Exhibition Fellowship

Priority Deadline: Monday, September, 8, 2025, 11:59 pm

Root Division seeks an emerging arts professional who is passionate about exhibitions programming, curatorial practice, and gallery management to fill its Exhibitions Fellowship position from October 2025 through August 2026.

Please read instructions listed below thoroughly before applying.

Installation view of beyond self’s edge organized by Vanessa Perez Winder, Exhibitions Fellow 2024-25.

The Exhibitions Fellow will receive:

  • Project stipend of $5000 (disbursed in 10 monthly payments with project deliverables)
  • Participation in Root Division’s Curatorial Committee meetings
  • Access to free classes and professional development workshops
  • Invaluable training and hands on experience in a dynamic visual arts non profit

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

  1. Coordinate exhibitions for the Frank-Ratchye Studio Artist Project Space (FRPS): The Frank-Ratchye Studio Artist Project Space provides a space for Root Division Studio Artists to showcase their work. The FRPS is free and open to the public during gallery hours in conjunction with the Main Gallery exhibition. The Fellow will primarily conduct studio visits, schedule monthly exhibitions in the FRPS, and with the artist select artworks and organize exhibition materials (text, etc) as well as serve a support role with related tasks such as installation, image management, and copy editing. 
  2. Participate on the Curatorial Committee: Comprised of prominent Bay Area curators, artists and arts professionals, Root Division’s Curatorial Committee reviews and selects the guest-curated exhibitions for the 2nd Saturday Exhibition Series. The fellow will join the Curatorial Committee for the length of the fellowship, gaining valuable experience by attending two proposal review meetings and participating in strategic planning sessions with leadership.  

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES:

  1. Support of Main Gallery Programs: The Exhibitions Fellow will also have the opportunity to work in support of Root Division’s Curator, guest curators, installation team, and exhibiting artists to organize Root Division’s exhibitions and public programs in the Main Gallery or off-site. This includes the opportunity to support the quarterly jury review process, aid in exhibition design, catalog production, and technical support in the creation of 2nd Saturday programs.
  2. Contribute writing for Root Division: In addition to organizing  studio artist exhibitions in the Frank-Ratchye Studio Artist Project Space, the Fellow will have the opportunity to publish art writing in the form of artist interviews, articles, or another form of their choice.

Qualifications & requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in fine arts, curatorial studies, art history or a related field, or equivalent experience in exhibition coordination (Current students are eligible to apply).
  • Strong administrative and organizational skills, writing ability and computer skills (Mac, G Suite, Dropbox)
  • Ability to work with various constituencies from a wide variety of backgrounds, including Studio Artists, exhibiting artists, curators, jurors, staff, and supporters of the organization.
  • Enthusiasm for working independently and as a team to serve the community in an inclusive, creative, and fast-paced environment
  • To be available a minimum of 5 hours per week for a minimum total commitment of 20 hours per month from October 2025 through August 2026. The specific schedule will be worked out with the Curator and will include weekly hours onsite at Root Division, 2nd Saturday receptions, 1-2 weeknights per quarter for additional program activities or meetings, and additional hours if desired.

BENEFICIAL

  • Basic photo, video, graphic design, and/or web based skills (or a willingness to learn)
  • Marketing / public relations experience
  • Art handling or installation experience

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please submit the following materials in a single PDF document to submissions@rootdivision.org. 

Cover letter: Please introduce yourself and tell us: why you are interested in the Root Division community; how this fellowship would impact you as an arts professional; how your practice supporting exhibitions is related to the submitted images. Please add three references (contact name, email, phone) at the bottom of the letter.

Current resume/ CV 

Examples of past exhibition coordination, curatorial projects, or gallery work: (up to 5 images with captions.

Optional: Writing sample (2 page maximum). This could be academic or professional arts writing. 

Finalists should be available between September 10-20 for interviews with Root Division staff. 

For any additional questions, please email  submissions@rootdivision.org. 

ABOUT ROOT DIVISION

Root Division is a visual arts non-profit located in San Francisco’s Mid-Market/SoMA District. Root Division’s mission is to empower artists, promote community service, inspire youth, and enrich the Bay Area through engagement in the visual arts.

Root Division’s 2nd Saturday Exhibition Series showcases high caliber work with an emphasis on Bay Area emerging artists reflecting contemporary artistic ideas and current social concerns, in a variety of artistic disciplines, aesthetic sensibilities, and forms of cultural expression. Exhibiting over 350 artists and hosting over 6,000 visitors to the gallery yearly through receptions, gallery hours, artist panels, online exhibitions, and digital programming, this dynamic program continues to grow in its relevance and importance in the careers of Bay Area artists and curators.

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