Susan Duncan 75 and Leo Fisher 75 Curatorial Fellow in Modern and Contemporary Art

Susan Duncan '75 and Leo Fisher '75 Curatorial Fellow in Modern and Contemporary Art

Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary documentation and questions you should review before applying for the opening. To apply for the position, please click the Apply for this Job link/button.

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Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Please submit the following by Friday, August 21, 2026:

• one-page cover letter explaining the applicant's interest in the position
• one-page resume
• a 2-page (max) writing sample or excerpt from a longer piece of writing, preferably related to the visual arts
• a list of your availability during museum business hours, Mon-Fri 9am-5pm (upload under "additional document")
• unofficial college transcript
• contact information for three professional references (at least two Oberlin faculty or staff)

Interested applicants are invited to attend an optional Zoom info session Friday, August 14th, 2-3pm. This session will highlight the jobs available at the Allen, offer tips on how to write a strong application, and introduce students to the staff who are hiring this fall. Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ENQTKh-s8hC6ChuNhcHc62CR_mykbGt321bchSfJrf0/edit

Interviews will be held September 1-2. The start date is Tuesday, September 8. Questions about the position may be addressed to Dr. Sam Adams (they/them), Ellen Johnson '33 Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, sadams4@oberlin.edu

Posting Details

Announcement Information

Job Summary

This fall, the Allen Memorial Art Museum is launching three year-long curatorial fellowships, supported by the Susan Duncan '75 and Leo Fisher '75 AMAM Curatorial Fellowship Fund. One fellowship is available in each of the museum's three curatorial collections (Asian Art, European and American art, and Modern and Contemporary Art). The fellows will engage in curatorial research as well as provide administrative support for the curators. The fellowship is designed both to deepen research skills as well as to introduce students to critical aspects of the full range of curatorial work. In addition to working with the individual curators, the fellowship will also include career-centered conversations with other museum staff and other museum professionals as well as travel to northeast Ohio museums, conservation studios, and arts organizations. The fellowship extends over both semesters of the academic year at 10 hours per week as well as full-time employment in summer 2027, allowing time to create substantial, tangible outcomes to be part of a professional portfolio after leaving Oberlin. The aim of this program is to provide substantive support to the museum's curatorial program and to provide depth of experience to set up students for greater success in the increasingly competitive market for curatorial positions. The fellows are expected to commit to the full arc of the fellowship, and students graduating in May 2027 are not eligible to apply.

Job Summary

A current Oberlin student is sought for the newly created role of Duncan Curatorial Fellow in Modern and Contemporary Art at the Allen Memorial Art Museum for the 2026-2027 year. The fellow will assist the Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art (1900-present) in research, writing, preparations for upcoming exhibitions, and other duties as assigned. Mentorship and professionalization are important components of the position. The position is 10 hours/week for the academic year (excluding Winter Term) and 40 hours/week in summer 2027. The candidate is expected to schedule their working time in-person at the museum Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, with occasional evening and weekend events.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities may include:

• Drafting and formatting labels for exhibitions
• General research on the Modern and Contemporary collection, including provenance
• Updating hard files and records on the internal collection database, The Museum System (involves html)
• Art handling and pulling works from storage for study and exhibition preparation
• Preparing mockups of artwork and text for installation design (involves math)
• Image and video editing, Photoshop, and InDesign
• Responding to research requests and preparing materials for class visits
• Drafting and editing videos, social media posts, and other public-facing materials
• Collaborating across museum departments, including Marketing and Communication, Education, Academic Programs, Registration, and Preparation
• Contributing to AMAM's diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion initiatives
• Assisting with public programs such as film screenings, lectures, artist talks, and performances

Qualifications

Strong writing skills are required for this position, excellent organization, communication, and the ability to work independently on both short and long-term tasks. The candidate must possess an interest in Modern and Contemporary art and identity-based issues around gender, class, race, and sexuality, as well as 20th and 21st century history and geopolitics. Completion of at least one course related to modern and contemporary art history is preferred.

Quick Link for Posting https://jobs.oberlin.edu/postings/17679 Compensation

The stipend for each semester is $2,500 ($5,000 for the entire academic year). The summer stipend is $6,500 + $500 FICA.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Please submit the following by Friday, August 21, 2026:

• one-page cover letter explaining the applicant's interest in the position
• one-page resume
• a 2-page (max) writing sample or excerpt from a longer piece of writing, preferably related to the visual arts
• a list of your availability during museum business hours, Mon-Fri 9am-5pm (upload under "additional document")
• unofficial college transcript
• contact information for three professional references (at least two Oberlin faculty or staff)

Interested applicants are invited to attend an optional Zoom info session Friday, August 14th, 2-3pm. This session will highlight the jobs available at the Allen, offer tips on how to write a strong application, and introduce students to the staff who are hiring this fall. Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ENQTKh-s8hC6ChuNhcHc62CR_mykbGt321bchSfJrf0/edit

Interviews will be held September 1-2. The start date is Tuesday, September 8. Questions about the position may be addressed to Dr. Sam Adams (they/them), Ellen Johnson '33 Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, sadams4@oberlin.edu

Documents Needed to Apply

Required Documents

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• List of References
• Unofficial Transcripts
• Writing Sample
• Additional document

Optional Documents

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).