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Margaret R. Mainwaring Curatorial Fellowship at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Find the full job description and application here. 

We Are Committed to an Inclusive Workplace
At the Philadelphia Museum of Art, we actively seek to employ a diverse group of people who embody our organizational values.  We welcome and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply, including those from traditionally underrepresented groups in the museum field, who are inspired by our shared purpose and enjoy working collaboratively with others.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship or immigration status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other protected status. 


How You Will Contribute
The Philadelphia Museum of Art seeks to fill the Margaret R. Mainwaring Curatorial Fellowship in the department of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs starting in fall 2021. This is a one-year fellowship with the possibility of renewal for a second year. The Fellow will work independently and collaboratively with staff to gain in-depth curatorial training in the graphic arts and to support scholarly research on the collection. In consultation with the supervising curator, the Fellow will be fully integrated into the department and devote time to both general curatorial work and special projects, including research on new acquisitions and the collections, preparing conditions reports, and organizing gallery rotations and collections-based workshops. The Fellow will have an opportunity to develop an exhibition or other project from the museum’s permanent collection. The ideal candidate will also be able to contribute to ongoing department efforts to expand the geographic, thematic, and public horizons of its research, exhibition, and programming.


Specifically, you will:

  • Co-supervise the Abigail Rebecca Cohen Study Room, including scheduling and outreach, responding to research queries, art movement, oversight of class visits, and coordination of presentations
  • Participate in exhibition and loan preparation
  • Participate in collections assessment
  • Research and catalogue collections (using internal TMS database)
  • Research acquisitions and write justifications
  • Prepare condition reports with paper conservators
  • Assist with collections management
  • Organize a collections-based workshop
  • Participate in the logistics, planning, and research for activities and projects generated by the department
  • Complete tasks related to curatorial functions as assigned by staff to foster future involvement in the field of art history and curatorial pursuits

Your background and experience include:

  • A Master’s degree in art history
  • A passion for the variety and diversity of a works on paper collection; demonstrated commitment to scholarship in art history
  • An ability to work as an active collaborator with a wide range of museum staff
  • An ability to multi-task and negotiate competing priorities while managing long- and short-term assignments
  • Prior experience in a museum environment or similar art institution is preferred, but not required

Application Procedures

The deadline to submit applications is March 1, 2021.

Please include the following with your application:

  • Cover letter stating goals for the fellowship
  • Resume
  • Reference list with the names and contact information of three references

Compensation
Compensation for this position will be discussed during the interview stage of the hiring process. If you have specific questions regarding compensation prior to submitting your application, please email hr@philamuseum.org.