Curator at The Common Guild

Organisation: The Common Guild
Location: Glasgow, UK
Salary: £27,200 per year for 0.8 FTE (£34,000 full-time equivalent)
Contract: Permanent, part-time, 28 hours per week
Application deadline: Monday 2 November 2026, noon

The Common Guild is seeking a Curator to help shape and deliver its programme of contemporary art exhibitions, projects and events. Working closely with the Director and wider team, the postholder will support artists to realise ambitious work and contribute to thoughtful, welcoming experiences for audiences.

Established in 2006, The Common Guild works with emerging, mid-career and internationally recognised artists on exhibitions, commissions, publications, talks, performances and collaborative projects. The Curator will join at a significant moment in the organisation’s development and its twentieth anniversary year.

Responsibilities

The Curator will research and develop the artistic programme in close dialogue with artists, maintaining an overview of projects and championing the organisation’s artist-centred approach.

Working with the Production Manager and wider team, they will coordinate projects from initial planning through installation, public presentation and de-installation. Responsibilities include managing budgets and schedules, coordinating artist agreements, loans, shipping and travel, producing interpretation, commissioning writing and overseeing publications.

The postholder will develop public events with the Programme Assistant and embed access, inclusion and care throughout planning and delivery. They will also contribute to funding applications, evaluation and reporting, maintain local and international partnerships, and represent The Common Guild within the visual arts sector.

The role includes line management of the Programme Assistant and Communications Coordinator, alongside collaborative planning across a small team and consideration of environmentally responsible approaches to production and travel.

Candidate profile

Applicants should have strong knowledge of contemporary visual art and experience working closely with artists to develop and deliver exhibitions, projects or events. The Common Guild seeks experience managing budgets and schedules, building partnerships, contributing to fundraising and producing interpretation, publications or programme communications.

Clear communication, sound judgement, attention to detail and an artist-centred approach are essential. Knowledge of the Scottish visual arts sector, experience in a small arts organisation, line management and familiarity with design software are useful but not required.

The position is based at 5 Florence Street, Glasgow, with occasional home working possible. Evening and weekend work is sometimes required for programme delivery. Benefits include a workplace pension with a 4% employer contribution, an Employee Assistance Programme and support for professional development.

The successful candidate must have the legal right to work in the UK. Interviews are planned for the week beginning 16 November 2026, in Glasgow or remotely.