About the role#
The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is hiring a Collections Fellow for a part-time, grant-funded position. This role is designed for early-career museum professionals, recent graduates, and current graduate students. You will report to the Director of Archives, Library, and Collections and work alongside curators and registrars. The fellowship runs from January 2027 through December 2027.
What you'll do#
Your work is divided between the permanent collection and the John Rhoden Collection. You will receive training in the Axiell database and participate in daily museum operations.
- Support collections assessment, care, and refinement through research and administrative tasks.
- Prepare condition reports and review catalogued works of art.
- Verify provenance, exhibition histories, and bibliographic references while documenting critical opinions from literature.
- Assist with scheduling meetings and act as a liaison between departments.
- Manage sculpture inventory and distribution data in the collection management database.
- Coordinate distribution timelines, travel arrangements, and correspondence for the John Rhoden Collection.
- Prepare reports, presentations, and expense documentation.
What you'll need#
- A bachelor's degree is required, and a master's degree in art history or a related field is preferred.
- Experience in a museum, gallery, or similar setting is preferred.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite is required.
- Experience with scholarly research databases, collection management software, and photo editing tools is preferred.
- Strong interpersonal, written communication, and research skills.
- Ability to handle multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and pay close attention to detail.
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
Location & details#
- Location: 128 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA.
- This is an on-site, part-time position requiring 20 hours per week.
- Compensation is $20 per hour.
- This position is not eligible for employee benefits.
About Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is a nonprofit organization based in Philadelphia. It maintains a museum focused on 19th and 20th century American art alongside a specialized school of fine arts. The institution employs 164 people and operates from a location on North Broad Street. Its facilities include galleries, studios, and archives for the study of American art history.
How to get in at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
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