Armory Center for the Arts based in Pasadena, California, seeks a part-time Project Coordinator and Curatorial Assistant to assist with exhibition research and project coordination for a grant-funded project.

From the Ground Up: Nurturing Diversity in Hostile Environments is part of the next edition of the region-wide arts initiative Pacific Standard Time, scheduled to open in 2024. The Armory is one of 45 cultural, educational, and scientific institutions throughout Southern California to receive support from the Getty Foundation for their projects, all of which will explore the intersection of art and science.

Organizational Overview 

Armory Center for the Arts builds on the power of art to transform lives and communities through creating, teaching and presenting the arts. Deeply committed to cultural equity and community empowerment, the Armory presents contemporary art exhibitions, performances, and educational experiences at its main facility in Pasadena and offsite throughout the City of Pasadena and Greater Los Angeles. For more information on the Armory, visit armoryarts.org/about.

Project Description

From the Ground Up: Nurturing Diversity in Hostile Environments is a forward-looking ethnobotanical study that will result in a publication and exhibition of contemporary art centering on science, environmental justice, and history, as well as themes of conflict, colonization, immigration, and warfare. The works on display and related programs will address the colonial and contemporary sociopolitical-economic impacts around the indexing of seeds; the contemporary cultivation of plants in politically and environmentally hostile environments; ancient seed knowledge around food, shelter, and spiritual practices, and their transmissions (past, present, and future); contemporary aesthetic applications of and content about plant matter; and visions of healing and future personal and planetary health.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for a highly-skilled, motivated researcher and coordinator, a detail-oriented individual with outstanding organizational and communication skills, and an interest in the themes of this project.

The ideal candidate is:  

• A professional with 3+ years of experience in research-based creative projects, with a track record in the art history/cultural studies sector
• Grad school-level education or higher, or commensurate experience
• A solutions-oriented collaborative thinker
• Has an established interest in topics related to the themes of this project
• Spanish speaking is a plus
   

The position will work under the project curator and closely with the project manager and will be responsible for all aspects of project administration.

Responsibilities

• Organize meetings, both in-person and virtual
• Communications with project Researchers and Research Advisors
• Liaise with collections on research and site visits
• Provide travel support including budgeting, travel arrangements, and field trip planning
• Research relevant artists and artworks
• Coordinate public events
• Provide back-end production support for virtual meetings and public events
• Maintain and update the exhibition checklist and databases
• Create and maintain digital and paper files and lists of contacts
• Compile materials for exhibition and publication
• Draft loan correspondence
• Generate loan contracts
• Interface with lenders
• Assist with publication production including requesting/tracking images and author texts, generating captions and credits, and clearing image rights
• Draft exhibition label and didactic content
• Assist in obtaining images and necessary permissions
• Serve as the liaison to other Armory departments such as community programs, communication, and development, in connection to the planning and implementation of the exhibition
• Provide grant report support
   

Terms

Project Coordinator and Curatorial Assistant is an 18-hour/week position for approximately 15 months at $20 an hour, with the potential for extension. The position will begin on or after September 27, 2021. This position will be hybrid, with work taking place remotely and in person at the Armory. 

How to Apply

To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to careers@armoryarts.org.  In the subject line of the email, please write “Project Coordinator/Curatorial Assistant.” No phone calls, please. Applications are due by Tuesday, September 7, 2021, at 5:00 pm.

An Equal Opportunity Employer
It is the policy of the Armory Center for the Arts to provide all persons with equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, veteran or marital status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.