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Summer 2023 Fellowship Opportunity at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston (Paid) – APPLY SOON

Published March 30, 2023

The Museum of Fine Arts Houston is currently hiring for the temporary summer position of Curatorial Research Assistant | Modern and Contemporary Art. This is a graduate level, full time, summer fellowship open to individuals in a Master’s or PhD program in Art History, Museum Studies, Visual Culture, or African and African diasporic art and cultures, and African and African American studies.

Start Date: Summer 2023: June 5–August 11

Fellowship Overview

Under the supervision of the associate curator of modern and contemporary art, the research assistant will support curatorial work including proposed acquisitions, exhibitions, publications, and collections management. The successful candidate will balance responsibilities between two special-exhibition projects scheduled for 2024
and 2025, respectively. This position requires the ability to work in an encyclopedic museum while also working independently and collaboratively with various members of the department. Candidate will have the opportunity to further their knowledge of African and African diasporic art and cultures as well as DEAI (Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion) initiatives in museum environments. Position is structured on fostering a learning experience rooted in antiracism methodologies for a candidate interested in pursuing a museum career.

Learning Goals and Objectives

The position will help candidates who already have a basic knowledge of art history and budding expertise in African diasporic art to hone their writing skills and to contribute to exhibitions with lasting impact for the MFAH. The research assistant will be a fully integrated thought partner in the development, implementation, design, and installation of exhibitions as assigned, as well as the archiving of exhibition files. The research assistant will offer support in key areas, including, but not limited to, email correspondence, drafting wall labels and interpretative texts, and compiling research and data as appropriate.

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

Candidates applying for this position should have a basic knowledge of both modern and contemporary art. Accurate research and writing skills are important, as is a fluent comprehension of a second language outside of English. General qualifications include experience conducting archival research using primary sources, deep intellectual curiosity and versatility, and a demonstrated ability to structure time efficiently. Knowledge of 3-D design software preferred but not required.

Education and Eligibility

• Specialization in art history, visual culture, museum studies, and/or African and African American studies. • Students currently enrolled in a graduate program or who recently completed (within one year) a master’s degree or PhD are eligible for this opportunity. • Master’s degree in art history is preferred.

Anticipated Schedule

The fellowship will comprise 350 hours of work (35 hours per week for 10 weeks), Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (with hour-long lunch and Fridays flexible).

Internship Stipend

Summer graduate fellows receive a $5,950 stipend ($17/hour) for the 10-week summer internship.

Application Instructions and Deadline

Please submit the following materials to interns@mfah.org by April 2, 2023. (Note: Original application deadline of March 17 has been extended; materials received by 4/2/23 at 11:59pm will be accepted.)

  • Letter of interest describing applicant’s experience, area of research/specialization, and professional goals asrelevant to this opportunity (maximum 1,000 words)
  • Resume/CV
  • Writing sample (maximum 10 pages)
  • References (2): please include name, position title, and email address for each reference

Note: When submitting application materials, please include the name of the internship or fellowship in the subject line of your email. Please include all attachments as one complete file.

Supervisors: Dr. Anita N. Bateman, Associate Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art; Katie O’Hara, Curatorial Assistant, Modern and Contemporary Art

Complete details and application process

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