Exhibitions Assistant, Fleisher Art Memorial

Posted by Fleisher Art Memorial on September 19, 2016

Position Classification: Special Project, up to 24 hours a week
Wage Classification: Non-Exempt
Reports to: Exhibitions Manager/Programs Director
Pay: $15/hour

The Fleisher Art Memorial is the nation’s oldest tuition-free community art school. Today, Fleisher offers over 70 classes and workshops for adults per term, operates a year-round exhibits program including the prestigious Wind Challenge Exhibition Series, and provides art instruction to young people in Philadelphia’s public schools through its Community Partnership in the Arts programs well as through its renowned Saturday Young Artists’ program. For more information, visit http://www.fleisher.org.

Art education and community engagement are at the core of Fleisher‘s long-term goals. The Exhibitions Assistant works under the supervision of the Exhibitions Manager and the Director of Programs and with the programs team to craft, execute, and manage Fleisher’s robust exhibitions calendar, with specific focus on its new BYOP initiative. The project is an extension of Fleisher’s audience building work in the area’s increasingly diverse neighborhoods. BYOP is envisioned as a way to put Fleisher’s spaces, resources, and expertise in the hands of community members as a means to honor, preserve, and promote cultural life in immigrant-rich neighborhoods. An integral member of this project, it is highly desirable for the Exhibition Assistant to be bi-lingual and bi-culturally competent.

The Exhibition Assistant will serve as advocate for the community and the involved artists while simultaneously promoting the welfare of Fleisher. With guidance from the Exhibitions Manager,
you will work closely with all the other Fleisher departments.

The Fleisher team consists of a group of people committed to excellence.  We all cherish our place as a vanguard arts education institution in Philadelphia that also serves as a model across the country. You will have the support of your colleagues who are artists, educators, and administrators. Each is committed to Fleisher’s mission and participates honestly and openly to continually improve our programming, operations and image. Fleisher is a learning institution encouraging its staff members to develop professionally. Fleisher employees receive free admission to the Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA); and access to the PMA library and PMA staff-only educational and professional development opportunities.

DUTIES:
 Generate and distribute calendar-related documents for exhibitions programming: collect and send minutes, schedule meetings, coordinate the usage of space for each group and assist on event planning logistics.
 Handle ongoing project-related administrative duties for BYOP’s workshops, resident artist needs and vendor payments as well as material invoicing.
 Keep track and record of room setups and A/V requests, and. Communicate room setup changes to facilities staff, and coordinate between facilities staff, partners and resident artists of exhibitions programming as needed.
 With the Exhibitions Manager, organize and conduct exhibitions related evaluations.
 Maintain accurate and current filing systems related to the project.
 Field general inquiries about BYOP and redirect specific questions, and coordinate communication with the Exhibitions Manager and partners as needed. Explain the BYOProject to visitors, students, and evaluators.
 Collect and organize images, recordings, text and other exhibition-related material and provide to Communications Director and Grants Manager in timely manner.
 Assist with exhibitions installation and gallery spaces preparation.
 Assist the Exhibitions Manager with exhibition jurying processes.
 Assist the Exhibitions Manager to install labels, lettering, and interpretive signage to be used within exhibition spaces.
 Manage registration paperwork, and handling required to properly display, loan, sell, and/or transport artwork.
 Carry out other such duties as may be assigned or requested

SPECIFICATIONS / QUALIFICATIONS:
 Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience.
 Must have some availability on Saturdays and evenings.
 Minimum two years of experience with proven track record in administrative support and/or program coordination in a non-profit organization and volunteer management.
 Bilingual and able to read, write and speak (Spanish or Vietnamese.)
 Community engagement experience a plus.

BASELINE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
 Superb writing and verbal skills.
 Strong administrative skills.
 Must be literate in Microsoft Office: Word, Excel and Powerpoint.
 Basic knowledge of digital camera and Photoshop or Illustrator.
 Must be culturally competent, flexible, and committed to working as part of a team.
 Audio/Visual recording/editing experience a plus.
 Translation experience a plus.

ABILITIES:
 Confident and capable in managing time and activities deliberately and efficiently; ability to work independently in a professional, self-directed manner under pressure.
 Ability to communicate thoughtfully and clearly with audiences of diverse ages, backgrounds, and ethnicities.
 Understanding of program development and community engagement
 Strong sense of accountability with a “can-do” attitude.
 Minor lifting and bending (lifting/moving of no more than 50 pounds.)
 Feel comfortable working on ladders or high structures.
 Ability to sit up to seven hours.
 Valid PA driver’s license.

To Apply:
If this description seems like a good match for your personality, skills, and career goals please send us a cover letter, resume, and two references by email only to [email protected]. Subject line: Exhibitions Assistant. No phone calls please. Applications for this position will be accepted until the position is filled.