COMPANY DESCRIPTION

Hello, art person! We’re so glad you’re here.
When you think of an art museum, you might picture paintings or sculptures. But art is so much more than the “traditional” forms you’re used to seeing in galleries. Nobody knows that better than Portland. Our city is bursting with all kinds of art forms–from craft beverages and comic books to artisan chocolate and collectible sneakers. There’s no one way to make art, and there’s no one way to be an art person.
That’s why you belong here. We’re a place that has room for all kinds of art (and art people).
We are a dynamic institution with multiple locations. Adjacent to the Museum campus in downtown, Portland, PAM CUT // Center for the Untold Tomorrow is an inclusive, modern, and welcoming hub serving a broad range of artists and audiences across all media art. Also nearby is the nonprofit Rental Sales Gallery representing regional artists. Across the river, in SE Portland PAM CUT’s Tomorrow Theater embraces cinematic storytelling in all its form through unique one-night-only events.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Luce Foundation Curatorial Fellow role at the Portland Art Museum will report to the Curator of Native American Art. With a focus on the Museum’s permanent collections and galleries, the Fellow is responsible for a wide range of activities including collections research and care, assisting the Curator in the research and development of a long-term renovation and reinstallation of the Native American Art permanent collections galleries, working on related public programs, liaising with curatorial and design/architectural consultants, assisting with acquisitions and/or artwork commissions, and writing and speaking about Native American art.

IN THIS ROLE, YOU WILL

• Assists the Curator with research and development of a long-term renovation and reinstallation of the Native American Art permanent collections galleries, which includes the following:
• Improving and correcting existing collections database records with the Registrar and Collections Manager, and strategizing on department-specific records improvements
• Liaising with consulting curators, artists and community members
• Working with the exhibition project team, including Assistant Curator of Native American Art, members of several internal departments and external design firm
• Assisting with object selection, label writing, and exhibition texts
• Facilitates access to collections for research by Native artists, community members, and visiting scholars as appropriate, including creating database-generated object reports; liaising and scheduling collections access for researchers with registrars and conservators
• Assists Curator with acquisitions, including artist correspondence, object research, and acquisition record keeping as needed
• Assists with building relationships and partnerships with Native artists and scholars, curatorial consultants, and communities in Oregon, the Pacific Northwest, and beyond
• Work as part of a collaborative team to develop programs and partnerships that foster equity, inclusion, and meaningful community engagement in alignment with the Museum’s core values

Additional Responsibilities:

• Assists visiting researchers in the Collection
• Assists the Curator, as needed, with programming and activities for the Native American Art Council (membership group)
• Prepares and gives gallery talks and public presentations on relevant exhibitions and aspects of the permanent collection
• Participates in the professional and intellectual discourse related to Native American art as well as the museum profession; provides services to the disciplines through participation as an active member of professional organizations
• Is willing to engage the Native American art market: Builds professional network by growing and maintaining contact with dealers, galleries, collectors, fellow professionals, and other constituencies as appropriate as a basis for collection growth and exhibition development
• Fields and responds to inquiries from the public, as assigned
• Performs other related duties as assigned

TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS ROLE, YOU HAVE THESE REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum M.A. in Art History, Museum Studies, or related field or 5 years of related work experience or equivalent combination of education and experience; Ph.D or A.B.D preferred; knowledge of museum and display theory a plus
• Experience with exhibition development, including writing exhibition texts preferred
• 1-2 years experience assisting or working directly with Native American artists and/or Native community members in a research and/or exhibition development context
• Proficiency in Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides) and Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) is required; Museum collections database software experience is strongly preferred (Mimsy, TMS, MuseumPlus, etc.)
• Broad knowledge of Native American historical and contemporary art history and practice with a focus on North American Indian tribes, nations and cultures
• Comfort with public speaking in a variety of environments such as public gallery talks, staff meetings, or student workshops
• Excellent written communication skills for tasks such as writing museum labels and short object descriptions
• Demonstrated organizational and time-management skills to carry out the responsibilities of the position, including managing multiple projects simultaneously within a complex, fast-paced environment
• Must possess strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills, and communicate effectively and respectfully in both group and individual settings, both in person and in virtual meetings
• Must respectfully build and maintain effective long term relationships with staff, colleagues, volunteers, and the Native American Art Community
• Experience with working both independently and as a collaborative member of the team with a diverse array of people
• Demonstrated high level of initiative and persistence in completing assignments with strong attention to detail and accuracy
• Committed to promoting and enhancing equity, diversity, and inclusion at the Portland Art Museum, especially through internal practices. Contribute to a positive organizational culture based on mutual respect, collegiality, collaboration and openness to many perspectives
  If you have any questions along the way including wanting to talk about a nontraditional career background, please reach out to HR.