This call has been translated from German. Proficiency in German is likely essential; please contact the employer if unsure.
Institution: Museum Abteiberg / City of Mönchengladbach
Location: Mönchengladbach, Germany
Contract: 2-year traineeship (full-time)
Start date: 1 June 2026
Salary: 50% TVöD-V E12 (BA) / 50% TVöD-V E13 (MA)
Application deadline: 8 April 2026
Interviews: Expected 20 April 2026
Job Description
The City of Mönchengladbach is seeking, starting 1 June 2026, a Graduate Trainee in the Curatorial Department for Museum Abteiberg for a duration of 2 years.
The Museum Abteiberg in Mönchengladbach, opened in 1982, is considered the first museum of postmodernism. It is based on the pioneering exhibition and collection programme developed by Johannes Cladders in the late 1960s and 1970s and is the first building by Viennese architect Hans Hollein.
The museum holds an internationally outstanding collection, tracing the development of contemporary art from the 1980s and 1990s to the present day. The exhibition and events programme is shaped by an intensive engagement with current artistic practices and the communication of new artistic questions.
As a municipal museum supported by the City of Mönchengladbach, it sees itself as a space for public discourse—an open institution with a strong relationship to the city.
Requirements
- Completed university degree (BA, MA, Diploma or equivalent) in art history, art studies, curatorial studies or a comparable field
Salary
- 50% of salary group 12, step 1 (TVöD-V) with a Bachelor’s degree
- 50% of salary group 13, step 1 (TVöD-V) with a Master’s degree
Benefits
- Flexible working hours and the possibility of remote work
- Laptop provided from the start of the traineeship
- 30 days of annual leave
- Discounted Germany-wide public transport ticket
- Access to company sports programmes and health support
- Discounts and special offers
What you bring
- Interest in the exhibition and collection programme of Museum Abteiberg
- Art historical knowledge of contemporary art and interdisciplinary interest
- Very good written and spoken German and English
- Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends
- Confident use of MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
- Planning and organisational skills
- Ability to work in a team
- Strong communication skills and sociability
- Commitment and reliability
- Flexibility and motivation
Responsibilities
The traineeship focuses on active involvement in exhibitions and other projects at Museum Abteiberg. Tasks extend across all areas of museum work and follow the guidelines for scientific traineeships set by the German Museums Association.
Due to flat hierarchies and short communication channels, the programme offers broad insight into all aspects of museum operations.
Exhibitions
- Supporting museum leadership in planning and preparing exhibitions and projects
- Assisting with conceptual development and practical implementation
- Working with artists, lenders, and sponsors
- Contributing to exhibition catalogues
- Conducting independent art historical research
- Potentially leading own projects
Collection
- Insight into collection management
- Supporting inventory and digitisation
- Research on artworks and artists
- Assisting with loans
Management and Administration
- Supporting funding applications and budget planning
- Assisting with project and budget controlling
- Preparing reports on the use of funds
- Supporting contract preparation (assistants, freelancers, interns, etc.)
- Assisting with commissioning and accounting of services
Education and Communication
- Supporting the development of mediation/education concepts
- Independently developing formats (tours, courses, etc.)
- Assisting with press and public relations (press releases, website, social media, etc.)
Additional information
Interviews are expected to take place on 20 April 2026.
Equal opportunities, diversity, and work-life balance are core aspects of the organisational culture. Applications are welcomed regardless of age, gender, cultural or social background, religion, worldview, disability, or sexual identity.
Further information about the city and administration can be found at:
www.museum-abteiberg.de
Application
Please send your application with the usual documents by 8 April 2026.
