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Curatorial Affairs Director (Lead Curator)

The World Press Photo Foundation believes in the power of showing and the importance of seeing high-quality visual stories. Our purpose is to connect the world to the stories that matter.

For almost 70 years, the World Press Photo Foundation has been working from its home in Amsterdam as an independent, nonprofit organization. In that time, the world has changed continuously, and new developments in the media and technology have transformed journalism and photography. Our mission has expanded, and we draw on our experience to guide photojournalists, documentary photographers, and audiences around the world through this challenging and exciting landscape.

Our annual contest recognizes and celebrates the best photojournalism and documentary photography produced over the last year. In 2021, we launched a new strategy and are now implementing a regional model to all our activities in order to better represent the ‘world’. The contest is now organized into six regions – Africa, Asia, Europe, North and Central America, South America and Southeast Asia and Oceania – and entries are reviewed by independent regional and global juries. The winning stories are shared with an online community of over 2.5 million people, in the yearbook and our traveling exhibition, which was showcased in 66 locations in 29 different countries last year.

The Curatorial Affairs Team is currently looking for a Curatorial Affairs Director to join our team, starting on 1 January 2025.

Curatorial Affairs Director (Lead Curator) 1 FTE

Over the past years we have proactively initiated the development of new exhibition concepts, next to the annual exhibition. Often in collaboration with exhibition partners, we created new exhibition formats to serve our audiences with different content, such as Resilience, (Un)Settled and Iconic.

There is a lot of potential in this line of exhibitions and we are now looking for a Curatorial Affairs Director (Lead Curator) to oversee the creative and production process, research and development of new exhibitions, and bring this part of our mission, in collaboration with the team, to the next level.

We need someone with a clear vision on developing new and innovative thematic exhibitions and translate that into a short and long term strategic plan. Someone who can identify exhibition opportunities in our extensive archive (going back as far as 1955) and has the experience and international contacts to execute new exhibitions initiatives and formats.

In this position you will be part of the Leadership Team and oversee our Curatorial Team which consists of a Manager Production, a Registrar and a Database and Archives Manager. Next to that, you will be working closely with our Exhibitions and Fundraising team to support the exhibition sales target.

Your tasks

As a member of the Leadership Team you will be responsible for the co-development and implementation of the organizational strategy;
Responsible for creative strategy and exhibition development: conceptualize and develop new exhibitions formats and themes with relevance and appeal to (local) audiences and in alignment with WPPF’s mission, priorities, budget and agreed goals;
Research, develop and curate new exhibitions based on our archive, specific themes or geographical regions;
Lead the curatorial team in developing the creative strategy and working closely with team members in executing the strategy and curating new exhibition concepts;
Preparing, curating, producing, installing and promoting exhibitions worldwide geared toward both targeted audiences and a broad general audience;
Actively explore new creative opportunities to collaborate with museums, cultural institutions, curators and producers to attract critical acclaim, create new partnerships and reach new audiences;
Ensure that WPPF’s goals around audiences, access, diversity and community engagement are integral across all of our exhibitions offering;
Develop and present information to tour guides, partners, interest groups, or other organizations in the form of lectures and public programs within the field of visual storytelling and (press) photography;
Act as a spokesperson for the organization’s creative purpose via speaking engagements, public and social appearances, and, if requested, at fundraising events;
Collaborate across WPPF to support efforts in fundraising, audience engagement, regional partnerships and communications.

Your Profile

We are looking for a creative, positive, and energetic senior professional and manager who enjoys working in an enthusiastic, international and driven team. The challenging, dynamic and fast-paced environment that we work in requires, besides strategic thinking, a practical approach, problem-solving skills and a high attention to detail. You are a self-starter with a can-do attitude that actively seeks out opportunities. You also meet the following criteria:

Relevant graduate degree;
Minimum of 8 – 10 years of curatorial experience in exhibition development in an international setting, preferably in a leading role;
Proven creative skills in developing (touring) exhibitions concepts and a history of managing exhibitions of increasing scale and complexity from start to finish;
Excellent project management skills; proven expertise in managing and motivating project teams; ability to work under pressure and on deadline essential;
Excellent and thorough understanding of the (European and international) museum market, cultural institutions and exhibition venues. Proven international network and existing relationships that will support the growth of our (new and thematic) exhibitions portfolio and partnerships.
Extensive network within the international cultural, museum, and photographic sectors and experience of working collaboratively to build constructive partnerships;
Creative, open-minded, and committed to innovative exhibitions concepts and welcoming of ideas from unconventional sources;
Demonstrates keen cultural sensitivity; diplomatic team player, with a sense of humour and innate curiosity;
Willingness to undertake occasional global travel;
Sound understanding of photography, media, and (visual) journalism;
Excellent proficiency in spoken and written English; fluency in a second language is an asset;
Based in or near Amsterdam, or open to relocation within a reasonable distance.

General information

The World Press Photo Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization with its office in Amsterdam. The organization employs around 25 professionals, with seven staff members in the Exhibitions & Partnerships team and three in the Curatorial Affairs team, all working together on the traveling exhibitions.

The World Press Photo Foundation wants to enhance the diversity of its workforce. We do not discriminate against anyone on the basis of age, gender, nationality, race or ethnic origin, religion, or sexual orientation. We encourage applications that can make the organization a better reflection of global society. This position is at the moment only open to EU citizens or individuals with an existing and valid work permit for the EU.

If you have any questions regarding this vacancy, please contact Babette Warendorf, Exhibitions and Partnerships Director (babette@worldpressphoto.org) or Erik Jager, HR Director (erik.j@worldpressphoto.org).

How to apply

Please respond in English before 4 November 2024 by filling in the application form. Please submit both your CV and a letter of motivation as a pdf document. You can start your application by clicking https://world-press-photo.homerun.co/curatorial-affairs-director-lead-curator/en/apply?&step=1

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