Job Title: Terry and Eva Herndon Assistant Curator
Reports to: Deputy Director/Curator
Department: Curatorial
Position Status: Contract to begin August 3, 2026, 40 hours per week
Job Summary:
The Terry and Eva Herndon Assistant Curator at the Fitchburg Art Museum (FAM) is a position designed to launch an emerging curator into a rewarding career in the arts by providing an immersive educational and practical experience in the Curatorial department of a regional art museum.
Under the supervision and direction of the Deputy Director/Curator, the Assistant Curator will assist the Curatorial Department in the development and implementation of curatorial projects including exhibition research, planning, and management. The Assistant Curator will serve as the lead curator for one or more exhibitions including the organization of the museum’s annual Regional Exhibition of Art and Craft. The Assistant Curator will be an active participant in the stewardship of FAM’s permanent collection, responsibilities include assisting with collection management and object care, storage, and database upkeep. Additional collections related tasks include acquisitions research and presentations before the Collections Committee. The Assistant Curator will also jointly teach a catalog production class at Fitchburg State University.
The Assistant Curator will act as a core collaborator across the museum, working with FAM’s Marketing, Education, Development, and Events departments for promotional and programming initiatives.
The Assistant Curator will have a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in all aspects of their work. FAM, with its small staff size and ambitious programming, embodies a culture of collaboration throughout the organization as outlined in the FAM strategic plan.
The Terry and Eva Herndon Assistant Curator is expected to work on site, Monday through Friday, 9AM - 5PM. Evening and weekend work may be required periodically to fulfill museum needs.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Supports the day-to-day operations of the Curatorial department, including logistics and administrative work for exhibition development, collection care, public programming, event planning, and marketing.
Assists Curator with research and planning of exhibitions including the production and maintenance of project timelines, checklists, and loan agreements.
Writes or collaborates on exhibition-centered texts and essays, including wall labels, content for the museum website, press releases, and grant applications.
Performs ongoing research on collection objects, artists, and potential acquisitions.
Assists Collections Manager with building and maintaining up-to-date records in the collections database.
Participates in active collection management, care and storage.
Oversees and organizes the Regional Exhibition of Art and Craft exhibition.
Works in close partnership with the Education Department to contribute to programs related to the collection and special exhibitions, including but not limited to lectures, workshops, tours, and other in-gallery interpretation programs.
Assists with preparing proposals, reports, and presentations for the Director, other internal departments, and Collection Committee meetings.
Participates in co-teaching at Fitchburg State University for a communication studies class centered around producing exhibition catalogs for the museum’s special exhibitions. The Assistant Curator co-teaches in the fall and spring semester.
Conducts studio/museum/gallery visits for research and developing artist relationships.
Works with Curator to expand community outreach and develop opportunities for community partnerships.
Physical Requirements: Prolonged periods of sitting at a computer, walking, and standing.
Must be able to climb ladders (of at least 10 ft or more) with the ability to lift, push, pull, and support heavy objects, oversize works, crates and other items up to 30 lbs.
Must have a car and valid driver’s license.
Required Skills/Abilities
Strong written and interpersonal communication skills. Able to communicate and work effectively with a diverse population and maintain open and responsive lines of communication with fellow staff, board members, artists, vendors, students, and the public.
Positive attitude, willingness to learn new skills, and a passion for working with both historical and contemporary art.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and collaboratively within the Curatorial Department and across museum departments.
Strong organizational skills and be able to work on multiple projects concurrently.
Strong attention to detail.
Working knowledge, from the curatorial perspective, of collections management and registrarial best practices.
Demonstrated passion for the visual arts, with a strong commitment to making art collections more accessible and meaningful to diverse audiences.
Commitment to furthering equity efforts within the department and the organization.
Education and Experience:
MA degree in Art History, Museum Studies, or a humanities field relating to FAM’s collection specialties.
Applications without an MA but with equivalent years of experience will be considered.
3+ years of museum, gallery, or community arts programming experience
Knowledge of historical and/or contemporary art practices, concepts, and techniques.
Experience working with living artists helpful.
Fluency in or working knowledge of Spanish language is a plus.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Creative Suite
The Terry and Eva Herndon Assistant Curator will be paid $40,000/year, receive paid time off, and full health coverage with an option to purchase additional family coverage.
This role is a two-year contract with the possibility of a one-year extension.
