Curatorial Assistant - NYUAD Art Gallery (Fixed-Term for 1 year)

Applications are welcome from all qualified candidates. In line with UAE regulations, Emirati candidates are encouraged to apply.

New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) seeks to appoint a Curatorial Assistant reporting to the Galleries Executive Director and Chief Curator; Senior Research Scholar.

The  Curatorial Assistant of the NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery is a limited term, one-year position, with  opportunity to renew for up to 3 years (depending on scope of projects). It is specifically for a graduate of NYU Abu Dhabi who wishes to pursue a career with a focus on art history and curatorial practice.

The purpose of this fellowship is to learn by doing, working closely with the curatorial team in all  areas: 

• Serves as research and production assist to the Curatorial team for upcoming projects, from research and ideation through curatorial production and education of audiences, as well as general gallery operations. This provides first-hand  experience of the exhibition-making process, in a “teaching museum” context
• The Curatorial Assistant will be the curatorial production manager for the Project Space exhibitions, under guidance of the Curators and the Head of Exhibitions and Collections Management. This supports learning the process of producing an exhibition on a  smaller scale, creating more opportunities to be involved in the process in action
• The person will support both the Student Assistantship and Docent program, as a point of liaison for the different units
• The incumbent will join the Christo Award team monthly meetings, and support both the award and the jury meetings

The successful candidate will have a strong knowledge of art history and museum practice, including  research sources and methods, with a focus on art and culture in a global context. Previous museum  experience, along with general background in museum practices, is desirable.

The position requires excellent production, research, and writing skills; excellent oral communication;  the ability to work collaboratively, as well as independently on research; and strong computer skills. The ideal candidate will be professional, punctual, flexible, exercise confidentiality and complete all  tasks efficiently and accurately.

Key Responsibilities: 

Curatorial Production Management: Project Space and Christo Award

Curatorial Production Lead for Project Space, supervised by the Head of Exhibitions and Collections Management and reporting back to the Curator for key decisions such as:

• Managing the Project Space exhibition application process, including  preparing presentation from the Slideroom applications for the annual  jury meeting, and responding to related emails and queries
• Assist with the exhibition production team to coordinate  exhibition schedule, planning, and production
• Represent the curator in the exhibition install process, understanding  the needs of the artist/exhibitor, and the questions at stake in curatorial  decisions. Help resolve curatorial questions, flagging critical challenges  for the curator as needed
• Partner with the content team to produce collateral and press materials.  Liaise with the Visitor Services working group to manage opening and  event logistics

Coordinate the Christo Award jury and production meetings:

• Prepare materials from Slideroom for the Christo Jury, and  support the jury meeting
• Co-lead the awardee’s monthly production meetings. Produce and  circulate minutes from the Christo production meetings

Curatorial Research and Writing

• Work closely with Curators to support developing exhibitions, including main gallery projects, and Project Space exhibitions - substantial library and field research and text drafting require
• Retrieval of materials, researching and verifying information, correspondence with lenders, donors, and artists, and generating exhibition text
• Research and develop texts specifically around the NYUAD Campus Collection

NYUAD “in-reach” to Faculty and Students for Curriculum Engagement

Based on the curatorial research and concept development underway with the Curators, connect to different audiences internally to develop multiple modes for activating the exhibition when it opens. This includes:

• Working with the curator to train docents on giving tours and supporting scheduling and assigning interns and docents as needed
• Developing bibliography for reference library in Reading Room, for each exhibition
• Developing a comprehensive list of courses that might find relevance in the  exhibition on view and exhibitions in development, both in the main gallery and in  the reading room

Events and Programs 

• Develop/co-develop, execute/support execution of a wide range of programs rooted in the curatorial content of each exhibition - this ranges from family day tours/activations to public symposia, curator  tours, school visits, workshops, and more. 

• Attend and support gallery events, including Reading Room bookings, Arts Chats, and private bookings - evenings and weekends periodically required

Required Education: 

• Bachelor's degree

Required Experience: 

• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with museum best practices and exhibition  procedures
• Fluent competency in second language 
• Basic knowledge of Microsoft office (excel, power point)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
• Highly organized and capable of managing multiple tasks
• Creative and detail-oriented

Preferred Experience: 

• Fluent in non-European language for research purposes
• Fluent competency in second language 
• Basic knowledge of Microsoft office (excel, power point
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
• Highly organized and capable of managing multiple tasks
• Creative and detail-oriented

About NYUAD

NYU Abu Dhabi is a degree-granting research university with a fully integrated liberal arts and science undergraduate program in the Arts, Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Engineering. NYU Abu Dhabi, NYU New York, and NYU Shanghai, form the backbone of NYU’s global network university, an interconnected network of portal campuses and academic centers across six continents that enable seamless international mobility of students and faculty in their pursuit of academic and scholarly activity. This global university represents a transformative shift in higher education, one in which the intellectual and creative endeavors of academia are shaped and examined through an international and multicultural perspective. As a major intellectual hub at the crossroads of the Arab world, NYUAD serves as a center for scholarly thought, advanced research, knowledge creation, and sharing, through its academic, research, and creative activities.