Curatorial and Project Assistant

Curatorial and Project Assistant Priority Application Deadline: 02/03/2026 Overview Job ID 36825064 Category Arts Organization College of Humanities Arts & Social Sciences Department UCR ARTS Dept Location Riverside Area Salary $59,654 - $71,180 Date Posted January 20, 2026 Application Deadline Open Until Filled Schedule 8AM - 5PM Full/Part Time Part time Level of Supervision Supervision Personnel Program Code Professional & Support Staff Other Information Qualifies for Employee Referral Bonus: No UC Internal Job: No Position Information UCR ARTS seeks a Curatorial and Project Assistant for a 24-month, part-time (appx. 20 hours per week) with the possibility of extension beyond the initial two-year period. Reporting to UCR ARTS Exhibitions Manager, the Curatorial and Project Assistant will support the curatorial team in researching and liaising with artists, outside curators, institutions, vendors, and other collaborators and stakeholders. The Assistant will establish and maintain detailed exhibition files, draft and edit exhibition texts, assist with budgets and expense tracking, maintain outward-facing exhibition-related information, schedule meetings, respond to general and press inquiries, aid with all facets of the development of upcoming exhibitions, and other duties as assigned. Individual must be able to work occasional weekends and evening hours within the approved hours available. UCR ARTS is the California Museum of Photography (CMP) and the Culver Center of the Arts, which also houses the Sweeney Art Gallery. The California Museum of Photography has more than 500,000 photographs, photographic artifacts, and apparatus. This collection serves to promote the understanding of photography and visual media by providing access and context to one of the largest and most comprehensive photographic resources in America. Collection projects have regularly been funded by the NEA, NEH, corporations, and foundations. Applicants selected for interview will be required to submit a writing sample (2 pages maximum, derived from a research paper or published essay) as part of the selection process. The full salary range for the Curatorial and Project Assistant is $27.74 - $33.10 per hour. We base salary offers on a variety of considerations, such as education, licensure and certifications, experience, and other business and organizational needs. Applicants must have current work authorization when accepting a UCR staff position. Currently, we are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa for staff. As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time.  Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements. Requirements Educational Requirements Degree Requirement B.A. in Art History, related field, or equivalent work experience. Required M.A. in Art History or related field Preferred Experience Requirements Experience Requirement Minimum of 2 years experience in a museum, gallery, or non-profit setting. Required Demonstrated interest in curating, curatorial practices, working with artists, and/or museums. Required Thorough grounding in art historical research and methodology, knowledge of academic research practices, and excellent oral and written communication skills. 1-2 page writing sample required (derived from a research paper or published essay). Required Familiarity with museum operations, standards, practices, and procedures. Preferred Expertise in contemporary art and/or photography history. Preferred Administrative coordination experience. Preferred UCR graduate Preferred License Requirements License Requirement Driver License Preferred Special Conditions Special Condition Requirement Occasional travel for university related business meetings, conferences and/or professional development. Required Minimum Requirements Knowledge of art historical research and methodology, knowledge of academic research practices; excellent oral and written communication skills. Computer use proficiency including MS Office (Word, Outlook, and Excel); Adobe Acrobat; file sharing platforms such as Dropbox,One Drive, Google Drive; remote communication software such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams; library, archive, and collection research databases. Highly organized, efficient, and attentive to detail, with excellent follow-up skills; self-starting, resourceful, proactive, and motivated in performing and excelling in responsibilities; able to prioritize and adjust to a heavy workload, manage a variety of tasks, and meet various deadlines; skilled in planning and coordinating meetings and events. Thorough grounding in art historical research and methodology, knowledge of academic research practices, and excellent oral and written communication skills Demonstrated experience and interest in curating, curatorial practices, working with artists, and/or museums. Preferred Qualifications Familiarity with museum operations, standards, practices, and procedures. Knowledge or expertise in contemporary art and/or photography history. Administrative coordination experience Applied knowledge of Adobe Photoshop for basic image editing Additional Information In the Heart of Inland Southern California, UC Riverside is located on nearly 1,200 acres near Box Springs Mountain in Southern California; the park-like campus provides convenient access to the vibrant and growing Inland region. The campus is a living laboratory for the exploration of issues critical to growing communities' air, water, energy, transportation, politics, the arts, history, and culture. UCR gives every