Fowler Staff Positions
Provenance and Collections Specialist
The Fowler Museum at UCLA seeks a Provenance and Collections Specialist to participate in a research project devoted looted art from the Benin Kingdom in US University Museum collections. The project, supported by a major grant from the Mellon Foundation, will convene a consortium of university museums holding looted arts from the Benin Kingdom to collectively work on museum policies related to voluntary ethical restitution and the return of looted objects to Nigeria.
For more information, click here.
Mellon Curatorial Fellow on Oceania
The Fowler Museum at UCLA seeks a Mellon Curatorial Fellow to participate in a research project devoted to the Museum’s Oceanic art collections. The project, supported by a major grant from the Mellon Foundation, will focus on Oceanic objects from the Sir Henry Wellcome Collection that were donated to the Fowler between 1965-67.
For more information, click here.
Volunteering at the Fowler
Volunteers play an important role in supporting the visitor experience at the Fowler during public events. Current opportunities include visitor assistance at exhibition openings and public events. Help us to create an inclusive and engaging environment for guests by staffing check-in tables and assisting with event flow and logistics. Please complete the Volunteering Request Form if you are interested in joining us!
Opportunities for Students
Fowler Museum Store Sales associate
The Fowler Museum Store is looking for work-study students to fill store sales associate positions. While previous sales experience is not required, it is preferred. A friendly and outgoing personality and an eagerness to learn is a must. The sales associate position entails daily contact with museum and store visitors, along with museum and campus staff. Responsible for helping customers with merchandise, processing sales and refunds, replenishing floor stock when needed, inventory control, restocking store supplies, helping lobby staff when necessary, explaining museum benefits to potential new members, and providing exceptional customer service. Flexible schedules, weekends are a must, as are new exhibit openings. Must be able to work over the summer quarter.
This position requires basic computer skills, basic 10-key. Attention to detail is a must. Work-study students only.
To apply: send resume to kathleen.digenova@arts.ucla.edu
Fowler Museum Gallery Attendant
Part-time position, Work-Study preferred, but not required
Compensation: $17.90/hr
Under the supervision of the Museum security supervisors, perform the duties of gallery attendant by ensuring the safety of all artworks while on display in the Museum’s galleries. Ensure that Museum and its occupants are adequately protected against harm or loss while on duty. Conduct a thorough visual check of each artwork to check for any discrepancies and/or damage. Report all unusual findings immediately. Maintain a running count of daily gallery visitors and current gallery occupation. Assist with various museum events (receptions, parties, lectures, performances, etc.) including set-up and strike. Escort museum guests in secured locations. Comply with and enforce all Museum policies and procedures as instructed. Other related tasks as assigned.
How to apply: Email resume and a brief cover letter to Manuel Baltodano, Head of Security, at manuelb@arts.ucla.edu. This job is open for UCLA Undergraduate students only.
Those with Federal Work Study, please apply through MyUCLA, linked in the Work Study section below.
Fowler Student Educator Program
The Fowler Student Educator program engages UCLA undergraduates in different K-12 and university activities at the museum. The primary responsibilities are leading gallery conversations in the exhibition spaces and guiding art-making activities.
Student educators also assist with the organization and implementation of K-12 and Family programs and support ongoing projects and community engagement in the education department.
During the academic year, student educators enjoy professional development opportunities, including conversations with Fowler staff about museum education, curatorial practice, conservation, collections management, publications, and fundraising.
We invite candidates from a wide range of academic disciplines in order to foster cross-disciplinary perspectives and culturally responsive dialogues with K–12 and university students, teachers, and museum visitors.
Applicants will be evaluated on their commitment to maintaining an in-person work schedule during the week and their dedication to making global arts and cultures inspiring and accessible.
Please note that In-person work is an absolute requirement and occasionally there will be weekend programs.
How to apply: We are accepting applications for the 2025-26 academic year. Please send a cover letter, resume, and proof of Work Study Award to fowlereducation@arts.ucla.edu.
Work-Study
The Fowler offers paid work-study positions for UCLA students.
