Curatorial Associate

Overview

Murals of La Jolla is seeking a Curatorial Associate to support its acclaimed public art program. Murals of La Jolla, a project of the Athenaeum, was initiated in 2010 by the La Jolla Community Foundation and later transferred to the Athenaeum as its nonprofit fiscal umbrella. The mural project was conceived as a means to enhance the civic character of the community by commissioning public art projects throughout La Jolla. Artists are invited to create new artworks, all located on public-facing private property and all privately funded. There are currently 16 murals on view and the project has commissioned 50 artworks to date. An international roster of renowned artists creates provocative site-specific works accessible to anyone in the public realm.

The Curatorial Associate will work closely with the Executive Director and to support all aspects of the program’s operations—including curatorial coordination, artist and committee communications, event planning, donor engagement, and public outreach.

This is a part-time, hourly position. While remote, the role requires San Diego residency and the ability to be on-site for mural installations and in-person events as needed.

Key Responsibilities

Project Coordination & Curatorial Support

• Assist with artist research, invitations, and proposal coordination
• Support the Executive Director in communications with artists, property owners, and fabricators
• Help prepare materials for Art Advisory Committee meetings and distribute updates
• Track project timelines, milestones, and deliverables

Communications & Outreach

• Draft and schedule social media posts and assist with basic content creation
• Support preparation and distribution of press releases and e-newsletters
• Help coordinate artist talks, walking tours, and community events
• Lead occasional public walking tours of the murals, including private tours for schools or groups
• Maintain and regularly update website content, including mural listings, event info, and news
• Assist in ensuring consistency across digital platforms and promotional materials
• Help organize donor/member events, including logistics, invitations, and materials
• Assist with writing and editing artist statements and project descriptions for each mural, ensuring consistency in tone and alignment with the project’s curatorial vision

General Administration

• Provide administrative support to the Executive Director and project team
• Assist with documentation, filing, and general coordination as needed

Education / Experience

• Minimum B.A. in Art, Art History, or related field is desirable
• Previous experience working with contemporary art, public art, or nonprofit arts organizations
• Familiarity with artist-centered workflows, community engagement, or curatorial practices is a plus

Qualifications

• Demonstrated interest in contemporary art, public art, and/or nonprofit cultural work
• Strong writing, communication, and organizational skills
• Proficiency with Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Drive), and familiarity with social media platforms (Instagram and Facebook)
• Experience with website content management systems (such as Squarespace)
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple deadlines, and stay detail-oriented
• Flexible and collaborative mindset; prior experience working on a small team is a plus
• Based in San Diego County with ability to attend occasional in-person events and site visits

Other Information

• The hourly range for part-time is commensurate with experience: $25-$30/hour
• As a remote position, must be able and willing to work from a home office. Must be based in San Diego County and must be able to work on-site in La Jolla occasionally

To Apply

Please send a resume and cover letter to info@muralsoflajolla.com explaining how you believe your skills, background, and work experience could support Murals of La Jolla.

Deadline to apply is June 20.

Murals of La Jolla and the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library is committed to diversity and a workplace environment that respects, appreciates, and values employees from all backgrounds; candidates of color are strongly encouraged to apply.  We are an equal employment opportunity employer.  Our policy is to not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status (including registered domestic partnership status), sex and gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), gender identity and gender expression (including transgender individuals who are transitioning, have transitioned, or are perceived to be transitioning to the gender with which they identify), age (40 or over), sexual orientation, military and veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.  The Athenaeum and Murals of La Jolla prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories.