The UCLA Latin American Institute is partnering with the Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) to select a graduate student fellow for the American Latino Museum Internship and Fellowship Initiative / MOLAA Digitization Project.
ABOUT THE MUSEUM OF LATIN AMERICAN ART
The Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) was founded in 1996 in Long Beach, California and serves the greater Los Angeles area. MOLAA is the only museum in the United States dedicated to modern and contemporary Latin American and Latino art.
MISSION
The Museum of Latin American Art expands knowledge and appreciation of modern and contemporary Latin American and Latino art through its collection, ground-breaking exhibitions, stimulating educational programs and engaging cultural events.
INTERNSHIP DESCRIPTION
Under the direct supervision of the MOLAA Chief curator and Registrar, the IMLS Fellow (Fellow) will assist the MOLAA Curatorial Department with the expansion of the collections management database while gaining knowledge and experience in general collections management skills through their primary project and additional related tasks. The Fellow will have scheduled meetings with the Chief Curator and Registrar to present and guide the primary project and supervise the timely completion of assigned tasks, as well as discuss how this project and other tasks fit into the Museum’s goals.
Primary Project
Over the span of the program, the Fellow will be expected to assist with the digitization of MOLAA’s Permanent Collection of artwork. This will include artwork handling, inventory, research and writing, as well as cataloging artworks in the collections database. The primary result of this project is to augment the Museum’s physical and digital artwork records to be used internally as well as in a new public facing online platform. The primary project may be expanded to include more work pending the timing and other secondary collections related tasks in relation to the ongoing inventory, exhibition schedule, and other curatorial topics.
Goals and Expectations of the Primary Project
- Artwork Digitization: a) Assist Photographer and Registrar in the digitization of MOLAA’s Permanent Collection. This will include object handling, research and use of the collections database. b) Gain an understanding of collections database use and standards for data capture, input and backup.
- Artwork & Artist Research: The Fellow will be expected to conduct research to expand the information in MOLAA’s physical and digital artwork records. This will include researching artists, artwork provenance, and other relevant information. Prepare short essays.
- Record Keeping: In addition to digital records, MOLAA keeps extensive physical records of all artworks. The Fellow will assist with records digitization, organization and research and will become familiar with standard collection documentation.
- Inventory: Assist the Registrar in completing a full inventory of the MOLAA collections. Gain an understanding of inventory workflows, various object types, and appropriate labeling practices.
- Cataloguing: Through direct examination of artworks, create and supplement meticulous information to be added to object records in the collections database.
- Condition Reporting: a) Physically examine artworks and create records of current conditions as part of the museum’s preventive preservation practices. b) Assess objects for conservation needs and make determinations as to priority
level.
- Art Handling and Installation: The Fellow will be expected to assist in pulling and installing artworks for digitization, as well as returning artworks to collections storage. This will include tracking object movements in the collections database.
- Prepare a public presentation of the research and explore potential curatorial exhibition about MOLAA Collection
- Participate in panel discussions and debates about the MOLAA Collection and the art history of Latin American and Latinx artists.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Support the Curatorial Department in strengthening the collections database through building more extensive physical and digital artwork records for the MOLAA Collection.
- Assist with broad research of artworks and artists with the goal of expanding artwork records.
- Assist with the complete inventory of the MOLAA Collection.
- Learn about object handling and preventive preservation practices.
- Assist with tracking artwork conditions and updating storage practices.
- Meet deadlines and communicate proactively; provide timely status updates.
- Assist the Curatorial Department with additional collections related tasks, as determined, including current and upcoming exhibition preparation.
- Create a final report summarizing fellowship activities.
Background and Interests
The Fellow should demonstrate interest and/or skills in the following areas:
- Collections management/ Museum studies
- Curatorial practice
- Modern and contemporary Latin American and Latino art
- Artwork/ provenance research
- Detail-oriented
- Organization skills
- Comfortable working independently
- Demonstrate follow-through on assigned tasks (ask questions, check in with supervisor if direction is needed/ when tasks are completed, etc.)
Training and Transferable Skills
MOLAA Chief curator will work closely with the Fellow to provide a working knowledge of best practices for collections acquisitions, research, and curatorial practices. MOLAA’s Registrar will work closely with the Fellow to provide a working knowledge of best practices for collections management and artwork record keeping. The Fellow will receive walk-throughs on the collections database, highlighting the specific features that they will use, as well as the organization systems used at MOLAA for artwork record keeping. Additionally, the Fellow will receive training in art handling, object labeling, condition reporting and other related collections management skills and standard software used in the professional field.
Fellowship Details
Eligibility: Open to UCLA graduate students who are US citizens, permanent residents, or DACA recipients.
Amount: Stipend of $40,000. Please note: this fellowship does not cover UCLA fee remission. Continued UCLA fee remission must be arranged with your department upon accepting the award.
Fellowship Period: January - December 2025
Workload: 30 hours/week, with 1-2 days/week on-site in Long Beach
Application Details
Required Materials
- Completed application form
- CV
- Statement of purpose (up to 6 pages)
- Writing sample (4-8 pages)
- Two letters of recommendation
A UCLA committee will review applications from UCLA graduate students and forward finalists to MOLAA, who will select Fellows from applicants nominated by UCLA and other participating universities.
Internal application deadline: December 6, 2024
Please direct questions to Bryan Pitts, Assistant Director of the Latin American Institute, bpitts@international.ucla.edu.