Curator – African Material Culture and Art Collection, Weltmuseum Wien, Vienna, Austria
Institution: Weltmuseum Wien
Deadline: August 17, 2025
Location: Vienna, Austria
Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours/week)
Contract: Initially 3 years, with the possibility of a permanent position
Salary: €3,651.30 gross/month (14 times/year), subject to experience and collective agreement (KHM Group A/1a/Level 1)
Weltmuseum Wien is seeking a Curator for the collection of African material culture and art, including works from the African diaspora. With a focus on postcolonial discourse, the curator will manage, develop, and digitalize one of the museum’s largest collections—around 40,000 objects, with strong representation from the DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Cameroon, and Nigeria (including the Benin collection).
Key Responsibilities
- Curate and develop the African collections, including digitization and strategy planning
- Collaborate on interdisciplinary exhibitions and the redesign of the permanent collection
- Conduct scholarly research and support provenance investigations
- Initiate cooperative research projects with national and international institutions, prioritizing African partners
- Co-develop educational and public outreach programs (both analog and digital)
- Expand networks with African institutions, artists, scholars, and diasporic communities
- Represent the collection locally and internationally
Candidate Profile
- Advanced degree in a relevant field (art history, cultural history, social or cultural anthropology)
- Demonstrated expertise in African material culture and art of the diaspora, focused on West, East, or Southern Africa
- Experience in museums and curatorial work, including participatory and experimental formats
- Knowledge of contemporary art from the Global South
- Familiarity with museum databases and object documentation
- International professional networks
- Fluent in German and English; French and/or an African language is a plus
- Experience with grant applications and fundraising
- Strong communication, organizational, and networking skills
The Institution Offers
- A stimulating role within a UNESCO World Heritage environment
- Work with a diverse cultural heritage collection
- A supportive, motivated team
- Flexible working hours (flextime model)
- Opportunity for long-term employment following an initial three-year term
