Mellon Post-doctoral Fellowship in European Art

Job Description

Job Description

We Are Committed to an Inclusive Workplace

At the Philadelphia Art Museum, we actively seek to employ a diverse group of people who embody our organizational values. We welcome and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply, especially those from marginalized and underrepresented groups in the museum field, who are inspired by our shared purpose and enjoy working collaboratively with others.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship or immigration status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected status.

How You Will Contribute

We are looking for an outstanding scholar to join our team as a Post-doctoral Fellow funded by an endowment established by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. This Mellon Fellow will work with curators in European Art on an exhibition exploring how artists and audiences in Baroque Rome understood and engaged the senses. The exhibition will bring together paintings, sculptures, and objects to immerse visitors in the buzzing intellectual world of Counter-Reformation Europe where the senses took on significance as pathways towards a more profound knowledge of God or as gateways to vice. The Fellow will be involved in all aspects of exhibition preparation, including object research, loan requests and condition reporting, catalogue preparation, interpretive planning, and installation design and realization. The Fellow will be encouraged to do original research that will contribute to the exhibition’s publication and interpretation.

Mellon Fellowships provide foundational training for individuals interested in curatorial careers and are designed to give the candidate a broad range of curatorial experience. The Philadelphia Art Museum is one of the premier art institutions in the world with a collection comprising nearly 250,000 objects representing many different cultures and historical periods ranging from medieval art in Europe and the arts of China, Japan, and Korea to modern and contemporary art. The collection is cared for by six curatorial departments: American Art; Asian Art; Costume and Textiles; European Art; Modern and Contemporary Art; and Prints, Drawings and Photographs.

Mellon Fellows are fully integrated into a specific curatorial department that matches their area of study, and they collaborate closely with conservation, learning and engagement, information services, and registrarial staff, in addition to the curatorial team. Fellows have access to the museum’s library and

enjoy all professional benefits extended to museum staff. In addition, as part of their general training, Fellows will have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of museum activities, such as volunteer training, art history lectures, and gallery tours.

The term of appointment for this Fellowship will be two years with possible extension for a third year. The fellowship is anticipated to begin in early 2026. Some funds for research and travel expenses will be available.

Specifically, you will:

• Conduct object research and prepare exhibition materials for internal and external stakeholders in consultation with curators.
• Help to prepare loan letters and maintain correspondence with lenders.
• Develop and maintain a TMS exhibition module and “object packages” with up-to-date information, including display requirements and loan conditions.
• Assist in obtaining publishable photographs and permissions for works in the exhibition and publication.
• Research and develop up-to-date bibliographic references for all works in the exhibition.
• Help to prepare grants and other fundraising materials.
• Work with curators and interpretive staff to develop and realize a robust interpretive plan.
• Communicate object information and installation plans to the exhibition team as needed (registrars, conservators, exhibition designers, etc.).
• Help coordinate the work of the Conservation departments in preparing works of art for exhibition.
• Draft tombstone and didactic labels for artworks in the exhibition.
• Attend all work meetings and assist with inter-departmental coordination.
• Help to train museum guides in the exhibition material and lead exhibition tours.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Your background and experience include:

• A Ph.D. in art history or a related field that aligns with the exhibition.
• Demonstration of scholarly excellence and promise.
• A strong interest in pursuing a career as a museum curator.
• An ability to work collaboratively.
• Strong skills in communication, organization, and time management

Position and Compensation Details

• The salary for this position is $55,000.
• This position is Full-Time, Exempt and 35 hours per week.
• This position is part of the AFSCME Local 397 bargaining unit.
• This position reports to The Gloria and Jack Drosdick Curator of European Painting and Sculpture and Curator of the John G. Johnson Collection
• This position is required to be performed fully onsite at Philadelphia Museum of Art locations.
• This is a two-year term position with a possible extension through December 2028.
• Physical requirements:
  • Able to remain stationary for extended periods of time, to utilize computers and other office equipment required of this job, to perform physically administrative duties in a typical interior office environment, gallery, or exhibit space, and to access most public and staff areas of the museum campus
• Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

Institutional Requirements

• Upholds the professional standards of the field, always acts in a manner that is consistent with the best interests of the museum and protects and enhances its reputation and standing within the community of museums.
• Adheres to the museum’s code of ethics and Employee Handbook and avoids any real or perceived conflicts of interest.
• Shows respect for co-workers and visitors and an understanding of and appreciation for the diversity of the museum’s staff, volunteers, and audiences.
• Maintains confidentiality.
• Adheres to all museum protocols, procedures, rules, and policies.

Application Timeline

The deadline to submit applications is January 31st , 2026

Please include the following with your application:

• A cover letter outlining your interest in the fellowship.
• A statement, not to exceed 1,000 words, describing your area of research and potential relationship to the exhibition.
• A copy of a published paper or a writing sample (no more than 10MB); a link to the document is preferred.
• Curriculum vitae with education, employment, honors, awards, and publications.
• You will be asked to submit two letters of reference during the interview stage of the process.

What We Offer

Our employees are at the center of the museum. As an employee, you will have access to numerous museum perks including, but not limited to:

• Free general admission to the museum for you and your immediate family
• Discounted guest tickets for admission
• Discounts on gift memberships
• Special staff tours and presentations from our curatorial and conservation teams
• Discounts at the museum restaurant, museum cafés, and museum retail and online stores

We offer a comprehensive benefits package for employees including:

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Fully paid short-term disability insurance, long-term disability insurance, and life insurance
• Health savings or flexible spending account program
• Retirement savings program with museum match
• Paid vacation, personal days, sick days, and holidays

*Eligibility for certain benefits is based on a variety of factors including the employee’s regular schedule and tenure.

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