To review open work-study positions:
- Logon to MyUCLA
- Select Finances and Jobs
- Select Work-Study Job Search
Scholarships and Awards
2025 AWARDS FOR UCLA GRADUATE and Ph.D. STUDENTS
Administered by the Fowler Museum director in consultation with an interdisciplinary review committee, the following research and travel fellowships are offered for 2025:
The Ralph C. Altman Memorial Fund was established in 1967 by friends, students, and colleagues of the late Ralph C. Altman, founder and first director of what is now the Fowler Museum at UCLA. In his four years as director, Altman helped build the Museum’s holdings of non-Western art into one of the most distinguished collections in the world. The perpetuation of interest and scholarship in the field of non-Western arts through the training of graduate students was Altman’s foremost goal. Graduate and Ph.D. students from all fields and disciplines addressing non-Western arts may apply. This award carries a $4,000 stipend.
The Rubin/Pearlstone Awards were created by colleagues, friends, and family of the late scholars and life partners Arnold Rubin and Zena Pearlstone. These two awards honor Rubin’s and Pearlstone’s unique academic contributions and support continuing research in their areas of interest. Both scholars focused on the creative traditions of indigenous cultures as well as unconventional or under-recognized arts of contemporary peoples. Graduate and Ph.D. students working in these areas are welcome to apply. Each award carries a $3,000 stipend. The Arnold Rubin Award was established in 1988 to honor Rubin, a professor of art history at UCLA from 1967 until his death in 1988, at age 50. It is given annually to a graduate or Ph.D. student researching the arts and material culture of Africa, Oceania, and Native America, as well as the unconventional arts of living peoples regardless of geographic area. In 2023, Rubin’s daughter established the Zena Pearlstone Award to honor the late professor who taught art at Cal State Fullerton from 1998 to 2007. Formerly Rubin’s graduate student, decades later, Pearlstone became his partner and cared for him toward the end of his life. Graduate and Ph.D. students working in Pearlstone’s areas of interest may apply; these include the arts and material cultures of Native American peoples.
The Sarah Elizabeth Gilfillan Award was established in 2007 by family, friends, and colleagues of Sarah Gilfillan in her memory. She was associate director of development for the Fowler Museum and did curatorial work on several important Latin American projects. Fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, Ms. Gilfillan had extensive experience researching and working in art museums and galleries in Brazil, Mexico, and Spain. Her goal had been to enter a Ph.D. program in Latin American art history. This award provides a travel stipend of $3,000 to assist with field research or study abroad. Only Ph.D. students in the field of Latin American arts may apply.
Established in 2017 to honor the legacy of Charles E. Rozaire, the Rozaire Research Award celebrates his life’s work of conducting archaeological fieldwork and researching museum collections across California, the U.S. Southwest, and Mexico. The award supports costs associated with student research that analyzes existing material cultural collections and/or archives, with priority given to students using Fowler Museum collections and following indigenous research protocols. See Section 3 of https://www.uvic.ca/hsd/research/igovprotocol.pdf for an example of the latter. Undergraduate, graduate, and Ph.D. students may apply. This award carries a $2,500 stipend.
Recipients of all awards are expected to present their findings at a roundtable attended by the Fowler staff and credit their award in any resulting publication, a copy of which must be provided to the museum.
HOW TO APPLY:
Students from a wide range of departments are encouraged to apply. Please indicate on the application form the award(s) for which you are eligible. Selection is based on the merits of the applicant. Any graduate or Ph.D. student registered at UCLA or receiving a degree from UCLA and planning a career in a field related to the goals of these awards is eligible, with the exception of the Gilfillan Award, for which only UCLA Ph.D. candidates may apply. In all cases, preference will be given to Ph.D. candidates whose proposed project is directly related to their dissertation and who do not have other major sources of support.
Application forms are available here. You may also request an application by emailing Allison Bowman at abowman@arts.ucla.edu. Completed applications must be received by Wednesday, March 26, 2025, 6:00pm PST.