Salary: Up to £30,000 per annum, dependent on experience
Location: London
Deadline: 21/03/2021 23:59
Hours: 37.5 (full-time)
Benefits: Plus attractive benefits
Job Type: Permanent
Overview
The Design Museum’s temporary exhibitions programme is the central focus of its activities. The exhibitions include monographs and thematic exhibitions on every aspect of contemporary design and architecture.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a self-motivated Curator who is passionate and knowledgeable about design to join the Curatorial team. The successful candidate will be experienced when it comes to delivering exhibitions to a broad audience, brimming with realisable ideas for the future exhibition programme, and capable of harnessing their knowledge of design to research and deliver compelling exhibitions.
This role will suit an individual with exceptional knowledge of design history, connections within the design industry and experience researching and developing projects collaboratively.
Job scope
The role will involve taking responsibility for developing and delivering museum exhibitions and being an active member of the curatorial team. The curator will develop the exhibition content, generate a narrative, formulate an object list and work with the exhibitions team to deliver the exhibition according to a timeline. The role combines practical curatorial skills and the ability to build partnerships with the opportunity to take personal initiative and develop a curatorial voice.
The role will include developing pre-existing exhibition ideas and generating new exhibition concepts that fit with the museum’s curatorial vision. Those concepts will be presented to key stakeholders at the museum and upon approval, will be developed in to a fully worked exhibition. They will have line management responsibilities for assistant curators.
The closing date for applications is Sunday 21 March 2021, at midnight.
First round interviews will take place virtually via Microsoft Teams on Tuesday 6 and Wednesday 7 April 2021.
Second round interviews will take place virtually via Microsoft Teams on Monday 19 April 2021.
Job description
Curatorial
- Develop exhibitions that reflect the museum’s curatorial vision and appeal to a broad audience.
- Create exhibition proposals in discussion with the Head of Curatorial and Interpretation and present these concepts to key stakeholders across the museum.
- Communicate the financial and practical implications of exhibition proposals such as complex loans and potential transportation challenges.
- Lead on the curation of exhibitions including key exhibition components such as the narrative, interpretation plan, viable loans, object lists, captions and labels and sourcing objects.
- Write engaging exhibition text that aligns with the interpretation plan.
- Work with the Learning team to finalise the learning and public programmes toolkit relating to an exhibition.
- Support the Head of Touring Exhibitions in reaching out to potential partners and effectively selling the exhibitions.
- Work with the Curatorial team, Head of Touring Exhibitions and Head of Marketing and Communications to improve existing marketing materials and develop new ones as required.
- Support the Head of Curatorial and Interpretation and/or Chief Curator with departmental duties relating to the Curatorial team.
Exhibition project management and administration
- Work closely with the Exhibition Project Manager and, if appropriate, exhibition designers to ensure the smooth and timely delivery of the exhibition as an integral member of a team.
- Make approaches to exhibitors and lenders and work with members of the Exhibitions team to ensure Loan Agreements are secured.
- Complete project documentation such as narrative, object list and design documents, ensuring that all relevant updates are accessible for all members of the team.
- Participate in cross-departmental meetings relating to the project and other departmental matters and report to senior staff.
- Attend and participate in relevant meetings on the project and deliver progress reports as required.
- Consider the touring version of the exhibition, liaise with the Head of Touring as required and help provide curatorial information for potential tour venues.
- Communicate the financial implications of the exhibition such as complex loans and potential transport challenges to the Exhibition Project Manager.
People management
- Lead and inspire direct reports and the team to achieve the highest level of performance and develop their skills and talents to enable them to reach their full potential.
- Manage direct reports in accordance with the museum’s policies and procedures.
- Act as liaison and point of contact for curatorial team or assigned project when required.
- Manage volunteers, treating them as integral members of the museum and curatorial team and be responsible for their induction, supervision, and timely review meetings.
- Work with and support volunteers to ensure their full integration into the museum.
