The Van Abbemuseum is Seeking a Curator
Institution: Van Abbemuseum (Municipality of Eindhoven)
Deadline: 22 February 2026
Location: Eindhoven, The Netherlands
The Van Abbemuseum, one of Europe’s leading museums for modern and contemporary art, is seeking a Curator to help shape the institution’s next chapter. The museum positions art as a powerful societal force capable of responding to major technological, ecological, and political questions of our time. Building on its collection as a living and dynamic body of artistic intelligence, the museum aims to develop new ways of learning, living, and moving together.
The selected curator will play a central role in developing exhibitions, public programmes, and collection strategies, contributing to an ambitious institutional renewal that embraces performance, music, gaming, live role playing, and other expanded artistic forms.
Position Details
- Contract: 32–36 hours per week
- Salary: €3,777 – €5,554 gross per month (36-hour week), depending on experience
- Initial one-year contract with intention to convert to permanent
- 28 annual leave days (full-time), with possibility to build additional ADV days (approx. 10 weeks total leave per year pro rata)
- 17.05% Individual Choice Budget (holiday allowance and 13th month included)
- ABP pension scheme (70% employer contribution)
- Travel reimbursement (100% public transport; €0.23/km by car, bike, or walking under specified conditions)
- Annual vitality budget (€240 net)
An assignment is part of the selection procedure.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and realise (international) temporary exhibitions from concept to execution, addressing themes such as ecology, citizenship, and shifting perspectives on the 20th and 21st centuries
- Create and contribute to experimental exhibition formats and public programming
- Contribute to collection and library acquisitions
- Engage in museum-wide renewal and innovation
- Maintain and expand a diverse international network, including active participation in L’Internationale (European museum confederation)
- Lead interdisciplinary project teams in collaboration with production, technical, mediation, education, fundraising, and marketing departments
Profile
Applicants should have:
- A completed academic degree (WO level) in art history or a related field
- At least seven years of experience developing and delivering exhibitions in national or international museums or comparable institutions
- A strong and relevant international professional network
- Excellent command of Dutch and English (or willingness to develop Dutch rapidly)
- Experience in policy development, advisory roles, project management, and fundraising
- A practice-oriented approach to mediation, attentive to bodily and neuro-diversity
- Commitment to co-creation, shared responsibility, and institutional collaboration
- Willingness to be physically present in Eindhoven
This call has been translated from Dutch. Proficiency in Dutch is likely essential; please contact the employer if unsure.
