Search for University Jobs in Fine Arts

Curatorial Associate (7397U) BAMPFA - 67514

About Berkeley

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are committed to creating a community that fosters equity of experience and opportunity, and ensures that students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds feel safe, welcome and included. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff.

The University of California, Berkeley, is one of the world's leading institutions of higher education, distinguished by its combination of internationally recognized academic and research excellence; the transformative opportunity it provides to a large and diverse student body; its public mission and commitment to equity and social justice; and its roots in the California experience, animated by such values as innovation, questioning the status quo, and respect for the environment and nature. Since its founding in 1868, Berkeley has fueled a perpetual renaissance, generating unparalleled intellectual, economic and social value in California, the United States and the world.

We are looking for equity-minded applicants who represent the full diversity of California and who demonstrate a sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds present in our community. When you join the team at Berkeley, you can expect to be part of an inclusive, innovative and equity-focused community that approaches higher education as a matter of social justice that requires broad collaboration among faculty, staff, students and community partners. In deciding whether to apply for a position at Berkeley, you are strongly encouraged to consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, our Principles of Community, and our Strategic Plan.

At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. To find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley, visit grow.berkeley.edu.

Departmental Overview

One of the nation's leading university museums, the University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) is a forum for cultural experiences that transform individuals and advance the local, national, and global discourse on art and film. As the premier visual arts venue at America's top public research university, BAMPFA is uniquely dedicated to art and film in equal measure, presenting more than four hundred film screenings, dozens of public programs, and more than fifteen exhibitions annually.

BAMPFA takes a contemporary and critical perspective on its wide-ranging collections. The museum's holdings of more than 28,000 works of art include particular strengths in 20th- and 21st-century work, including Abstract Expressionist painting, contemporary photography, conceptual art, and African American quilts, along with focused historical collections of 19th-century American folk art and early American painting, Italian Baroque painting, Old Master works on paper, and East Asian paintings. BAMPFA's collection also includes more than 18,000 films and videos, representing the largest collection of Japanese cinema outside of Japan and impressive holdings of Soviet cinema, West Coast avant-garde film, and seminal video art, as well as hundreds of thousands of articles, reviews, posters, and other ephemera related to the history of film.

Founded as the University Art Museum in 1970 and initially housed in a Brutalist structure designed by Mario Ciampi, BAMPFA relocated in 2016 to a new purpose-built facility designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro in the heart of downtown Berkeley. The museum's curatorial strategies reflect the rich diversity of the UC Berkeley campus and the greater Bay Area through programming that is interdisciplinary, intergenerational, and international in scope. A locally connected, globally relevant institution, BAMPFA is deeply dedicated to its role as an educational space for UC Berkeley scholars and the general public. It fulfills this mission with three distinguished study centers-the James Cahill Asian Art Study Center, the Film Library and Study Center, and the Florence Helzel Works on Paper Study Center-as well as a range of collaborations with the university's academic departments and student organizations.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: 4/23/2024

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Senior Curator, the Curatorial Associate performs tasks across a variety of functions in support of BAMPFA exhibitions and collections. The Curatorial Associate supports all aspects of the exhibition process in the Art Curatorial Department at BAMPFA, bringing some experience in the museum field as well as knowledge of a broad range of art historical areas and the international art world. Tasks include exhibition preparation (research, preparing checklists and generating texts for didactics, wall labels, and publicity materials; maintaining schedules and files); and general administrative tasks including managing ongoing exhibition proposals, proposed gifts, inquiries and related correspondence, while upholding professional museum standards. This position requires administrative support including preparing agendas and minutes for select meetings, developing guests lists, making travel arrangements, processing reimbursements, creating itineraries, corresponding with artists, trustees, donors, lenders, and other museum partners. The Curatorial Associate manages high volume of information to and from the curatorial department. Maintains contact information for artists, galleries, and colleagues.

