Institution Overview
The Samek Art Museum is a program of Bucknell University that creates meaningful encounters between artists, students, scholars, the public and works of art. The museum presents original, travelling, and collection exhibitions and public programs that cover the range of art history with an emphasis on contemporary art. The museum maintains an active collection of over 6,000 objects, including 450 works installed across the campus. The museum programs and/or manages 3 spaces – the Campus Gallery (including offices, work-room, and collection study room), Downtown Art Gallery, and off-site collections storage – totaling 4,500 square feet of exhibition and program space plus 3,000 of storage and workspace. The museum produces, on average, 10 exhibitions, 12 public programs, and over 100 academic engagements annually. The museum has 4 professional staff in addition to the fellow.
Fellowship Overview
The Museum Fellowship is offered for college graduates interested in pursuing a museum career. The fellowship offers professional training in arts administration and is designed to help fellows support their academic and career goals through supervised hands-on work experiences. Under the supervision of the Samek Art Museum director and chief curator, the fellow will have the opportunity to be involved in every aspect of the museum’s programs and operations through job shadowing and being involved in professional staff activities. This is a 9-month fellowship occurring from Aug. 15, 2024 – May 15, 2025. This fellowship is a commitment of an average of 20 hours/week to the museum (except holidays and University recesses.) The fellowship offers a $3,000/month salary as well as $1,000 allocated for external educational opportunities such as travel to conferences. This part-time, term position is eligible for limited University benefits including health insurance for yourself with the ability to purchase coverage for eligible dependents.
Fellowship Learning Goals
For the fellow, the purpose of the fellowship is:•To learn to function as a professional within his/her institution as well as the broader community of museums, and to understand current museum issues.•To learn to function within the organizational structure of a museum and to develop a knowledge of governance and administrative operations.•To develop knowledge and skills related to specific areas of museum work.•To develop the ability to identify, assess and solve on-the-job museum problems.•To assess individual wishes and needs for professional development.•To learn how exhibitions are curated and produced in a professional art gallery/museum environment.•To learn how the permanent museum collection of artworks is conserved, documented, and used in teaching and research.•To learn how galleries and museums educate the public about art in an informal life- long learning environment.
Fellowship Assignments
The fellow engages in learning opportunities and provides assistance with all aspects relating to the museum collections, interchanging/rotating exhibitions and interpretive programs, including, but not limited to:
• Under tutelage of the museum director, the Fellow will curate their own exhibition – generating every aspect from concept to installation – to be presented to the public in the Spring semester.• Apprentice museum director in Arts Leadership course; learning arts management content and assisting instructor to understand teaching skills.• Researching artists and the exhibition history of artworks, creating exhibition documentation, corresponding with artists, and other tasks that contribute to developing exhibitions.• Receiving training in handling original artworks by assisting with installing and de-installing exhibitions and assisting with delivery and pick-up artwork.• Documenting art objects, and making the collection available to students and faculty in a learning environment.• Curatorial field trips to regional galleries and museums.• Accompany director and staff to selected campus arts meetings.• Training and service as roaming docent.• Occasionally opening gallery and assisting with producing events behind the scenes.• Practicing public didactic museum with regular writing for museum’s blog.• Read assigned readings about the history of museums and exhibition practices.• Attend regular meeting with museum director to reflect on fellowship experiences, plan individual projects and receive work assignments, discuss readings, and receive career consulting.• Attend weekly museum staff meetings to observe and participate in administrative planning for the museum’s programs and operations.
Fellowship Requirements
The ideal candidate has a demonstrated interest in curatorial practice. Attention to detail, excellent communication skills, and the ability to multitask and prioritize are essential to the position. Strong research skills are a plus. Background in art history with coursework in modern art preferred.
• A Master’s degree in art history, art education, curatorial studies, or museum or closely related field.
• Must be proficient with social media tools.
• Must be able to lift 30 pounds and work crouched or on ladders.
• Must have a valid driver’s license.
• Candidates must agree to a background check because they will have access to art collection storage areas.
This role is not budgeted for visa sponsorship at this time, all candidates must be authorized to work in the US at the time of submission of the application.
Benefits:
Eligible full- and part-time employees are compensated beyond base salary through our total rewards package that includes (but is not limited to):
Flexible scheduling options determined by role; Medical, prescription drug, vision, dental, life, and long-term disability insurance optionsAn outstanding 10% employer contribution to your retirement plan (no contribution requirement for non-exempt positions)Generous paid time off, including vacation and sick time, a community service day, and 19 paid holidays (including two full weeks off for Winter Break!)Full-time and part-time members of the faculty and staff are eligible for tuition remission for themselves. Additionally, full-time members of the faculty and staff are eligible for tuition remission for their spouse/spousal equivalent and are eligible for various tuition programs for their children. Credit for full-time benefits eligible employment at other institutions of higher education will be applied to waiting periods.A comprehensive employee wellness program including program incentivesA myriad of other benefits, including parental leave, an employee assistance program, fitness center membership, and the power of your Bucknell ID card
To learn more about Bucknell’s benefits, click here! (*Eligibility criteria and waiting periods may apply.)
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:Bucknell is committed to fostering an environment that embraces diversity, equity and inclusion, and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports the growth and development of a diverse campus community. We endeavor to enhance our capacity to value and capitalize on the cultural richness that diversity brings. We encourage all individuals to apply and do not discriminate in admissions, employment, educational programs and/or activities on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, pregnancy, sex/gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, marital or family status, military or veteran status, or genetic information.
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