Moderna Museet is Seeking a Curator of International Contemporary Art
Contract type: Permanent
Probation period: Six months
Application deadline: 12 January 2025
Moderna Museet is now seeking an internationally renowned curator to work with exhibitions and the collection, focusing on international art from 1989 onwards. We are looking for someone who will take initiative and is committed to strengthening the museum’s position as a pioneering international art institution, at the same time clearly making accessibility to a broad audience a priority.
The role and duties
As Curator of International Art from 1989 onwards, you will work independently as well as collaboratively across the organisation. You will work closely with colleagues and management in shaping the museum’s strategic direction. Operatively, you will be expected to take initiative and have the ability to take the lead in daily work and with exhibition projects in collaboration with the museum’s entire organisation. You will be the museum’s expert in the field of international contemporary art.
Your primary responsibilities will be:
- Maintaining and advancing the museum’s expertise in contemporary international art from the period after 1989.
- Contributing to the development of the museum’s future exhibition programme.
- Leading and executing exhibition projects.
- Contributing to research on the collection and installing works in collection galleries.
- Contributing to the development of the collection by actively acquiring artworks in dialogue with colleagues and management.
- Writing catalogue essays, exhibition texts, and articles for a variety of purposes.
- Strengthening and expanding the museum’s relationships with artists and institutions.
- Performing other duties within the scope of the position as curator.
As Curator of International Art from 1989 onwards you are part of the curatorial team within the Exhibitions & Collection Department at Moderna Museet in Stockholm. The team comprises seven curators each with responsibility for different areas of the collection. You will report to the Chief Curator who is also the head of Exhibitions & Collection. While the role is primarily based on a Monday to Friday schedule, it includes travel and participation in professional activities outside regular working hours.
Your profile
Great emphasis will be placed on experience and personal suitability. In your role as curator you have a wide network of both internal and external contacts and an exceptional ability to create trusting working relationships. You are an independent, goal- and result-focused curator who takes responsibility for your projects and deliver successful outcomes. In previous positions you have shown great creative ability, providing ideas and innovative thinking that can be put into practice in a responsible manner. You are passionate about working in an inclusive way, inspiring those around you and sharing your expertise with audiences. In your daily work you are structured and able to organise your tasks in an efficient way.
To be successful, you also need to have:
- An academic degree in art history or equivalent relevant education.
- Several years of experience at a leading international art institution.
- Several years of experience independently managing art exhibitions at an international level, including budget responsibility.
- Excellent knowledge of contemporary international art since 1989, with a proven track record of diversity in curatorial practice.
- In-depth specialist expertise in one or more specific areas of contemporary international art.
- Solid knowledge of modern art.
- A broad and well-established international network in the field of international contemporary art.
- Excellent command of both written and spoken English.
- Experience with research-based projects.
- Experience of writing advanced texts for scholarly readers as well as accessible texts for a broad audience.
- A strong track record of published writing in the art field.
Other desirable qualifications include:
- Experience working with a collection.
- Doctoral-level training in a relevant field.
- Documented experience with fundraising.
- Swedish is the most widely used language in the workplace. As a newly hired curator, you do not need to have knowledge of Swedish, but Moderna Museet expects you to actively contribute to good communication and to gradually develop your ability to communicate in Swedish.
Location:
Moderna Museet, Skeppsholmen, central Stockholm
Type of employment and commencement date
The contract is permanent, full-time, with a six-month probation period. Start date is 1 September 2026 at the earliest.
How to Apply
Please submit your CV and cover letter via our recruitment system no later than 12 January 2025. In your application, clearly outline how your background and experience match the requirements for this position.
Mark your application with the reference number MM2025/111.
About Moderna Museet
Moderna Museet is a national museum of modern and contemporary art with the responsibility to collect, preserve, exhibit and make accessible modern and contemporary art. The collection is one of the foremost of its kind in Europe. The museum is a dynamic meeting place for art and people, deeply engaged with society and the world. With a world-class programme of exhibitions, collection-based projects and learning activities, Moderna Museet has both a strong local presence and an international reach, collaborating extensively with institutions worldwide. The museum operates in Stockholm and Malmö and employs just over 140 staff members.
Since Moderna Museet will incorporate the activities of Arkdes and the Public Art Agency Sweden from 1 January 2026 onwards, the organisation and operations will be characterised by change and innovation in the near future. You are expected to contribute to this development.
