Susan Duncan ’75 and Leo Fisher ’75 Curatorial Fellow in Modern and Contemporary Art

This fall, the Allen Memorial Art Museum is launching three year-long curatorial fellowships, supported by the Susan Duncan ’75 and Leo Fisher ’75 AMAM Curatorial Fellowship Fund. One fellowship is available in each of the museum’s three curatorial collections (Asian Art, European and American art, and Modern and Contemporary Art). The fellows will engage in curatorial research as well as provide administrative support for the curators. The fellowship is designed both to deepen research skills as well as to introduce students to critical aspects of the full range of curatorial work. In addition to working with the individual curators, the fellowship will also include career-centered conversations with other museum staff and other museum professionals as well as travel to northeast Ohio museums, conservation studios, and arts organizations. The fellowship extends over both semesters of the academic year at 10 hours per week as well as full-time employment in summer 2027, allowing time to create substantial, tangible outcomes to be part of a professional portfolio after leaving Oberlin. The aim of this program is to provide substantive support to the museum’s curatorial program and to provide depth of experience to set up students for greater success in the increasingly competitive market for curatorial positions. The fellows are expected to commit to the full arc of the fellowship, and students graduating in May 2027 are not eligible to apply.

A current Oberlin student is sought for the newly created role of Duncan Curatorial Fellow in Modern and Contemporary Art at the Allen Memorial Art Museum for the 2026-2027 year. The fellow will assist the Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art (1900-present) in research, writing, preparations for upcoming exhibitions, and other duties as assigned. Mentorship and professionalization are important components of the position. The position is 10 hours/week for the academic year (excluding Winter Term) and 40 hours/week in summer 2027. The candidate is expected to schedule their working time in-person at the museum Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, with occasional evening and weekend events.