Adjunct Curator, Indigenous Art at Tate Modern

Organisation: Tate Modern / Hyundai Tate Research Centre: Transnational
Location: Remote, with occasional travel to London
Fee: £25,800 per annum
Contract: Freelance, part-time, 2.5 years
Hours: Approximately 21.6 hours per week
Application deadline: 28 October 2026

Tate is seeking to engage an experienced researcher or curator with in-depth, specialist knowledge of Indigenous art, with a particular emphasis on Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA region), to be an Adjunct Curator for the Hyundai Tate Research Centre: Transnational.

The Adjunct Curator will carry out research remotely from their country of residence, working closely with colleagues in the Hyundai Tate Research Centre: Transnational and liaising with Tate’s Curatorial, Research, Collection and Development departments.

The role requires the further development of Tate’s international network of artists, collectors and arts professionals, and the dissemination of information and knowledge throughout Tate to develop its internal knowledge base in Indigenous art.

About the role

The Adjunct Curator of Indigenous Art is a part-time position on a 2.5-year freelance contract. They will contribute to Tate’s mission and help to reframe its collection, displays and wider interests in the contemporary art field.

The role will be held by a curator or researcher with a strong track record of projects or publications focused on Indigenous art and Indigeneity.

A transnational outlook is important, and Tate particularly encourages applicants with a focus on practices across West Asia, Africa and South Asia, considered within a broader historical and intellectual framework and through transnational perspectives.

Key responsibilities

The Adjunct Curator will:

• Undertake original research in one or more of the Hyundai Tate Research Centre: Transnational’s areas of strategic priority.
• Contribute towards the formulation of Tate’s strategy for the Centre and Indigenous art with a transnational outlook.
• Produce original research outputs, including essays, lectures and digital resources.
• Plan and convene research workshops, seminars and study days for artists, scholars, Indigenous communities and museum professionals.
• Foster inclusive and sensitive dialogue around Indigeneity, institutional practice and protocols.
• Collaborate with Learning, Public Programmes and Curatorial teams to translate research into public-facing activity.
• Advise on the interpretation, display and contextualisation of works connected to Indigeneity in Tate’s collection and exhibitions.
• Support curators and conservators in addressing the ethical, cultural and ritual dimensions of artworks.
• Contribute to exhibition research, acquisitions discussions, display and interpretive frameworks, and advise on acquisitions in collaboration with Tate Modern’s curatorial team.
• Build relationships with universities, research centres, Indigenous communities, artists and cultural organisations internationally.
• Contribute to critical reflections on colonial legacies and power relations within the museum, particularly in relation to Indigenous and sacred material.
• Seek opportunities for collaborative funding, residencies and research exchanges.

The Adjunct Curator will also work collaboratively with the Centre’s staff and provide monthly and final reports.

Requirements

Applicants should demonstrate:

• Expert knowledge and practical and scholarly involvement in Indigenous art, with an encouraged focus on practices across West Asia, Africa and South Asia.
• Curatorial or museum experience, particularly within contemporary art institutions.
• An established network of contacts and an understanding of the issues surrounding collecting modern and contemporary art for museums.
• A track record of conceiving, developing and delivering research programmes exploring Indigenous art in transnational, transhistorical and interdisciplinary contexts.
• In-depth knowledge of Indigenous art history, supported by a relevant graduate or postgraduate degree.
• Ability to work collaboratively across disciplines and with diverse communities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience addressing specialist and public audiences.
• Experience working with Indigenous communities in research or curatorial contexts.

The successful candidate should demonstrate a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, reflexive and respectful research practices, and Tate’s values of collaboration, integrity and public engagement.

Eligibility restrictions

Applications cannot be considered from individuals working for other collecting institutions or in the commercial art sector, including commercial galleries and auction houses, owing to Tate’s status as a National Collection and the need to avoid conflicts of interest.

Contract and remuneration

The contract will be offered on a 2.5-year freelance basis with a retained fee of £25,800 per annum, based on an anticipated level of engagement equivalent to approximately 21.6 hours per week.

The role is primarily remote, with the Adjunct Curator working from their country of residence.

Attendance will be required on a limited number of agreed trips, including visits to London to participate in events and programmes.