Curator – Classical Modern, Surrealism & Contemporary Art

Institution: Max Ernst Museum Brühl, LVR
Deadline: 1 Mar 2026
Location: Brühl, Germany

This position invites candidates to join the Max Ernst Museum Brühl, part of the Landschaftsverband Rheinland (LVR), as a curator specializing in Classical Modern, Surrealism, and contemporary art. The museum is dedicated to the life and work of Max Ernst, offering a comprehensive overview of his seven-decade career, including 70 bronze sculptures from Ernst’s personal estate and 36 “D-paintings” created as birthday and love gifts for his fourth wife, Dorothea Tanning. The museum regularly hosts exhibitions with international artists, providing new perspectives on its collection and connecting historical works with contemporary practices.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, conceptualize, and organize the museum’s scholarly exhibition programme for national and international temporary exhibitions, with a focus on Classical Modern, Surrealism, and contemporary art, including digital media projects.

• Create digital formats for permanent and temporary exhibitions and mediation projects.

• Collaborate closely with museum management to align exhibitions with institutional goals.

• Plan, monitor, and manage exhibition and project budgets.

• Independently acquire third-party funding for exhibition projects.

• Produce publications and write scholarly, informative, and visitor-oriented texts.

• Collaborate with external partners, including other museums, universities, and foundations.

Eligibility Criteria

• Master’s degree, Magister, or university diploma in Cultural Studies, Art History, Curatorial Studies, Art Education, Arts Mediation, or Cultural Management.

• Extensive specialized knowledge of international Classical Modern and Postwar Modern art, Surrealism, and contemporary art.

• At least three years of professional curatorial experience, plus several years of proven experience in planning and executing international exhibitions, accompanying programmes, and publications.

• Experience working with lenders, contemporary artists, sponsors, and foundations.

• Excellent organizational and communication skills, with high professional engagement.

• Strong networking within national and international art communities.

• Fluent in German and English; knowledge of French is advantageous.

• Familiarity with public administration and institutional processes in a public museum setting.