Curatorial Assistant - Mott-Warsh Collection

Posted on 11/5/24

Job Title: Curatorial Assistant (Full Time), Flint, Michigan

Salary Range: $50,000 - $62,000

General Summary: The Mott-Warsh Collection (MWC) Curatorial Assistant position will provide administrative and research assistance in support of the MWC’s curatorial, exhibition, and educational programming. It is a full-time position reporting to the MWC Director, Curator, and Collection Educator. The position will also work cooperatively with other MWC staff on tasks relating to collections management and programming at MW Gallery, located nearby. The position maintains communication on behalf of the MWC with artists, arts professionals, and collection constituents. We manage many tasks with a small staff. The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent presentation, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills and will be willing to work to increase their knowledge of the artists in the collection and fulfill the goals of the collection. All duties shall be performed according to MWC policies and procedures, and guidelines prescribed by the American Alliance of Museums.

Responsibilities

• Provides administrative support to the MWC Director, Curator, & Collection Educator pertaining to the day-to-day operations of the collection office and gallery.
• Assists with research, planning and realization of collection exhibitions (on-site and off-site).
• Conducts research on collection objects.
• Creates, maintains, and updates physical and digital collection records and files in accordance with the MWC’s policy and procedures.
• Assists in the research, writing, editing, proofreading, and production of print and multimedia interpretive materials, including wall texts, object labels, and website and app content.
• Communicates with internal and external constituents to facilitate loans, exhibitions, acquisitions, appraisals, and deaccessions.
• Secures rights and reproduction permissions for collection objects; maintains accurate copyright credit lines.
• Responsible for the management of digital image files.
• Manages external image use requests.
• Maintains computer database of checklists for exhibitions.
• Assists the MWC Registrar with collection inventory.
• Performs periodic inspections of off-site (local) art loans.
• Assists with art movements.
• Assists with planning and implementation of public programs related to MWC artists and exhibitions.
• Assists with staff coverage at MW Gallery as needed.
• Coordinates the logistical needs of visiting artists, curators, and scholars, including arranging travel, lodging, and itineraries.
• Supports and assists in the maintenance of MWC’s relationships with local and national arts organizations and community groups.
• Maintains calendar schedule for staff meetings.
• Maintains accurate records of meetings, including preparing agendas, PowerPoint slides, and taking minutes at special project meetings.
• Compiles budgetary data for projects.
• In collaboration with the Collection Registrar and MW Gallery Manager, assists in the maintenance of the MWC Research Library and Archives.
• Routinely reviews and updates MWC website.
• Fields and responds to inquiries about the collection from artists, scholars, and the public.
• Serves as liaison to Information Technology department to communicate MWC’s technological needs.
• Performs and engages in other special projects and duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in art history, museum studies, or related field and a minimum of 1 year of related work experience. MA in art history with an emphasis in modern and/or contemporary art preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge and interest in modern and contemporary art by artists of the African diaspora.
• Excellent research, writing, and verbal communication skills. Demonstrated knowledge of English grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary. Confidence in public speaking.
• Organization skills and attention to detail.
• Basic knowledge of fine art collection standards, terminology, and art handling.
• Familiarity with collections management software, PastPerfect preferred. Familiarity with digital asset management systems.
• Working knowledge of Sketchup or other exhibition design software desirable.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse staff, artists, arts professionals, and the public.
• Ability to establish priorities, coordinate multiple projects simultaneously, and to meet deadlines.
• Knowledge of standard office practices, such as letter writing, filing, database management, and proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office software suite (MSWord, Excel, Outlook, Teams, etc.) and the use of digital collaboration platforms such as Zoom.
• Strong sense of accountability for achieving stated objectives and demonstrable experience doing so.
• Ability to work independently as well as within a team.
• Willingness to contribute to a positive, productive, open, and supportive environment that motivates everyone to perform at their best.
• Must comply with MWC and inter-related entities’ policies and procedures.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands:

• This is a 40-hour week, full-time position with a Monday-Friday schedule in a hybrid environment of no fewer than 4 days in the office.
• Some weekend and evening hours are required. The position typically works 4 evenings or less per month. There is an increase of evening work hours during MW Gallery exhibit changeovers, which occur twice a year, over a 3-week period. A flex-schedule is offered on days that require evening work.
• Candidates for this position must be able to lift objects weighing up to 30 lbs.
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination status is required upon hire.
• Successful background check is required.

The Mott-Warsh Collection offers a competitive salary and benefits package, commensurate with experience.

About the Mott-Warsh Collection:

The Mott-Warsh Collection is a privately owned, publicly shared fine art collection that comprises over 1,100 works by artists of the African diaspora and those who reflect on it. Artists represented in the collection include post-World War II masters, such as Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, Jacob Lawrence, and Betye Saar, as well as contemporary visionaries, such as Wangechi Mutu, Titus Kaphar, Howardena Pindell, Hank Willis Thomas, Carrie Mae Weems, and Kehinde Wiley. Collectively, they cover a wide range of media: drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and video.

The collection was established in 2001 by Maryanne Mott and her late husband, Herman Warsh, in her community of origin, Flint, Michigan. Their primary intent was to bring art into non-traditional venues where it could be encountered by people as they went about their daily lives. They formed community partnerships with institutions that had an interest in making the collection visible to their memberships, clients, visitors, and participants. Today, rotating exhibits of Mott-Warsh Collection art can be found in the public library, churches, health clinics, local colleges and universities, and the MW Gallery. The collection also lends to internationally and nationally touring museum exhibitions.

Mott-Warsh Collection, 111 E. Court St., Suite 2C, Flint, Michigan 48502. www.m-wc.org