Position: De Ying Research Associate and Curator, Contemporary Art Projects
Organisation: The Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge
Location: Cambridge, UK
Contract: Full-time, three-year fixed term
Salary: £37,694–£46,049 annually
Reference: DA50470
Application deadline: 27 September 2026
Interviews: Week commencing 19 October 2026
Right to work: Applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK
About the role
The Fitzwilliam Museum seeks a De Ying Research Associate and Curator to provide curatorial expertise for an ambitious programme of contemporary art exhibitions and projects.
The successful candidate will help deliver exhibitions, contribute to research on the collection, and bring creative thinking and new perspectives to the Museum’s curatorial work. They will be based within the Curatorial department while collaborating with colleagues across the institution.
The Fitzwilliam Museum is the principal museum of the University of Cambridge and the largest cultural venue in the region. Its collections span numerous cultures and historical periods, supported by an internationally recognised programme of research, exhibitions, public programmes, and conservation.
Responsibilities
The postholder will:
- Contribute curatorial expertise to contemporary art exhibitions and projects
- Support the delivery of exhibitions in accordance with institutional processes
- Liaise with living artists and other internal and external stakeholders
- Undertake research relating to the collection and loans
- Contribute to project administration
- Draft interpretive and contextual texts
- Collaborate with the Audience and Brand, Exhibitions, Development, Participation and Learning, and Public Programmes teams
- Develop partnerships across the University of Cambridge
- Participate in relevant research networks
- Contribute to wider research activity within the Museum
- Bring new perspectives to the collection, including those of underrepresented audiences
- Engage critically with the collection’s diverse histories
Candidate profile
The Museum particularly welcomes applicants who can combine curatorial expertise with a collaborative and creative approach to contemporary art projects.
Candidates should be able to work effectively with colleagues across multiple departments and engage with artists, researchers, audiences, and institutional partners. Applicants interested in introducing underrepresented perspectives and exploring the collection’s diverse histories are strongly encouraged to apply.
Benefits
The University of Cambridge offers:
- A generous pension scheme
- Enhanced family leave
- A substantial annual leave allowance
- Retail discounts and other employee benefits
- A supportive and inclusive working environment
Additional information
Funding for the position is available for three years in the first instance.
Following acceptance of an employment offer, the successful candidate will be required to complete a basic criminal records disclosure and security check.
