ASSISTANT CURATOR, FINE ART
Fine Art
In New Jersey, Assistant Curator, Fine Art is filled through the competitive process: candidates take a civil service exam and are hired off a ranked list, not picked at will.
Qualifying takes a master's degree and 2 years of relevant experience. The FY 2027 range lands between $79,844 and $117,228, and state payroll currently lists 4 people in the title, most of them at State.
How to apply
This title is filled by competitive examination.
See every real route in, and where to apply. One agency employs it. We don't track live vacancies.
See where to apply for this title →Who employs this title
Assistant Curator, Fine Art appears on the State payroll at one department, Department of State.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of State | 4 |
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 4 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $91,592. The agencies employing the most are:
- State (4)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
Under the general supervision of the Curator of Fine Art in the State Museum, Department of State, initiates, plans, researches, implements, and evaluates exhibitions in 18th through 21st century American art; seeks, researches, and administers travelling exhibitions from other museums and museum service agencies for presentation at the New Jersey State Museum; conducts research on the permanent collections of the New Jersey State Museum; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
- Determines requirements for effective collections and exhibitions of American art from the 18th century to the present; assesses appropriateness of objects in the collection or proposed for the collection for use in exhibitions, publications, and programs, and conducts research required to implement programs.
- Determines requirements for New Jersey Artists exhibition programs, assesses appropriateness of objects in the collection or proposed for the collection for use in exhibitions, publications, and programs, and conducts research required to implement programs.
- Researches objects in the collection or proposed for the collection including ownership history, aesthetic value, market value, artist, period, style, and medium.
- Researches exhibition and collection possibilities; maintains current information on artists and craftspeople living and/or working in the state; reviews current scholarly literature, visits museums, art centers and galleries, studio and exhibition locations, reviews media covering activities of artists and craftspeople, and college and workshop programs; maintains scholarly contacts.
- Provides recommendations of artists to be included in the exhibition series, purchases for the collections, gift acceptances, or deaccessioning of objects; selects works for exhibitions from artists and private or public collections based on aesthetic excellence, appropriateness to subject, availability, and other appropriate factors.
- Plans installation design to accommodate works selected for exhibitions.
- Provides guidance and instruction to museum personnel and/or volunteers in the care and management of objects in the collection including assessment of condition, proper storage and handling, and accurate, complete location records.
- Prepares loan forms, condition reports, insurance forms, and all other forms for loans used in the exhibition.
- Electronically catalogs objects in the collection or on loan for exhibits.
- Writes publication-ready copy for brochures, catalogs, and announcements which document and/or interpret the exhibition to the public.
- Prepares information for use in communication to the general public via the press and other media.
- Researches sources for outside funding based on knowledge of possible connections between the bureau's collections and foundations, corporations, governmental agencies, and individuals.
- Takes photographs of fine art objects for research and documentation.
- Collaborates with Exhibits staff or contract designers on exhibition design.
- Coordinates with other museum bureaus in planning and implementation of exhibitions.
- Establishes and maintains records and files necessary for the implementation and documentation of exhibitions, and prepares reports as required.
- Participates and/or serves on museum committees, professional associations, and support organizations.
- Prepares reports on exhibitions as required by museum administration.
- Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Education
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree in Fine Art, Art History, or Studio Art.
Experience
Two (2) years of experience in the field of fine art, one (1) year of which shall have involved performing curatorial duties related to collecting, researching, and exhibiting in a museum, college/university art gallery, or visual arts center.
License
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Knowledge of museum methodology including registrarial procedures, collection care and management, and exhibition planning in a museum.
- Knowledge of research techniques and methods.
- Knowledge of the history of contemporary American fine art and crafts and/or 18th through 21st century American art.
- Knowledge of the current trends and movements in American fine art and crafts.
- Knowledge of the methods used to select and prepare materials for exhibition.
- Knowledge of the methods used to catalog fine art collections.
- Ability to identify research references and current literature covering contemporary American fine art and crafts and 18th through 21st century American art.
- Ability to relate contemporary New Jersey fine art and crafts trends to national trends and/or relate 18th through 21st century American art to New Jersey history.
- Ability to communicate to a variety of audiences including the general public, artists, craftspeople, the press, and specialized fine art and crafts and art history clientele.
- Ability to work harmoniously with museum staff and outside consultants.
- Ability to coordinate activities with those of other bureaus in the museum.
- Ability to use a collections management system.
- Ability to catalog museum fine art objects and collections.
- Ability to research funding sources from foundations, corporations, governmental agencies, and individuals.
- Ability to prepare fine art reports, brochures, and other written materials.
- Ability to establish and maintain records and files.
- Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
- Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
- Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.