Position Title: Exhibitions Assistant

Position Type: Full-Time

FLSA Classification: Non-Exempt

Division: Curatorial and Art Management

Department: Art Management

Reports to: Exhibitions Manager

Compensation Range: $16.15 - $24.23

Date Reviewed: 11/19/2024

About Crystal Bridges & The Momentary:

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.

The Momentary is a new contemporary art space that opened to the public on February 22, 2020, in downtown Bentonville, Arkansas. A satellite to Crystal Bridges, the Momentary presents visual, performing, and culinary arts. The mission of the Momentary is to champion contemporary art’s role in everyday life and explore the unfolding story of contemporary American arts in an international context by actively commissioning and exhibiting outstanding works that explore new ideas and inspire action.

Position Summary:

The Exhibitions Assistant is responsible for providing support and assistance to the exhibitions management and registration teams in the Art Management Department. Under the general supervision of the Exhibitions Manager, the Exhibitions Assistant will support the exhibition planning and implementation process while also handling daily operational details.

Essential functions of this position are providing support for production of exhibitions and gallery and outdoor installations at Crystal Bridges, the Momentary, and other satellite locations; maintaining and organizing department files; and various other duties associated with planning, receiving, installing and traveling exhibitions.

Principal Responsibilities:

• Support the Exhibitions Management team in efforts to plan, produce, and document the Museum's robust and varied exhibitions program.
• Assist with project schedules, exhibition meetings, soliciting agenda items, booking meeting rooms, and sharing meeting agendas and notes.
• Assist with temporary exhibition installations and deinstallations as needed.
• Assist with the coordination of permanent collection gallery rotations.
• Coordinate payment of invoices related to exhibitions
• Reconcile departmental expense reports and oversee credit card use.
• Assist in updating exhibition budgets.

• Work closely with exhibitions and interpretation teams on maintaining and routing exhibition text documents to team members.
• Assist with gathering information and preparing exhibition tour packages.

• Coordinate travel arrangements for exhibition artists, advisory members, and guest curators.
• Organize, archive, and maintain exhibition documentation.
• Send regular art movement updates for internal distribution.
• Assist with routine departmental reporting and special research requests as assigned.

Additional Responsibilities

• Support general Art Management activities.
• Answer inquiries in a prompt, professional manner.
• Keep apprised of approved and current museum project management standards.
• Assist exhibitions team with creation and upkeep of project schedules in project management software.
• Complete all other duties as assigned within the scope of responsibility and skill required for the job.
• Provide suggestions to improve exhibition processes and increase the impact of exhibitions and installations.

Qualifications and Skills:

Minimum Qualifications

Education, Training, and Traits

• High School diploma or GED
• Minimum of two years college coursework; or two years of specialized training in office procedures or related field
• Bachelor’s degree in art education, art history, museum studies or studio art preferred
• Ability to maintain the highest levels of confidentiality.

Work Experience

• Experience working in a museum, gallery, library or academic setting preferred.
• Experience using software such as Microsoft Suite, Adobe Acrobat, and The Museum System (TMS) preferred.

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: Position requires verbal and written conversation with others, sitting, standing, walking, bending, reaching, climbing, and physical stamina to lift up to 20 pounds. Position requires working at a desk and utilizing a computer for prolonged periods of time and good eye/hand coordination. Visual acuity to examine artwork closely and to review written materials is required for this job. Position periodically requires standing for prolonged periods of time.

• Work Environment: The majority of work will be performed in an office environment, museum gallery and storage spaces, and occasionally outdoors on the trails. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.