EXHIBITION PLANNING ASSISTANCE:

• Assist as needed in all areas of exhibition development for collection, touring, and special exhibitions to include loan requests, checklists, layout, maquettes, travel, etc. Coordinate arrangements with artists, art institutions, collectors, and potential lenders for exhibitions. Keep track of additions and changes to the checklist throughout the exhibition development process. Draft invitation copy, wall labels, artist invitation packages, and exhibition fact sheets. Assist in the development of exhibition presentations, press and marketing materials, individual and corporate funding requests, and other documents.
• Assist with the accuracy and editing of exhibition press releases. Give exhibition tours to public and private audiences as needed.

CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITING:

• Adopt existing written materials for various internal and external needs, such as brief exhibition listings for publications, website listings, social media blurbs, exhibition highlights, and solicitation materials. Work on sensitive communications, particularly in relation to loan agreements, artwork insurance values, billing, and exhibition scheduling. Draft general and sensitive correspondence to artists, dealers, donors, and curators to be reviewed and sent by the Chief Curator. Answer inquiries and reply to unsolicited artist emails.

RESEARCH ASSISTANCE:

• Assist with general research on artworks and artists and potential topics for exhibition, collection and programs. Apply a full range of skills to gather and synthesize scholarly, art historical, visual, and artist information.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE:

• Determine need for payment and billing paperwork from various vendors and suppliers. Track payments to vendors and artists. Initiate expense reimbursements. Research vendors to procure necessary goods and services for exhibitions. Maintains and improves departmental organizational systems.

COORDINATION:

• Coordinate with artists, dealers, collectors with regard to schedules, biographic and bibliography publication material, and travel in relation to exhibition planning and collection maintenance. Schedule complex domestic and international travel itineraries and composes itineraries for artists. Assist curatorial team on national and international travel planning including itineraries, bookings, and meeting coordination. May curate smaller-scale projects such as the MFA Thesis Show, the Art Wall, and the Outdoor Screen (commensurate with experience).

CATALOG PRODUCTION:

• Edit and proofread all written catalog materials for content consistency, factual and grammatical errors. Assist with exhibition catalog publication, including all front and back matter, bibliographic and caption information. Locate or commission photographic materials, provides captions and credit lines, and secures reproduction permission. Work with an editor as necessary to deliver content and incorporate feedback.

ARCHIVES:

• Generates important institutional documentation in relation to the exhibition archive, as well as materials in the collection. Requests, duplicates, labels, mails, and archives installation images. Work with content management software to ensure records are accurate.

Other duties as assigned.





Required Qualifications

• Demonstrates ability to use sound judgment in responding to issues and concerns.
• Knowledge of a broad range of art historical areas and familiarity with standard museum and curatorial practices.
• Expert in communication and interpersonal skills to communicate effectively. Highly developed writing skills, including editing and document preparation. Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Proficient in the ability to use discretion and maintain all confidentiality. Ability to work effectively with staff, trustees, artists, scholars, arts professionals, and the public by demonstrating collaboration, sensitivity, and diplomacy.
• Demonstrates ability to analyze, research, and synthesize large amounts of data with strong attention to detail.
• Proficient in the ability to multi-task with demanding timeframes. Project management skills in establishing priorities, coordinating multiple complex projects simultaneously, and meeting deadlines.
• Demonstrates strong attention to detail, accuracy, and organization.
• Computer skills, including MS Office, Google Drive, and project management systems. Collection management software experience preferred.
• Ability to prioritize teamwork.
• Ability to propose solutions to problems.

Education and Training

• Bachelor's degree in a related area and / or equivalent experience/training.

Salary & Benefits

• This is a 100% Career position with full benefits.
• Non-exempt, paid hourly and bi-weekly.
• This position is eligible for 20% remote work.
• This is not a visa opportunity.

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $28.73 - $31.60 an hour

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Referral Source info

This job is part of the Employee Referral Program. If a UC Berkeley employee is referring you, please ensure you select the Referral Source of "UCB Employee". Then enter the employee's Name and Berkeley email address in the Specific Referral Source field. Please enter only one name and email.

Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. For more information about your rights as an applicant, please see the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission poster.



The University of California's Affirmative action policy.



The University of California's Anti-Discrimination policy.





To apply, visit https://careerspub.universityofcalifornia.edu/psp/ucb/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_APP_SCHJOB.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=21&JobOpeningId=67514&PostingSeq=1