Full Time, Permanent
We are seeking a curator with a passion for the Applied Arts to join the Collections and Archives team at Bristol Culture.
The Applied Art collection holds Designated status as being of national/importance. It consists of about 15,000 examples of earthenware, porcelain, glass, furniture, metalwork, textiles and jewellery, many of which were produced in Bristol and the surrounding area.
There are unique holdings of Bristol glass, ceramics and silver which help tell the story of the city and its engagement with the world. The collection is displayed across our five main museum sites: Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, M Shed, The Georgian House Museum, The Red Lodge Museum and Blaise Museum and through our collections online.
- You will have responsibility for managing the Applied Art collection and bringing it alive for and with our audiences.
- You will widen access to the collection through documentation, digitisation and research.
- You will contribute to our lively events and exhibition programme.
- You’ll be working alongside a Project Curator who is currently completing a project on the Delftware collection.
- You will report to the Senior Curator, Visual Arts and be part of the dynamic Collections & Archives team of 40 plus staff (curators, archivists, conservators, documentation and environmental records staff).
The team’s work is increasingly informed by our service-wide ‘decolonisation’ project. https://www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/collections/action-on-decolonisation/
You will be able to demonstrate the knowledge, aptitude and experience detailed in the Person Specification. Experience of curating Applied Art objects would be an advantage combined with excellent research, communication and project management skills.
Experience of a museum documentation system is also important, as you will be expected to use the Axiell EMu museum documentation system.
Why Bristol City Council?
- At Bristol City Council, we go that extra mile for our people; we offer a work environment which is fast moving and supportive, giving you the chance to use your skills and develop new ones within a high-profile organisation. For the majority of our roles hybrid working arrangements are available, giving teams the opportunity to work in a way that suits them, balancing service need and individual choice – mixing both home and office working.
- Join us and you’ll receive an excellent rewards package including flexible working and flexitime, membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance. In addition, you’ll be working in a supportive environment where you’ll have the chance to make Bristol a better place and contribute to its future.
How do I apply?
- If you share our values and are ready to be part of our exciting journey please select the apply button below.
- To be shortlisted for interview you’ll need to demonstrate how you meet each of the essential criteria in the Person Specification within the Further Information section of your application. On occasion we will receive high numbers of applications, we may then shortlist against the desirable criteria along with the essential criteria, so if you can, please demonstrate how you meet this in your application.
- It is Bristol City Council’s practice to request references for candidates that have been offered a job. However, if you are applying for a job that requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check then we will request your references once you have been invited to an interview.
If you have any questions, please contact Kate Newnham, Senior Curator, Visual Arts kate.newnham@bristol.gov.uk
We intend to shortlist by 21st January 2022
We intend to interview week beginning 31st January 2022
The Culture & Creative Industries team is funded by Bristol City Council and Arts Council England and we are committed to diversifying our audiences and workforce in line with the priorities of these organisations. We encourage applications from all sections of the community as we want our workforce to reflect the diversity of the city we serve. We particularly encourage applications from candidates from groups under-represented in our organisation including Black and minority ethnic, Disabled and the under 25s.
