Assistant Curator

The Block Museum of Art is seeking an Assistant Curator for a two-year term position to be a key member of the collaborative exhibition team for Woven Being: Indigenous Art Histories of Chicagoland (working title). This initiative explores the factors that have shaped and continue to shape Indigenous creative practices in Chicago, putting the present in conversation with the past. The project is developed through a processes that uphold Indigenous curatorial methodologies of inclusivity, reciprocity, and research shaped by community priorities. The Assistant Curator contributes to the exhibition’s processes and content through their ideas, research, writing, interactions, and planning. This will potentially include undertaking object-based art historical research, conducting oral histories interviews, and serving as a liaison with campus and community partners. They will work with the exhibition team to establish goals on the road to the project’s completion. They are the project’s primary administrative support staff, responsible for updating Basecamp (project management software), organizing project-related travel, and processing associated payments. They additionally work closely with the Associate Director of Curatorial Affairs on matters related to operations of the curatorial department, including acquisitions research, meeting preparations, and campus and public communications.

• Note: Not all aspects of the job are covered by this job description.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Work as part of a collaborative project team to develop the exhibition Woven Being: Indigenous Art Histories of Chicagoland (working title). The project explores the factors that have shaped and continue to shape Indigenous creative practices in Chicago, putting the present in conversation with the past. The project is developed through a processes that uphold Indigenous curatorial methodologies of inclusivity, reciprocity, and research shaped by community priorities. The Assistant Curator is a member of the collaborative project team, contributing to the exhibition’s processes and content through their ideas, research, writing, interactions, and planning.
• Manage team communications and partner with Associate Director of Curatorial Affairs and other team members to coordinate and implement internal and external project meetings, participate in meetings, and take meeting notes. Help plan, coordinate, and implement Visioning Sessions for project advisors and partners and contribute to debriefing and collating information.
• Collaborate on coordination with Northwestern campus programs and partners. Actively participate in engagement with local and regional Indigenous community members and partner organizations. In dialogue with the team, work with artists engaged in the project. Undertake directed research in Chicago area collections and archives. Help plan project-related travel and undertake travel with the team. Research objects for the exhibition checklist and manage checklist. Assist with loans.
• Participate in conceptualizing publication and contribute to it as an author (extent TBD by team). Help manage publication production, including photo rights and organizing materials for submission to editor, designer, and publisher.
• Work closely with Associate Director of Curatorial Affairs on a range of matters related to the curatorial department, including exhibition planning, installation, and engagement programming. Assist in the preparation of materials for meetings including weekly curatorial department meeting and bi-monthly acquisitions strategy meeting; track exhibition proposals and related correspondence; prepare bi-yearly Exhibition Descriptions document and manage its distribution to campus entities; research acquisitions, collection works, or exhibitions as needed. At times, work on discreet and varied exhibition or acquisition-related projects including organize materials for exhibition catalogues, research and correspondence related to image-rights, organization of scholar’s workshops, take notes during meetings or workshops, and assist with visiting artists. Other duties related to the daily functioning of the curatorial department as assigned.
• Research potential acquisitions as assigned, considering artistic quality, place within an artist’s practice, comparisons, cultural significance, condition, and history of ownership. Create substantive object files for new acquisitions as assigned, including researching the works of art.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• A master’s degree in an appropriate specialization or the equivalent combination of education, training, and experience from which comparable skills can be acquired.
• Expertise in Indigenous art and methodologies.
• One to two years of curatorial or related museum experience.
• Strong research, writing, and public speaking skills.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you’re interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.