Curatorial Fellow, Latin American Art

POSITION: Curatorial Fellow, Latin American art

STATUS: Three-year, Full-time Salaried, Exempt. Monday through Friday; hours may vary to include special events and activities in the evenings and on weekends related to this position.

COMPENSATION: $50,000 - $60,000 (annual salary) plus benefits

REPORTS TO: Chief of Curatorial and Convergent Practice

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Curatorial Fellow in Latin American Art is a new three-year fellowship (with potential for extension) at the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block (TMA) designed to support original research, curatorial practice, and community engagement related to Latin American art. The fellowship is intentionally broad in scope and welcomes applicants whose work engages Latin American art through a range of disciplines, geographies, time periods, and methodologies, including but not limited to art history, visual culture, Latin American studies, Indigenous studies, Latinx studies, art of the Ancient Americas, colonial art in the Americas, and contemporary curatorial practice. Learn more about TMA’s collection of Latin American art and search the entire permanent collection here.

A member of the curatorial department and reporting to the Chief of Curatorial and Convergent Practice, the role of the Curatorial Fellow offers an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to a variety of Museum permanent and temporary exhibitions, to acquisition strategies and permanent collection stewardship, and to cultivation and fundraising initiatives. The position is responsive and exploratory, allowing the Fellow to create and co-create projects aligned with their research interests while contributing to the museum’s mission and curatorial vision. It is ideal for a candidate to be interested in collaborative, community-engaged, and interdisciplinary curatorial practices.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Research and Collection Stewardship

• Originate, develop, and present new research on TMA’s permanent collection related to Latin American art, broadly defined. 


• In collaboration with other TMA curators, provide information and counsel as needed to Museum staff, stakeholders, external researchers, and the public regarding the content of and research on Latin American art in the permanent collection.


• Lend area expertise to the development of a comprehensive and evolving strategic collecting plan and provenance research when appropriate.


• Work in concert with the Director of Collections and Registration to prepare new acquisition justifications and other documentation for the Collection Committee.


• Contribute curatorial insight to collection-oriented initiatives, routine inventories, and object conservation and preservation.

Exhibitions and Engagement

• Curate, co-curate, or coordinate permanent collection exhibitions, temporary exhibitions, and traveling exhibitions related to Latin American art, broadly defined.


• In concert with the TMA team, refine skills as a project manager to relevant exhibitions and select permanent collection rotations, which includes but is not limited to establishing the curatorial project’s scope and goals, identifying budget needs and relevant fundraising opportunities, developing the exhibition checklist and installation design, shaping interpretive strategies and content for communications, being present during installation periods, and participating in project assessment and documentation. 


• Contribute to TMA’s learning and engagement initiatives, including public programs, community outreach and partnerships, access to arts-based education and wellness, and intergenerational connection.


• Provide learning materials and/or presentations to staff, interns, volunteers, and docents performing work related to current or upcoming exhibitions.


• Advance linguistic access through the co-development and implementation of translation timelines, best practices, and interpretive and design alignment across TMA’s bilingual initiatives and project-specific multilingual needs.

Administration and Fundraising

• Together with the Chief of Curatorial and Convergent Practice and the Advancement team, identify and secure funding sources including but not limited to grants, members and donors, corporations, and other partners.


• Assist the Chief of Curatorial and Convergent Practice in their role as liaison to the Latin American Art Patrons (LAAP).


• Represent the museum locally, nationally, and internationally, cultivating positive relationships with artists, curators, gallerists, arts and culture organizations, donors and stakeholders, and communities.


• Bring new perspectives and ideas to curatorial discussions, helping the Museum explore innovative approaches to interpretation and audience engagement.


• Contributes to a convergent organizational culture grounded in professionalism, mutual respect, and an entrepreneurial spirit.


• Perform other related work as required.

QUALIFICATIONS/COMPETENCIES:

• MA, doctoral-level coursework or PhD in art history or the equivalent in a related field, and prior museum-related work desired but not required.


• Considerable knowledge of Latin American art and/or its diasporas, across any time period or medium.


• Fluency or professional proficiency in Spanish, Portuguese, or other subject-relevant language strongly preferred.


• Familiarity with best practices and approaches to provenance research where applicable to subject specialization.


• Excellent writing and presentation skills, with capacity to communicate research to both scholarly and public audiences.


• Strong interest in collaborative, community-engaged, and interdisciplinary curatorial practices.


• Ability to conduct research on subjects related to the Museum’s collections and temporary exhibitions.


• Strong interest in researching and writing grant proposals and cases for support for exhibitions, publications, and other related museum areas.


• Ability to set and meet deadlines, strategically navigate competing priorities, and manage long-term and short-term projects simultaneously.


• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to manage complex situations with agility, flexibility, and professional courtesy and discretion. 


• Proven ability to work effectively independently, in a team environment, and collaborating across organizational structures; dedicated to fostering a workplace of belonging. 

Application Materials: 

• Cover letter outlining your interest in the position 

• Resume or curriculum vitae 

ABOUT THE TUCSON MUSEUM OF ART

At the Tucson Museum of Art, we actively seek to employ a diverse group of people who embody, promote, and uphold our organizational values and Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA) Plan. We welcome and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply. The IDEA Plan’s principles of relevancy, community, respect and multivocality are at the heart of the museum’s collection, exhibitions, programs, Board of Trustees, staff and volunteer groups.

Located in downtown Tucson, the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block connects art to life through meaningful and engaging experiences that inspire discovery, spark creativity, and promote cultural understanding. A core value of the museum’s Strategic Plan is to ensure a culture of inclusion, diversity, equity and access. 

As a responsive, community-centered museum, we strive to represent, activate, and advocate for all Southern Arizona communities.