Curatorial Assistant

The Kitchen

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ABOUT THE KITCHEN

As one of New York City’s oldest nonprofit alternative art centers (founded as an artist collective in 1971 and formalized as a 501c3 in 1973), The Kitchen is dedicated to offering emerging and established artists opportunities to create and present new work within, and across, the disciplines of dance, film, music, theater, video, visual art, and literature. Recognizing its longstanding legacy for innovation, The Kitchen remains devoted to fostering a community of artists and audiences, offering artists the opportunity to make—and for audiences to engage with—work that pushes the boundaries of artistic disciplines and strengthens meaningful dialogues between the arts and larger culture.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Reporting directly to the Executive Director & Chief Curator alongside members of the Curatorial team at The Kitchen, this position will provide critical support to the Curatorial Department and liaise across departments in support of expanding and amplifying The Kitchen’s program in this pivotal moment of the institution’s growth and change. As The Kitchen prepares for a significant renovation of its 19th Street building on the occasion of its 50th anniversary, the Curatorial Assistant will help implement the department’s strategic vision and participate in all aspects of exhibition, program, project, and performance development, planning, and execution. A strong academic and professional background in work by contemporary artists is preferred.

The position requires a candidate equipped to think broadly and innovatively about The Kitchen’s artist-centered mission, while also independently managing a wide range of administrative responsibilities.

The candidate must be comfortable working in a collaborative, experimental, and culturally diverse setting and possess the openness, flexibility, and diplomacy required for meaningful collaboration with contemporary artists. Innovative and outstanding communication, writing, and research abilities are celebrated.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities:

Conduct original research in support of Curatorial and cross-institutional initiatives
Initiate and collaborate on exhibition proposals; organize (collectively, independently) exhibition, program, project, and performances at varying scales
Assist with loans, shipping, and other general curatorial administration (e.g. as organizing documentation of projects; processing payments, etc.)
Support educational initiatives shaped in relation to educational partners, collaborators, and assist with programs presented in tandem with institutional projects
Produce didactic texts and program-specific interpretive materials
Assist in the management of the departmental budget and exhibition calendar
Collaborate in the selection and management of interns and fellows as part of ongoing seasonal programming
Participate in institutional planning in preparation for The Kitchen’s renovated 19th Street building
Work collaboratively across multiple departments and stakeholders, including the Executive Director’s Office, Associate Director, Exhibitions, Production, Development, Institutional Giving, Events, Archives, Finance, and Information Technology
Engage multiple audiences and stakeholders, both internal and external, across a variety of platforms and cultivate and maintain with diplomacy and care relationships with a diverse constituency of artists, trustees, members of the press, professional associations, and local non-profit organizations as an ambassador of the institution
Solicit and manage the touring of The Kitchen projects to other institutional venues, and coordinate non-Kitchen, traveling or guest-curated exhibitions presented at the The Kitchen
Attend approved off-site exhibitions, performances, studio visits with artists, symposia, and programs

Requirements

Other duties as assigned Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in art history or a related field, with emphasis on Contemporary Art, New Media, Visual Cultures and/or Performance Studies; graduate degree or continued studies a plus
Minimum of 3 years work experience, with at least 2 years in an institutional setting, or comparable engagement with art in a related venue or field
Outstanding written (both academic and editorial) and verbal communication skills
Excellent organizational and analytical skills; experience with administrative and clerical duties
Strong background in the history of modern and contemporary art across disciplines; an interest in avant-garde performance, movement research, and experimental media a plus
Adaptability in hybrid in-person remote work environment
Receptivity to a work schedule that sometimes will involve evenings and weekends as tied to ongoing programming
Excellent computer skills, particularly MS platforms, including Word, Photoshop, Outlook and Excel, digital imaging experience a plus

Strong interpersonal skills, positive energy, and collaborative spirit

Bi- or multilingual a plus
Familiarity with diverse intersections of New York art, culture, communities, and histories

The Kitchen’s avant-garde history engages an experimental institutional model that informs our ways of collaborating with artists via an ambitious and dynamic creative program. As part of our current commitment to DEAI we recognize that an experimental artistic program requires an experimental and innovative team of contributors. Our staff is critical to the imagination of our mission. With this in mind we appreciate that experiences across candidates may necessarily be diverse; we encourage you to apply based on your interest first and share with us in your cover letter what brings your passions to this position. We are glad to be made aware of your candidacy as we continue to grow our community.

COVID Guidelines

The health and safety of our community is of utmost priority. As such, all staff members are required to be fully vaccinated with an FDA authorized and/or approved COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment.

How to Apply

Position available starting early 2022. This is a year-round, full-time position with medical, vision, and dental insurance and paid time off. The position is non-exempt according to the Fair Labor Standards Act. Salary commensurate with experience, skills and knowledge.

The Kitchen is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate because of age, sex, religion, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital status, partnership status, veteran status, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, or any other factor prohibited by law.

Please email resume and cover letter to jobs@thekitchen.org with “Curatorial Assistant” in the subject line.

We will confirm receipt of all applications, but please note that only those candidates selected for interviews will be personally contacted. No phone calls, please.

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