Organizer Information
Founded in 1929 by Lillie P. Bliss, Mary Quinn Sullivan, and Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, along with fellow trustees A. Conger Goodyear, Paul Sachs, Frank Crowninshield, and Josephine Boardman Crane, The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) was established in New York City as an institution devoted exclusively to modern art, challenging the conservative policies of traditional museums of the time. Its founding director, Alfred H. Barr, Jr., defined "modern" broadly from the outset, encompassing painting and sculpture as well as photography, film, architecture, and design. From an initial gift of eight prints and one drawing, MoMA's collection has grown to approximately 200,000 paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, photographs, media and performance art works, architectural models and drawings, design objects, and films, alongside roughly two million film stills. The Museum's Department of Architecture and Design, where this role sits, continues that founding commitment to architecture as a core curatorial discipline. MoMA and its affiliate MoMA PS1 together welcome millions of visitors annually and maintain extensive national and international exhibition, loan, and publication programs.
Title & Description
Curatorial Assistant, Contemporary Architecture
The Museum of Modern Art is accepting applications for a Curatorial Assistant in the Department of Architecture and Design, who will provide support for upcoming contemporary architecture exhibitions, collection-based rotation displays, and acquisitions to the collection. The Curatorial Assistant will work with colleagues across the Museum and with external colleagues to provide preparatory assistance and logistical support that ensures exhibitions, collection care, programs, department operations, and other daily functions are smoothly executed. The role involves direct communication with living architects and collaborators to support the selection, contextualization, and display of models, drawings, and other forms of architectural representation, alongside scholarly research, exhibition preparation, and public-facing engagement.
The Role Overview
- Position Type: Full-time
- Salary: $74,858 (gross) per annum
- Reports To: Chief Curator, Architecture and Design, and Department Manager
- Department / Programme: Department of Architecture and Design
- Working Hours: On-site presence required four days per week, subject to change at management's discretion, with the understanding that some weeks will require five days on-site
- Location Type: On-site
Position & Tasks
- Assists senior curatorial staff in all areas of their responsibilities, including administrative work such as taking detailed minutes of meetings, preparing presentations, drafting interoffice and extra-institutional communications, and scheduling meetings
- Supports research and preparation for exhibitions, collection-based rotations, publications, acquisitions, online content, collections records, bibliographic and biographical records and files, departmental committee meetings, loans, and general curatorial inquiries
- Assists with preparation of exhibitions and collection-based rotations, including scholarly research and writing
- Assists with arranging loans; catalog preparation; preparation of exhibition checklists in CEMS and related platforms
- Coordinates and schedules prep work to be done within and outside the Museum, in areas such as interpretive materials, conservation, photography, matting, framing, construction, and lighting
- Assists with the preparation and installation of wall labels, publication texts, image rights, and other materials as assigned
- Communicates closely with living architects and collaborators to support the selection, contextualization, and display of models and drawings, as well as other mediums of architectural representation
- Conducts daily inspection of works on view in the collection galleries and in temporary exhibitions, and assists with necessary follow-up arrangements
- Answers inquiries and conducts gallery tours
- Answers inquiries from the public and scholars regarding works in the collection
- Works with curatorial interns and other titles as assigned
- Keeps informed of current artistic and exhibition activities related to local, national, and international architects by visiting galleries and museums, reading publications, and conducting architect studio visits, and conveys perspectives and observations to senior staff
- Performs any other duties reasonably related to the functions described above
Categories
- Curatorial Practice
- Architecture
- Design
- Museum Studies
- Exhibition Making
- Collection Management
- Arts Administration
Eligibility
- Bachelor's degree in architectural history or architecture, or a comparable academic field, required; Master's degree preferred
- Relevant work experience and competence within the department's area of interest
- Expertise and deep knowledge of contemporary architecture on a local, national, and global scale required
- A keen interest in the history of the display of architecture at MoMA and curiosity to develop new models for their display strongly encouraged
- Sufficient flexibility and high level of enthusiasm to work as part of a curatorial team, with openness to feedback and curiosity for learning and mentorship from colleagues
- Excellent research, writing, and organizational skills, with ability to communicate interpersonally across multiple departments, constituencies, and audiences
- Exceptional attention to detail, professionalism, and discretion in handling sensitive situations and matters
- Ability to prioritize across a fast-paced work environment and manage more than one project at a time while meeting deadlines
- Facility with critical thinking and problem-solving
- Working knowledge of standard office technology, procedures, and equipment
- Reading knowledge and verbal fluency in one language in addition to English
Program Benefits
- Salary of $74,858 (gross) per annum
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 7 August 2026
Location
New York, NY 10019, United States
Additional Details
- This is a unionized position, with covered employees represented by Local 2110, UAW, AFL-CIO
- MoMA states that Equal Employment Opportunity is a fundamental principle at the Museum, with employment based on personal capabilities and qualifications without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, marital and civil partnership/union status, alienage or citizenship status, creed, genetic predisposition or carrier status, unemployment status, familial status, domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking victim status, caregiver status, arrest or conviction record (to the extent required by applicable law), credit history, or any other protected category under applicable law, including the New York City Human Rights Law
- As an employer, MoMA is required to notify applicants of their rights under federal employment law, with reference to the Department of Labor's "Know Your Rights" notice