Seeking Gallery Fellow for 2013-14

Samek Art Gallery
Bucknell University
Gallery Fellowship

Department Overview

The Art Galleries are a program of Bucknell University that creates meaningful encounters between artists, students, scholars, the public and works of art. The Galleries present original, travelling, and collection exhibitions and public programs that cover the range of art history with an emphasis on contemporary art. The Gallery maintains an active museum collection of over 5,000 objects, including 450 works installed across the campus. The gallery programs and/or manages 3 spaces - the Samek Art Gallery on campus (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 Galleries produce, on average, 15 exhibitions, 75 public programs, and 36 campus events annually. For more information, see http://galleries.blogs.bucknell.edu.

Fellowship Overview

The Gallery Fellowship is offered for recent 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 work experiences. Under the supervision of the Samek Art Gallery director and chief curator, the fellow will have the opportunity to be involved in every aspect of the Galleries' programs and operations. This is a 9-month (Sep 2013-May 2014) fellowship for one year with the possibility of a second year. This fellowship is a commitment of an average of 20 hours/week. The fellowship offers a $10,000 stipend for living expenses.

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:

• Curatorial coordination for the "Connections Gallery: Experiments in Community Curating" including coordinating bi-monthly installation and de-installation.
• 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.
• Acting as gallery docent.
• Occasionally opening gallery and assisting with producing events.
• Practicing public museum writing with regular writing for gallery's blog.
• Read assigned readings about the history of museums and exhibition practices.
• Attend regular meeting with gallery director to reflect on fellowship experiences, plan individual projects and receive work assignments, discuss readings, and receive career consulting.
• Attend weekly gallery staff meetings to observe and participate in administrative planning for the gallery'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 Bachelor’s degree in art history (strongly preferred, though BA's in related fields such as art education, curatorial studies, or museum studies will be considered.)
• Dependable, strong work ethic, and good communication skills.
• Must be proficient with social media tools: blogging, Facebook, etc.
• Must be able to lift 50 pounds and work crouched or on ladders.
• Must have a valid drivers license.
• Candidates must agree to a background check because they will have access to art collection storage areas.

Application Guidelines

All of the following materials are due by midnight on May 31, 2013, and should be submitted by email to: [email protected].

Cover Letter

Include a cover letter that addresses all of the following questions in one to two pages:

• Why are you interested in this position?
• What makes you a strong candidate for this position? Please tell about your relevant educational background and past experience.
• What aspects of this position interest you the most? Why?
• What are your long-term goals? Where do you see yourself in five years?

Resume

Please outline ALL of your employment history including art-related and non-art-related work experience. Please also list exhibitions you have worked on, art writing or curating, awards and recognition that you have received, other art-related engagements you’ve participated in, as well as extracurricular activities, etc.

Writing Sample

Please send either:

▪ 2 academic papers you have written about art, or
▪ 1 academic paper and one other writing sample such as an exhibition brochure or art review.

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation should be submitted by professors, curators, gallery directors, or related professionals who know you well. These letters should be emailed by the authors directly to: [email protected] by May 31.

Additional Information

If you have any questions about this position or about the application process then please contact:

Richard Rinehart, Director
[email protected]
http://galleries.blogs.bucknell.edu/