Spiegel Wilks Fellow

Spiegel Wilks Fellow

The Spiegel Wilks Fellow contributes to shaping the intellectual direction of ICA’s public engagement initiatives, connecting the Institute’s exhibition and programmatic work to the research and pedagogical mission of the University of Pennsylvania. The Fellow will cultivate academic and community partnerships, develop inquiry-driven programs, and help integrate contemporary artistic practices into broader conversations about art, ideas, and society. This two-year fellowship (with the option of a third year at the discretion of the Director of Public Engagement) offers a unique opportunity for an emerging scholar or cultural practitioner to engage deeply in curatorial and public-facing research within a leading contemporary art institution.

The Public Engagement & Research Department designs and implements a multidisciplinary platform for public programs, interpretive initiatives, community partnerships, and academic engagement at the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA). Through lectures, workshops, performances, and community-led programs, the department advances ICA’s mission to be a launchpad for contemporary art and ideas. Its work deepens audience engagement, fosters research, and strengthens connections across ICA’s diverse publics. These efforts expand ICA’s role as a civic resource, amplify its research mission, and enhance its impact within the University of Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia community, and more broadly in the field nationally and internationally.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

• Serve as an active partner in shaping the intellectual content of ICA’s public programs.
• Collaborate with curators, artists, and the Director and Curator of Public Engagement & Research to develop themes, topics, and participants for lectures, conversations, and performances that expand ICA’s research mission.
• Manage and maintain relationships with invited artists, speakers, and cultural organizations, including coordination of travel, accommodations, honoraria, and related logistics.
• Facilitate undergraduate Student Board (ICASB) meetings and the Visiting Artist Lecture Series in partnership with the Director and Curator of Public Engagement & Research.
• Support opportunities for Penn students to engage directly with artists, curators, and visiting scholars.
• Build and sustain connections across the University of Pennsylvania and with external academic and cultural institutions.
• Collaborate on developing rigorous and interdisciplinary methods of inquiry through programming, publishing, and academic courses that advance ICA’s role as a site for research and teaching.
• Coordinate culminating presentations or symposia related to annual research themes and contribute to documentation, evaluation, and dissemination of public engagement initiatives.
• Work collaboratively across ICA departments as needed, contributing to other public programming or special projects.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree, and 1 to 2 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.

• Have excellent writing, research, and communication skills.

• Be highly organized, detail-oriented, and proactive, with excellent time management and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

• Be a self-starter who can work both independently and collaboratively.

• Demonstrate a strong interest in ICA’s mission and a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

• Possess 1–2 years of related experience in a cultural institution, university, or nonprofit setting.

• A degree and/or course work in art history, cultural anthropology, design, or a related field preferred.

• Be proficient in Microsoft Office 365, Google Workspace, Adobe Suite, and project management software.

• Application Requirement

• A Cover Letter and Resume/CV are required to be considered for this position. Please upload your Cover Letter where it asks you to upload your Resume/CV; multiple documents are allowed.

• Please note that this is a term position with a target end date of 10/1/2028

• Job Location - City, State

• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

• Department / School

• Provost's Center

• Pay Range

• $21.52 - $28.84 Hourly Rate

• Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job’s level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

• Equal Opportunity Statement

• The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

• Special Requirements

• Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

• University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.