Curatorial Assistant, Photography

Audrey Jones Beck

The Audrey Jones Beck Building

5601 Main St

Houston, TX 77005, USA

Reporting to the Curator of Photography, the Curatorial Assistant plays a central and fundamental supportive role in the daily activities of the department and works closely with the Curators and varied departments in the Museum. Being a collaborative thinker and worker is vital to this role. The curatorial Assistant person engages with most departments in the museum and the public.

• Work with photography curators on all exhibitions at the museum (both permanent collection installations and special exhibitions.)
• Coordinate logistical aspects of exhibitions and installations with various departments including Exhibitions, Conservation, Imaging, Matting and Framing, Graphics, Registration, Design and Production, Preparations, AV, Lighting, Learning and Interpretation, and Marketing.
• Maintain and distribute updated checklists.
• Prepare letters about works on exhibition for artists, donors, and galleries.
• Assist the curators with writing and proofing of wall texts and label copy; hang exhibition labels during installation.
• For special exhibitions, work with curators and registrars to prepare loan forms.
• For exhibitions with a catalog, coordinate with Publications, secure image rights, and prepare biographies, bibliographies, checklist, chronology, or additional content as needed.
• Schedule and direct the production of installation photography of all exhibitions.
• Maintain multi-year calendar of rotations and exhibitions in consultation with the Exhibitions Department.

• Assists with cataloguing department’s collection in tandem with the Associate Cataloguer and the Registrar’s office and maintains data standards in TMS.
• Ensures accuracy of information about eh collection in print and online publications.
• Field general inquiries about the collection and department activities.
• Assist other departments with photography-related questions for their exhibitions and acquisitions.
• Work with Curators and Collection Cataloguer on deaccessions.

• Assist curators and Administrative Assistant with events for the department’s patron group, Photo Forum, and other department-sponsored events
• Liaise with and disseminate information about department activities to other departments

• Broad knowledge of art history, with specialized knowledge of the history of photography and of photographic techniques.
• Advanced research skills and clear, lucid writing style.
• Ability to learn collection storage system and to lift boxes weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Strong organizational skills and rigorous attention to detail, with ability to consistently meet deadlines while working on multiple projects.
• Advanced computer skills and ability to learn the Museum's collection database system (TMS).

• M.A. in Art History or related field preferred.
• Previous museum experience preferred.

The MFAH is an organization comprised of 600+ employees and 1,000+ docents and volunteers. The museum is more than 100 years old and ranks nationally among the top 10 art museums in exhibition space, memberships, endowments, and attendance, with 1M visitors annually. Our multifaceted institution includes multiple gallery buildings, a sculpture garden, two art schools, three eateries and two house museums for decorative arts.

The encyclopedic collection numbers more than 70,000 works of art in a wide range of media.

As an employer, MFAH offers a supportive, collegial and inclusive work environment and a competitive benefits package.

Title:

Curatorial Assistant, Photography

• Work is primarily performed in office, gallery, collection storage, and exhibition spaces
• Regular interaction with artworks, artifacts, and archival materials, requiring care and adherence to handling and conservation protocols
• Standard business hours are common; however, evening, weekend, and holiday work may be required for exhibition openings, events, installation periods, donor activities, or travel
• Work may involve standing, walking, bending, reaching,…