The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is one of the UK’s foremost arts institutions, whose purpose is to be a clear, strong voice for art and architecture. Our public programme promotes the creation, study and enjoyment of art and architecture to a wide range of audiences through exhibitions, education and debate.
The RA underwent a major transformation for its 250th anniversary in 2018, significantly expanding its campus, programme offer and profile in the public sphere. This included raising the profile of the RA Collection with our audiences through a sustained programme of changing displays and collection-focused talks and events. As the RA embarks on its next 250 years the challenge ahead is to build on this work and to continue to care for, research, curate and display the range of works in the Collection. Led by eminent artists and architects, the RA is a destination for world-class exhibitions and debate. The RA Collection will play a wider role in these exhibitions over the next years while continuing to contribute to exhibitions elsewhere, lending widely both nationally and internationally.
About this position
The Senior Curator (Collections) will be responsible for building on these successes. Alongside Collections colleagues, in particular a Curator, an Assistant Curator and a Genesis Future Curator trainee role, they will continue to lead on shaping and curating displays, devising and delivering ideas for exhibitions and considering ways to promote the RA Collection more widely both nationally and internationally.
The Senior Curator will participate fully in ensuring that the RA Collection is conserved, cared for and accurately catalogued, contributing to the digitisation and database management as appropriate, leading cataloguing projects and overseeing any major Collection projects in close collaboration with Registrars and freelance Conservators.
The Senior Curator has overall responsibility for all paintings, sculptures, including medals, dies, cameos, and intaglio gems, plaster casts (including pastes of gems), historic skeletons relating to teaching in the Schools, objects of memorabilia, including artists’ tools and materials, historic silver and silverplate, historic items of furniture, picture frames and certain fittings and fixtures within Burlington House. The objects under the care of this Senior Curator which are not on display are stored at both the Royal Academy and an offsite store, where the Senior Curator is expected to spend some of their time, as required.
The postholder will also work closely and collaboratively across the RA including with Royal Academicians, and colleagues in Learning, Digital, Development, Exhibitions and the RA Schools, as well as with external stakeholders.
Reporting to the Director of Collections and Learning, this role will lead and manage a team of four permanent staff across Curatorial and Collections Management, and will work closely with the Senior Registrar in the administration of Collection projects and priorities as well as the curating and display of works of art. The postholder will lead on the organisation of internal Collection meetings, the oversight of production of any work schemes and project spreadsheets, and representation of the Collection teams in senior management meetings, alongside the Head of Library Services.
Why join us?
The RA is exceptional because of its people. The institution’s independence has always promoted innovation, and this can be found in all our work: from those working hard to bring our public programme to life, to those who work behind the scenes to further our impact.
Through our employee training and development, we aim to cultivate a safe space for every member of our staff. Our employee networks, equity and diversity groups, and our employee council are just a few examples of how we encourage all our colleagues to use their voice and their experience to influence the work we do.
You will join a team who are passionate about what they do and where they work. We put people first in the decisions we make and listen to your views before acting. We also offer a variety of benefits (some of which are pretty unique to us!)
- Agile Working Policy (for full-time roles working from home up to two days a week where the role permits)
- Enhanced Holiday (with extended Christmas leave)
- Enhanced Pension Scheme
- Employee Council & Employee Network Groups
- Access to all RA exhibitions & access to exhibitions with our reciprocal partners
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Discount in RA Café’s and Shops
- Give as You Earn Scheme to donate to a charity of your choice
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Employee Choir, Life Drawing classes, and other employee clubs from running to knitting
How to Apply
To apply for this position, candidates must complete the Application Form. For further information about this role, and to find our application form, click the “Apply” button.
If you have any requirement in respect of the recruitment or interview process, please mention this in your application.
Due to volume of applications if you have not heard anything within 10 days after advert closure, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.
Closing date for applications: Sunday 4 December 2022
Interviews likely to be held w/c: Monday 12 December 2022
