The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. Founded by philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton, Crystal Bridges is a public non-profit charitable organization.
Job Description:Position Title: Assistant Curator, Modern Art
Position Type: Full-time
FLSA Classification: Exempt
Division: Art & Education
Department: Curatorial
Reports to: Director of Fellowships, Research and University Partnerships and Curator, American Art
Compensation Range: $49,600- $74,400
About Crystal Bridges:Crystal Bridges is a museum of American art located in Bentonville, Arkansas. We explore the unfolding story of America by actively collecting, exhibiting, interpreting, and preserving outstanding works that illuminate the American heritage and artistic possibilities. Founded by Alice Walton in 2005, the museum opened in 2011 and is a public, non-profit charitable organization with free admission.
Position Summary:The Assistant Curator, Modern Art, will serve as a key member of our dynamic curatorial team. The Crystal Bridges Modern Art collection (circa 1900-1960) is currently the largest collection area and includes: significant and high-quality holdings of several collection highlights by artists including Edward Hopper, Jacob Lawrence, Yasuo Kunioshi, and Georgia O’Keeffe; 101 artworks in the “Alfred Stieglitz Collection,” co-owned with Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee; and more than 400 Labor and Industry prints from the 1930s-1940s. This is a dynamic moment to join the Crystal Bridges curatorial team as we prepare for a major campus-wide reinstallation and expansion project, to be completed in 2026. In addition, 2024 is the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the gift of the Alfred Stieglitz Collection to Fisk University.
Reporting to the Director of Fellowships, Research, and University Partnerships & Curator, American Art, the Assistant Curator, Modern Art, will help develop and implement curatorial projects including exhibition planning and installation; publications; and the care, research, and growth of the collection with a particular focus on American art from 1900-1960. The Assistant Curator will assist with directing installations in the permanent collection galleries and may act as a venue curator for traveling exhibitions. The Assistant Curator will share in the general responsibilities of the department, including reviewing exhibition proposals, researching potential acquisitions, and representing the department with other staff, interns, community partners, donors, funders, volunteers, members, and the public.
The Assistant Curator, Modern Art will be the principal liaison and collaborator with Fisk University around the display, research, and interpretation of the Alfred Stieglitz Collection, co-owned by Fisk and Crystal Bridges. The Assistant Curator, Modern Art will actively build and maintain relationships with the Fisk University Galleries leadership, staff, and students, as well as the Stieglitz Collection Committee.
The ideal Assistant Curator is a flexible, experimental, creative, and collaborative team player, with demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the multiple facets of Modern art and a passion for connecting to our guests and diverse communities. Excellent speaking, writing, and research abilities are required.
Principal Responsibilities:

• Manage collection display, interpretation, and gallery rotations in collaboration with internal team. Write gallery labels and didactics.
• Contribute to a long-term curatorial vision for the museum, including plans for 2025-2026 reinstallation and expansion.
• Prioritize collaboration with colleagues at Fisk University around Alfred Stieglitz Collection co-ownership and beyond, completing a major publication, developing plans for innovative online presentation, and continued student engagement.
• Conduct research on the collection and share through a variety of written, oral, and digital formats to provide the widest possible access to both staff and the public.
• Propose and develop, with guidance, creative and engaging exhibitions of varied scale and content and contribute to appropriate related publications.
• Contribute to collection development by reviewing art offers, cultivating, and shepherding potential gifts of art, researching potential acquisitions, and preparing acquisition proposals.
• Contribute to grant applications and partner with colleagues in Development to identify, cultivate, and steward donor relationships with individuals, foundations, and corporations where appropriate.
• Engage in a broad range of public programs and partnerships including, but not limited to, lectures, workshops, gallery talks, digital and virtual programming, and in-gallery interpretation efforts.
• Assist Director, Research, Fellowships, and University Partnerships & Curator, American art with exhibition projects, research, acquisitions, and program-planning.

Additional Responsibilities

• Work with fellow staff to ensure the best available standards of care and protection for all works in the permanent collection and incoming loans.
• Champion research, scholarship, and professional development with partner institutions, especially Fisk University and the University of Arkansas.
• Serve as an ambassador for Crystal Bridges locally, nationally, and internationally.
• Collaborate with Art Bridges and other entities across Art & Wellness Enterprises, as needed.
• Work with guest curators and consultants.
• Supervise work study students and interns, as required.
• Assist with preparation of budgets for curatorial operations and grant applications.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Skills: Education, Training, and Traits

• Demonstrated interest in and knowledge about the multiple facets of Modern art, such as African American art, Native American art, and/or Latin American art,
• B.A. in Art History or a related humanities discipline (M.A. preferred), or equivalent experience as evidenced by publication and exhibition record.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including public speaking and writing.
• Enthusiasm for engaging diverse audiences and foregrounding multiple perspectives in the display and interpretation of American art.
• Self-directed and motivated.

Work Experience

• Minimum of two (2) years prior curatorial experience
• Commitment to applying inclusive and innovative approaches to American art

Skills And Abilities

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to interpret the collection and temporary exhibitions, and to communicate relevant knowledge in a manner that resonates with the general public
• Strong research skills, ability to perform scholarly research in the field
• Demonstrated skill in managing multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Demonstrated skill in organization and rigorous attention to detail.
• Ability to interact respectfully, collegially, and professionally with employees and volunteers at all levels of responsibility.
• Ability to work independently and to be a team player both within the department and throughout the entire organization
• Ability to maintain the highest ethics as they relate to all aspects of curatorial endeavors, and to understand and maintain the highest levels of confidentiality
• Proficiency in using standard office equipment including copiers and telephone, as well as Microsoft 365 applications including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams; ability to train on effective use of additional software and databases as required (e.g. Tessitura, Asana, TMS, Workday)
• Ability to speak, read, and write in Spanish a plus

Physical Demands and Work Environment:The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical demands: In the work environment described below, position requires utilizing a computer and a telephone for prolonged periods of time; bending and stretching for filing; ability to move around galleries, the classrooms, and throughout the museum. The position requires verbal and written conversation with others. Visual acuity to review written materials and artworks is required for this job.
• Work Environment: Work will be performed in an office environment, museum spaces, and in communities served. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.

All offers of employment are contingent on your successful completion (where permitted by state law) of a confidentiality agreement and background check. In addition, you will need to provide proper identification verifying your eligibility to work in the United States on your first day of work.Crystal Bridges is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a culturally diverse workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. We encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.