Curatorial Officer (Exhibitions)

Curatorial Officer (Exhibitions)

Institution: Newcastle Art Gallery (City of City of Newcastle)
Deadline: Feb 17, 2026
Location: Newcastle, NSW, Australia
Contract: Ongoing / Full-time
Salary: SP10 (City of Newcastle salary scale)
Reports to: Exhibitions Lead
Department: Creative and Community Services

Newcastle Art Gallery, the leading visual arts institution in Australia’s Hunter region, is seeking a Curatorial Officer (Exhibitions) to support the development and delivery of an ambitious temporary exhibitions program of national and international significance.

As part of the Curatorial and Exhibitions Team, the Curatorial Officer (Exhibitions) supports the coordination, administration, research, and delivery of high-profile exhibitions and offsite projects. The role combines curatorial research and interpretation with hands-on exhibition administration and cross-departmental collaboration, contributing to exhibitions that attract high public visitation.

Key Responsibilities

Exhibitions Coordination & Administration

• Support the Exhibitions Lead with the administration of a complex temporary exhibitions program

• Develop and maintain exhibition proposals, schedules, budgets, and artwork lists

• Draft agreements, maintain correspondence, minute meetings, and update digital databases

• Contribute to funding applications and exhibition evaluations

• Coordinate exhibition logistics in collaboration with Registration & Collections and Exhibitions Production teams

• Support artists, guest curators, contractors, installers, and external suppliers

Curatorial Practice & Research

• Propose, develop, and curate selected projects under the direction of the Exhibitions Lead

• Research, draft, and collate interpretive materials for exhibitions, publications, marketing, signage, and presentations

• Coordinate exhibition-related publication projects

Public Engagement

• Represent the exhibitions program through public talks, floor talks, tours, and digital content

• Communicate confidently with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders

Operational Duties

• Assist with condition reporting, installation activities, and artwork handling

• Participate in evening and weekend shifts as part of a rotating roster

• Act as Chief Warden in emergencies when required

• Comply with WHS policies and safe work instructions, including manual handling

Essential Criteria

• Diploma or degree in Curatorship, Art History, Arts Management/Administration, Fine Arts, or equivalent professional experience

• Strong knowledge of contemporary art and broad awareness of visual arts practice

• Demonstrated experience in best-practice exhibition administration and project delivery

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including interpretive writing

• Strong organisational, problem-solving, and time-management skills

• Ability to work collaboratively with transparency, initiative, and inclusivity

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and project management tools

• Capacity to undertake manual handling tasks safely

Desirable Skills

• Experience supervising contractors and casual staff

• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite

• Familiarity with collection databases (e.g. EMu, MuseumPlus) and asset management systems (e.g. Piction)

• Experience working in local government or public cultural institutions

• Interest in arts publishing and digital programming