Overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Chief Curator to lead the Design Museum’s exhibitions programme. As the world’s leading museum dedicated to contemporary design and architecture this is an exceptional opportunity to realise an innovative and imaginative programme that drives the field of design forward. The exhibitions programme is at the core of the museum’s mission and purpose, to make the impact of design visible to all. It will be critical in driving the museum’s engagement with new and diverse audiences.
As a key member of the executive team, the Chief Curator will work with the CEO/Director, the Director of Audiences and the Director of Future Observatory to build the forward exhibitions programme and take a leading role in revenue generation. They will have responsibility for delivering forward-looking, inspiring, commercially successful, and critically acclaimed exhibitions and displays. They will work to make every aspect of the museum’s exhibitions programme, from scenography to interpretation, reflect its ambitions to reach broad audiences and stimulate critical debate. Their work will have impact across the organisation, providing curatorial expertise to all departments.
The successful candidate will have a deep knowledge of contemporary design. They will be an excellent leader, communicator and an advocate for design and architecture. They will need to demonstrate that they have strong relationships with the design and architecture community and an international network.
Job scope
The primary responsibility is for leading the Curatorial team and realising the museum’s programme, from researching and curating temporary exhibitions to generating proposals from both internal and external sources. The Chief Curator line-manages the Head of Curatorial and Interpretation and works closely with that role in overseeing the successful delivery of the exhibitions programme. The Chief Curator will work closely with departments across the museum to ensure the programme is well integrated and communicated, as well as presenting it to museum committees and the Board of Trustees. They will be a central figure in representing the museum to the media, partner organisations, sponsors, and funders. They will provide exceptional leadership to the Curatorial team inspiring them to deliver a world class exhibition programme, directly managing the Head of Curatorial and indirectly, ten in the wider team.
