication and gallery work, including painting and art installation.
Maintain and organize exhibition storage areas on a regular basis.
Maintain the order and cleanliness of gallery and other exhibition spaces on a daily basis.
Stay up to date on all museum department policies and procedures and effectively utilize internal event and communication management systems.
Create, organize, maintain, and archive exhibition files (both physical and electronic).
Respond to exhibition inquiries from the public, students, and MFAH departments via phone and email in a prompt and professional manner.
Plan internal student or faculty-led exhibition tours for students.
Assist with exhibition marketing by working with the marketing team to develop materials, including website content, social media promotion, and other marketing materials.
Document and archive photographs of exhibition installations; coordinate exhibition photography for 3–4 exhibitions per year.
Create digital submission forms and process submissions for annual juried exhibition; manage contact with finalists and assist in exhibition preparation.
Manage the Kinder Morgan exhibition series, including annual planning, implementation and management of digital artwork submissions, and coordination of off-site transportation and installation of student works.
Collaborate with the Dean of the Core Residency Program & Exhibitions, the Core Program Coordinator, and Core Fellows on the annual Core Exhibition.
Implement other assigned projects as needed.
Work closely with the Associate Director of the Glassell School of Art, Dean of the Core Residency Program & Exhibitions, and the Development department on the annual gala for the Glassell School of Art (e.g., Gala-specific exhibitions and/or sale).
Supports the successful execution of the Glassell School of Art’s Annual Student Sale, led by the Assistant to the Director and administered by the Program & Operations Coordinator.
Cultivate and maintain a welcoming environment for the Glassell community, and assist coworkers, students, and faculty with day-to-day needs.
Effectively represent Glassell to appropriate professionals, arts organizations, or individual artists in support of programs.