Exhibition Assistant, “Running Up” Exhibition

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, especially those from marginalized and underrepresented groups in the museum field, who are inspired by our shared purpose and enjoy working collaboratively with others.

We are proud to be 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

In fall 2024 the Philadelphia Museum of Art will organize“Running Up,” an exhibition of over 70 paintings, drawings, sculptures, and installation art. Unlike most prior exhibitions that surveyed the umbrella category of‘folk’ and‘tribal’ art, this exhibition interrogates the porous and fluid boundaries between contemporaneity and convention, community and individual expression by highlighting the artistic trajectories of only a few of India’s more than 400 Indigenous (tribal or Adivasi) communities especially since the 1970s.

The Exhibition Assistant will help to prepare working checklists of works of art for the exhibition; develop and maintain object and exhibition records in paper files and the museum’s collections database, TMS (The Museum System); assist curators with research, acquisition, and loan correspondence, grant materials; conduct exhibition research; assist curators and conservators in coordinating the technical examination, treatment, framing, and imaging of artwork and ; and other tasks related to the organization of the exhibition and its accompanying programming.

Other responsibilities include cross-departmental communication; handling digital paperwork for photography orders and object movement, organizing materials and keeping detailed records; creating and editing PowerPoint files; assisting with installation design; drafting exhibition labels with the curators; aiding in the development of public programs; and assistance with the preparation of media materials. Communication, correspondence, and other interactions with many of the artists and scholar as well as research will often be in Hindi (and, as possible, Marathi and related dialects).

Specifically, you will:

• Draft tombstone labels for artworks in the exhibition and assist with interpretive material as requested.
• Research and develop up-to-date bibliographic references for all works in the exhibition.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Help coordinate the work of the Conservation departments and preparators/framers in preparing works of art for exhibition.
• Assist with research and preparation of exhibition materials for the exhibition team (curators, registrars, conservators, preparators, exhibition designers, editors, interpreters, grant managers etc.).
• Communicate object information and installation plans to the exhibition team as needed (registrars, conservators, exhibition designers, etc.).
• Attend all work meetings and assist curators with inter-departmental coordination.
• Develop and maintain TMS exhibition module and“object packages” with up-to-date information, including framing and photography status, display requirements, artist publication permissions, and loan conditions.

Your background and experience include:

• Prior experience with collection management software; experience with TMS (The Museum System) preferred
• Strong skills in communication, organization, and time management
• Measurable experience with attention to details
• B.A. or equivalent, with a preference for degrees in South Asian Studies, anthropology, art history or museum studies
• Prior experience conducting research
• Fluent or extremely comfortable in written and spoken Hindi
• Technical proficiency with personal computers and standard office equipment; fluent with Microsoft Office platform (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access); comfortable with translation including communicating in Hindi via WhatsApp
• Prior experience working with teams
• Familiarity with history of and issues facing Indigenous communities especially in MP, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra

Position And Compensation Details

• Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.
• COVID-19 vaccination required.
• This position is full-time, non-exempt, and 35 hours per week.
• Able to access the Department of Department of South Asian Art and its storage area (accessible only by a steep staircase)
• This position is part of the AFSCME Local 397 bargaining unit.
• This position reports to The Stella Kramrisch Curator of Indian and Himalayan Art, Head of the Department of South Asian Art
• Able to remain stationary for extended periods of time, to utilize computers and other office equipment required of this job, to perform physically administrative duties in a typical interior office environment, gallery, or exhibit space, and to access most public and staff areas of the museum campus
• The hourly rate for this position is $18.54
• Able to move items up to 10 pounds
• Physical requirements:
• This is a term position beginning in July 2023 and ends in late 2024 (depending on final programming schedule)
• Able to regularly set up, adjust, and operate a computer/keyboard and other office equipment used to generate work/transmit data

Institutional Requirements

• Adheres to all museum protocols, procedures, rules, and policies.
• Adheres to the museum’s code of ethics and Employee Handbook and avoids any real or perceived conflicts of interest.
• Maintains confidentiality.
• Upholds the professional standards of the field, always acts in a manner that is consistent with the best interests of the museum, and protects and enhances its reputation and standing within the community of museums.
• Shows respect for co-workers and visitors and an understanding of and appreciation for the diversity of the museum’s staff, volunteers, audiences, and exterior collaborators including artists.

Application Timeline

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage candidates to apply early as possible since the position will close once we have a robust applicant pool or a candidate has been selected.

What We Offer

Our employees are at the center of the museum. As an employee, you will have access to numerous museum perks including, but not limited to:

• Discounts on gift memberships
• Free general admission to the museum for you and your immediate family
• Special staff tours and presentations from our curatorial and conservation teamsDiscounts at the museum restaurant, museum cafés, and museum retail and online stores
• Discounted guest tickets for admission

We offer a comprehensive benefits package for employees* including:

• Retirement savings program with museum match
• Paid vacation, personal days, sick days, and holidays
• Health savings or flexible spending account program
• Eligibility for certain benefits is based on a variety of factors including the employee’s regular schedule and tenure
• Fully paid short-term disability insurance, long-term disability insurance, and life insurance
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits

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