Riverside Art Museum is hiring: Museum Curator for the Cheech Marin Center for C

Museum Curator for the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture as part of the Riverside Art Museum

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The City of Riverside and the Riverside Art Museum: A Story of Cultural Legacy & Civic Collaboration

The City of Riverside has long stood as a cultural crossroads in Southern California—a city rich in history, civic pride, and a deep, ongoing commitment to the arts. Within this vibrant community, the Riverside Art Museum (RAM) anchors two architectural and cultural landmarks: the historic Julia Morgan-designed museum and The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture—each serving as a pillar of creativity, inclusion, and community engagement.

At the heart of RAM is a building designed by Julia Morgan, one of the most influential architects of the 20th century and the first woman licensed to practice architecture in California. Completed in 1929, the building originally served as a YWCA—a hub of social progress and women’s empowerment. Today, it serves as a dynamic space for rotating exhibitions, arts education, and cultural dialogue. Preserving and programming within this historic space is both an honor and a responsibility.

Just steps away, another story unfolds at The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture—affectionately known as “The Cheech.”Opened in 2022 through a groundbreaking public‑private partnership, The Cheech is the nation’s first permanent museum space dedicated to Chicano art. It houses the personal collection of actor, comedian, and art advocate Cheech Marin, comprising more than 500 works by Chicano artists. Located in the city’s former public library—a 1964 modernist building thoughtfully repurposed—the center represents not just an evolution of space, but an evolution of purpose: celebrating identity, voice, and representation in the arts stewardship.

This visionary endeavor was made possible through a collaborative agreement between RAM, the City of Riverside, and Cheech Marin, who together built a new model for civic and cultural partnership. The city invested in the renovation and preservation of the library building; Cheech Marin contributed his extensive collection and public support; and RAM stepped forward to serve as the operating partner—bringing deep curatorial, administrative, and educational experience to the effort.

The Riverside Art Museum, inclusive of these two institutions, reflects the City of Riverside’s commitment to honoring its past while boldly investing in the future of art, culture, and community inclusion. They stand as powerful examples of what can happen when a city, its citizens, and its cultural leaders come together to create something truly transformative.

Riverside Art Museum (RAM) inclusive of

The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture (The Cheech)

Our mission is to uplift diverse artistic and cultural voices, cultivate inclusive exhibitions, collections and educational programming, engage in transformative conversations, and foster strong community connections.

JOB SUMMARY:

In accordance with the museum’s strategic plan, The Cheech Curator will organize exhibitions and related programming, research and recommend collection acquisitions, and amplify the museum’s collection. To enhance our operations the Curator will foster relationships with community, cultural and educational institutions, artists, collectors, funders, and others.

Leadership and Operational Management

The Cheech Curator is responsible for the artistic and intellectual oversight of the museum's collection and for developing and managing exhibitions that align with the institution's mission and vision. This role involves leadership of the center’s exhibition/collection care team, and collaboration with various departments to ensure the preservation, presentation, programming, funding, and promotion of exhibitions, catalogs and The Cheech Center Collection / Cheech Marin Collection of Chicano Art.

Financial Management and Fund Development

The Cheech Curator will contribute to the development and management of exhibition budgets, explore funding opportunities, and assist in writing proposals for grants and sponsorship.

Relationship Building & Communications

The Cheech Curator will cultivate and maintain relationships including artists, collectors, funders, arts and culture organizations, museum professionals, educational institutions, and community partners. They will collaborate with artists, guest curators, collectors, designers, contractors and RAM colleagues, including education, development, marketing, interpretation, guest experience, and finance departments to advance the museum’s mission.

CORE JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Research feasibility, propose, and present exhibitions annually furthering the institution’s strategic plan and exhibition program goals;
• Research and curate works of the unparalleled Cheech Marin Collection of Chicano Art of the Riverside Art Museum for premier annual exhibitions;
• With community, develop and present Community Gallery shows highlighting artists and themes relevant to the Inland Empire region;
• Manage production of a Cheech Collection catalogue celebrating The Cheech’s 5 th anniversary in June 2027;
• Research and recommend collection acquisitions, working with Cheech Marin, RAM colleagues and Collections and Acquisitions Committee and other stakeholders;
• Oversee the care, preservation, and documentation of existing collections;
• Work with the Registrar for all incoming/outgoing loans, deeds of gifts, and acquisitions;
• Collaborate with the Exhibition / Art Preparation team over aspects of packing, shipping, installation and deinstallation;
• Collaborate with RAM colleagues to produce programming and interpretive materials that furthers exhibition themes and audience engagement;
• Participate in various committees, and attend meetings as needed including convenings of The Cheech National Advisory Committee;
• Provide quarterly exhibition updates for the RAM Board of Trustees;
• Collaborate with Director of Philanthropy in development of the exhibition fundraising strategy;
• Consult on creation of exhibition marketing materials;
• Manage contracts and invoices from artists, guest curators, designers and others for payment and management of services rendered;
• Represent the museum at public events, community meetings, interactions with RAM partners, and at scheduled media happenings;
• Nurture a culture of safety, security, inclusion and belonging;
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in fine arts, art history, or other related field;
• Expertise in US Chicanx and Latinx art;
• Demonstrated ability to engage diverse audiences and tell compelling stories through art;
• Proven experience in curating exhibitions and managing collections;
• Flexibility for occasional travel, evening, and weekend work;
• Understanding of museum operations;
• Successful background check.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

• Health care for the employee;
• 2 weeks paid vacation time per year;
• Employer matching formula for simple IRA;
• $72,000 to $90,500 annual salary, DOE.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT:

RAM is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Interested candidates should submit a single attachment that includes a resume and cover letter to careers@riversideartmuseum.org. The subject of your email should be: Cheech Curator – Your Name. Thank you in advance for your interest in the Riverside Art Museum. Due to the volume of applicants, only candidates invited to interview will be contacted. Position is open until it is filled.

Seniority level

Mid-Senior level

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Design, Art/Creative, and Information Technology

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