Curatorial and Conservation Research Fellows

The Hispanic Society Museum & Library is pleased to announce four (4) paid Research Fellowships in the Curatorial and Conservation areas awarded by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. The Fellowship runs from the fall of 2022 to Summer of 2023 (approximately 9 months).

Positions:

1. Research Fellow: Latin American Identity & Iconography in the Hispanic Society’s Collections.
2. Research Fellow: Spanish Art in the Hispanic Society Collections and elsewhere in the United States
3. Research Fellow: Conservation Treatment of objects, paintings, textiles of Spanish & Latin American art
4. Research Fellow: Spanish and Latin American written works from the 17th to 20th centuries

Type:

Part-Time Paid Intern: (Fall 2022 to Summer 2023)

Location:

613 West 155th Street @ Broadway, New York, NY 10032

Pay Rate:

$300 per week for 14-16 hours per week for 9 months (not eligible for benefits)

About the Hispanic Society:

The Hispanic Society Museum & Library was founded in New York City in 1904 by Archer Milton. Huntington with the purpose of advancing the study and appreciation of the art, literature, and culture of Spain, Portugal, Latin America, and the Philippines. Located on Audubon Terrace (Broadway between 155th and 156th streets) in New York City, today, the museum and library collections ranging from antiquity through the early twentieth century are widely recognized as the most comprehensive in scope and quality outside of Spain. Museum highlights from its over 7,000 paintings and drawings include masterworks by El Greco, Velázquez, Goya, and Sorolla; sculpture by Pedro de Mena and Luisa Roldán; Latin American paintings by Vázquez, López de Arteaga, Rodríguez Juárez, Arrieta and Campeche; as well as over 6,000 decorative arts objects. Additionally, 15,000 prints afford a unique view into the graphic arts in Spain from the seventeenth to the early twentieth century, as well as 4,000 printed maps. More than 175,000 photographs from 1850 through the early twentieth century document the art, culture, and customs of Spain and Latin America. The Library offers unrivaled resources for researchers interested in the history and culture of Spain, Portugal, Latin America, and the Philippines, with more than 300,000 books and periodicals, including 15,000 volumes printed before 1701, along with over 250,000 manuscripts, letters, and documents dating from the eleventh century to the present. For more information about the institution: https://hispanicsociety.org/

Position Overview:

Under the supervision of a curator or team of curators, each Fellow will conduct research within one of the four general areas noted above. In addition to research and tasks aligned with their own academic interests, fellows will be assigned short term rotations in two departments outside their primary placement. Finally as integral parts of a diverse team of museum professionals, fellows will also participate in institution-wide activities and support the overall mission and vision of the Hispanic Society. Through independent research and hands-on experience Fellows will gain a deeper understanding of : (1) the function of a curatorial department within the larger institution; (2) museum registration methods; (3) widely used object management databases; (4) applications of databases and other technology in museum work; (5) coordination among curators, registrars, librarians, conservators, educators, and collections management and; (6) effective social and educational impact; and (7) equity and representation issues in museums and associated libraries and their role in raising awareness of the values of specific cultural traditions, especially those which in the past have not been equally valued or resourced in United States cultural institutions.

We seek advanced graduate or professional students or recent graduates in art history, history, art conservation, museum studies, library and archival studies or any discipline or interdisciplinary program in the humanities or social sciences related to the mission and collections of the Hispanic Society Museum & Library. We encourage applicants with interests in of nonprofit institution management, the operation and function of museums and libraries, and broad cultural and social issues. Emphasis will be placed on hands-on work and independent research, for approximately 14 hours per week during the academic year for a residence of approximately 38 to 48 weeks. 

Responsibilities:

The Hispanic Society (HSA) seeks Fellows to work with the curators and the departmental administrator/registrar with several key tasks related to collection management and museum operations. Besides independent research, additional responsibilities may include (but are not limited to) assisting with object registration and the ongoing development of the HSA object management database (TMS – The Museum System or Mandarin – Library database); consulting catalogues, and verifying data in TMS or Mandarin to prepare such data for inclusion in eMuseum; assisting with object inventories in storerooms; documenting movements of objects; drafting catalogue entries, and assisting with the planning of special exhibitions, including rights and reproductions and managing object photography; assisting with outgoing loans; assisting curators with researching, cataloguing, and documenting objects; building object files; and being available as the Department interacts with the Education Program, and other institution-wide functions.

Qualifications:

-MA or PhD candidates or early career Post Graduate
-Bilingual English and Spanish strongly preferred. Reading proficiency in Spanish required
-Past experience in a museum or cultural arena preferred
-Excellent research and writing skills required 

We strongly encourage applicants from diverse economic and racial backgrounds in keeping with the Hispanic Society’s initiatives to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion at every level of the institution. The Fellows will be selected from graduate programs from local New York City Metropolitan Area universities/colleges, and the emphasis will be on students whose focus of study is art history, history, anthropology, museum studies, conservation, library studies, and associated disciplines, and particularly those who are considering careers in the museum field.

Hispanic Society Status:

The Hispanic Society is a not-for-profit museum and library and an equal opportunity employer that will assure compliance with EEO, DBE, an M/WBE programs

Application Instructions:

Send resume, cover letter and 2 references ( 1 academic and 1 professional) to education@hispanicsociety.org Please include in the subject line “Research Fellow” along with the intended research area: Conservation, Library, Spanish Art, or Latin American Art. EXTENDED DEADLINE: October 15, 2022.