student, faculty and staff member the resources to explore, engage, imagine and excel. UC Riverside is recognized as one of the most ethnically diverse research universities in the country boasting several key rankings of which we are extremely proud. UC Riverside is proud to be ranked No. 12 among all U.S. universities, according to Money Magazine's 2020 rankings, and among the top 1 percent of universities worldwide, according to the 2019-20 Center for World University rankings. UC Riverside is the top university in the United States for social mobility. - U.S. News 2020 UCR is a member of the University Innovation Alliance, the leading national coalition of public research universities committed to improving student success for low-income, first-generation, and students of color. Among top-tier universities, UC Riverside ranks No. 2 in financial aid. - Business Insider 2019 Ranked No. 2 in the world for research, UCR's Department of Entomology maintains one of the largest collections of insect specimens the nation. - Center for World University Rankings UCR's distinguished faculty boasts 2 Nobel Laureates, and 13 members of the National Academies of Science and Medicine. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories under state or federal law. It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti-discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor. For information about our generous employee benefits package, visit: Employee Benefits Overview Job Description Details General Information Job Title MUSEUM SCI AST Job Code 009724 Grade Department Head Joanna Szupinska Supervisor Kathryn Poindexter-Akers Department Custom Scope UCR ARTS seeks a Curatorial and Project Assistant for a 12-month, part-time (appx. 20 hours per week) appointment with the possibility of extension beyond the initial one-year period. Reporting to UCR ARTS Head of Exhibitions, the Curatorial and Project Assistant will support the curatorial team in researching and liaising with artists, outside curators, institutions, vendors, and other collaborators and stakeholders. The Assistant will establish and maintain detailed exhibition files, draft and edit exhibition texts, assist with budgets and expense tracking, maintain outward-facing exhibition-related information, schedule meetings, respond to general and press inquiries, aid with all facets of the development of upcoming exhibitions, and other duties as assigned. Individual must be able to work occasional weekends and evening hours within the approved hours available. UCR ARTS is the California Museum of Photography (CMP) and the Culver Center of the Arts, which also houses the Sweeney Art Gallery. The California Museum of Photography has more than 500,000 photographs, photographic artifacts, and apparatus. This collection serves to promote the understanding of photography and visual media by providing access and context to one of the largest and most comprehensive photographic resources in America. Collection projects have regularly been funded by the NEA, NEH, corporations, and foundations Applicants will be required to submit a writing sample (2 pages maximum, derived from a research paper or published essay) as part of the selection process. The full salary range for the Curatorial and Project Assistant is $27.74 - $33.10 per hour. However, the expected pay scale for this position is up to $30.20 per hour. We base salary offers on a variety of considerations, such as education, licensure and certifications, experience, and other business and organizational needs. Key Responsibilities Description Percent Time Artist Correspondence Correspond with artists, lenders, vendors, and institutions regarding issues such as coordinating loans, issuing payments and contracts, artwork production and installation requirements, providing exhibition documentation, shipping requirements, etc. Liaison between artist and project leaders/curatorial staff. 30% Exhibition Development and Organization Organize and maintain exhibition and artist files; conduct research; draft original exhibition-related texts. Maintain, update, and circulate working exhibition checklists; and work with UCR ARTS staff to collect images for website, press folders, exhibition listings, and catalogues, among other duties. Prepare regular progress reports; maintaining files; coordinate internal and external logistics. 30% Project Management and Scheduling Coordinate all aspects of the Curatorial Advisory Committee, including organizing and attending meetings, recording minutes, and making travel arrangements for staff and collaborators as needed. Coordinating individual project and exhibition meetings with internal and external parties. Monitoring production schedules and helping manage project deliverables and milestones 20% Research Research artists, archives, lenders, texts; tracking individual works of art as they pertain to UCR ARTS exhibitions. 20% Other Requirements Items Used Personal Vehicle Standard Office Equipment University Vehicle Physical Requirements Bend: Occasionally Sit: Frequently Squat: Occasionally Stand: Frequently Crawl: N/A Walk: Frequently Climb: Occasionally Mental Requirements Read/Comprehend: Constantly Write: Constantly Perform Calculations: Frequently Communicate Orally: Frequently Reason & Analyze: Frequently Environmental Requirements Is exposed to excessive noise: No Is around moving machinery: Yes Is exposed to marked changes in temperature and/or humidity: No Drives motorized equipment: Yes Works in confined quarters: No Dust: Yes Fumes: Yes Critical Position No

Salary : $59,654 - $71,180