Curator, Zayed National Museum, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Attractive salary + housing allowance, visa, private medical insurance & relocation assistance
Zayed National Museum, the national museum of the UAE, will narrate the rich archaeology and history of the land and region, the UAE’s long-standing cultural connections across the world, and it will tell the story of the Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his unification of the United Arab Emirates. A museum for the whole community, Zayed National Museum will tell stories inspired by Sheikh Zayed’s strongly held values, and will be a centre of learning, discussion and exchange.
Museum Curator, Zayed National Museum, Abu Dhabi
The role of the Curator will be to develop and deliver research in line with the overall aims of the Zayed National Museum in an area or specialism linked to the narrative of the museum. You will create and update records within the museum’s collections management system (CMS); contribute to the public programmes through the delivery of events, lectures, workshops and handling sessions; work with colleagues across the museum to deliver temporary exhibitions and refresh permanent displays; engage with scholars, in the UAE and internationally to exchange ideas and you will develop a network of contacts in the relevant field of study.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Pre-opening
- Working with the Senior Curatorial team, contributing to the development of the narrative within galleries, especially in the field of pre-Islamic material culture and archaeology and in the display of collections through acquisitions (purchased and donated), commissions and loans.
- Develop research documentation for potential acquisitions and loans.
- Work with Learning & Public Engagement teams, exhibition design teams, marketing & communications, publications and visitor experience teams to ensure curatorial content is developed and delivered on time for use in a variety of contexts for diverse audiences.
- Collaborate with exhibition designers in the finalisation of exhibition design, flow, object placement allowing the narrative and story to stay on target & across all galleries.
- Work with the Digital and Technology Department and the Marketing and Communications Department to develop website content and to promote the museum and collections.
Ongoing
- Take responsibility for the research, documentation, interpretation, and display of a designated part of the collections.
- Actively develop personal research profile through publications, lectures and attendance of conferences.
- Advise the acquisitions team, Director of Curatorial and Senior Curators on research opportunities, potential acquisitions and loans, and potential exhibitions and displays.
- Support the work of due diligence for all potential acquisitions of the museum.
- Work closely with the curatorial, conservation, registration and acquisitions teams within the Programme and Visitor
- Experience Directorate to support the ongoing development of the museum’s collections.
- Collaborate with the Learning & Public Engagement teams to provide and review content targeted towards attracting a diverse range of visitors at all accessibility levels.
- Collaborate with other colleagues in the museum to work on temporary and special exhibitions and displays as assigned.
- Manage periodic collections inventories.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree AND a post-graduate qualification in a subject matter related to the narrative of the museum including but not limited to History, Archaeology, Political / Social History, Anthropology, Ethnography/Cultural Studies.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE
- Minimum of 3 years of experience working as a curator in a similar type of museum or cultural institution, with subject matter expertise and accountability for a part of the museum collection and experience with developing & delivering exhibitions.
- A specialism in one of the following areas: anthropology and intangible heritage; archaeology; pre-Islamic art history; and landscape and human interaction with it.
- Evidence of a publication record in area of expertise.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to organise, present and communicate messages effectively to a variety of audiences & capability levels.
- Knowledge of exhibition project management and excellent organisational skills.
- Knowledge of museum education, interpretation, accessibility and public engagement initiatives.
- Knowledge of fundraising for cultural projects.
- Knowledge of working with museum databases (EMu)
- Excellent research and IT skills.
To apply please send your CV and supporting details by email via the button below.
