Curatorial and Project Assistant

UCR ARTS

ucrarts.ucr.edu

UCR ARTS seeks a Curatorial and Project Assistant for a 12-month, part-time (appx. 20 hours per week) appointment with the possibility of extension beyond the initial one-year period. Reporting to UCR ARTS Head of Exhibitions, the Curatorial and Project Assistant will support the curatorial team in researching and liaising with artists, outside curators, institutions, vendors, and other collaborators and stakeholders. The Assistant will establish and maintain detailed exhibition files, draft and edit exhibition texts, assist with budgets and expense tracking, maintain outward-facing exhibition-related information, schedule meetings, respond to general and press inquiries, aid with all facets of the development of upcoming exhibitions, and other duties as assigned. Individual must be able to work occasional weekends and evening hours within the approved hours available. UCR ARTS is the California Museum of Photography (CMP) and the Culver Center of the Arts, which also houses the Sweeney Art Gallery. The California Museum of Photography has more than 500,000 photographs, photographic artifacts, and apparatus. This collection serves to promote the understanding of photography and visual media by providing access and context to one of the largest and most comprehensive photographic resources in America. Collection projects have regularly been funded by the NEA, NEH, corporations, and foundations.

Applicants selected for interview will be required to submit a writing sample (2 pages maximum, derived from a research paper or published essay) as part of the selection process.

The full salary range for the Curatorial and Project Assistant is $27.74 - $33.10 per hour. We base salary offers on a variety of considerations, such as education, licensure and certifications, experience, and other business and organizational needs.

Applicants must have current work authorization when accepting a UCR staff position. Currently, we are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa for staff.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time.  Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

Priority application deadline is 02/03/2025

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:

Artist Correspondence Correspond with artists, lenders, vendors, and institutions regarding issues such as coordinating loans, issuing payments and contracts, artwork production and installation requirements, providing exhibition documentation, shipping requirements, etc. Liaison between artist and project leaders/curatorial staff.(30%)

Exhibition Development and Organization Organize and maintain exhibition and artist files; conduct research; draft original exhibition-related texts. Maintain, update, and circulate working exhibition checklists; and work with UCR ARTS staff to collect images for website, press folders, exhibition listings, and catalogues, among other duties. Prepare regular progress reports; maintaining files; coordinate internal and external logistics.(30%)

Project Management and Scheduling Coordinate all aspects of the Curatorial Advisory Committee, including organizing and attending meetings, recording minutes, and making travel arrangements for staff and collaborators as needed. Coordinating individual project and exhibition meetings with internal and external parties. Monitoring production schedules and helping manage project deliverables and milestones(20%)

Research Research artists, archives, lenders, texts; tracking individual works of art as they pertain to UCR ARTS exhibitions.(20%)

Requirements

Educational Requirements:

B.A. in Art History, related field, or equivalent work experience.(Required)

M.A. in Art History or related field.(Preferred)

Experience Requirements:

Minimum of 2 years experience in a museum, gallery, or non-profit setting.(Required)

Demonstrated interest in curating, curatorial practices, working with artists, and/or museums.(Required)

Thorough grounding in art historical research and methodology, knowledge of academic research practices, and excellent oral and written communication skills. 1-2 page writing sample required (derived from a research paper or published essay).(Required)

Familiarity with museum operations, standards, practices, and procedures.(Preferred)

Expertise in contemporary art and/or photography history.(Preferred)

Administrative coordination experience.(Preferred)

UCR graduate.(Preferred)

License Requirements:

Driver License.(Preferred)

Special Conditions:

Occasional travel for university related business meetings, conferences and/or professional development.(Required)

Minimum Requirements:

Knowledge of art historical research and methodology, knowledge of academic research practices; excellent oral and written communication skills.

Computer use proficiency including MS Office (Word, Outlook, and Excel); Adobe Acrobat; file sharing platforms such as Dropbox,One Drive, Google Drive; remote communication software such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams; library, archive, and collection research databases.

Highly organized, efficient, and attentive to detail, with excellent follow-up skills; self-starting, resourceful, proactive, and motivated in performing and excelling in responsibilities; able to prioritize and adjust to a heavy workload, manage a variety of tasks, and meet various deadlines; skilled in planning and coordinating meetings and events.

Thorough grounding in art historical research and methodology, knowledge of academic research practices, and excellent oral and written communication skills

Demonstrated experience and interest in curating, curatorial practices, working with artists, and/or museums.

Preferred Qualifications:

Familiarity with museum operations, standards, practices, and procedures.

Knowledge or expertise in contemporary art and/or photography history.

Administrative coordination experience

Applied knowledge of Adobe Photoshop for basic image editing

How to Apply

Visit the UCR Jobs Portal at https://jobsportal.ucr.edu/jobs/36825064 to apply before the priority application deadline of Tuesday, February 3, 2026.

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