Senior Curator, Exhibitions

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The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) is Looking for a Senior Curator – Exhibitions

Application deadline: 5 August 2026

Overview of the MCA

The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) is Australia’s only public museum dedicated to contemporary art. Their purpose is to present, collect and engage with the art of our time. Their vision is to be the defining platform for contemporary art and ideas in Australia and beyond.

The MCA presents, collects and engages with the work of living artists. Guided by the principles of belonging, connection and influence, the MCA is a defining platform for contemporary art and ideas in Australia and beyond. Located on Sydney Harbour at Tallawoladah, a home to stories, art and culture for over 65,000 years, the MCA contributes to the continuity of culture on our site. The MCA connects the widest possible public to contemporary art through our Collection, exhibitions, commissions, engagement and access programs. Their evolving Collection of over 4,700 artworks is the only public collection in Australia dedicated to the work of living artists, with over a third represented by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.

The MCA is a State-significant, independent, not-for-profit institution which raises over 85% of its revenue each year to deliver its artistic and engagement programs.

Overview of the position

The Senior Curator, Exhibitions, contributes to the development, research and implementation of its curatorial program of temporary exhibitions, artist commissions and collection development and displays. The role is part of the MCA curatorial team reporting to MCA’s Director, Curatorial and Collections.

Sharing responsibility for the delivery of the artistic program led by the MCA Director, the Senior Curator, Exhibitions manages resources for exhibitions and commissions including project budgets in partnership with Exhibition Managers, and identifies funding streams through philanthropic giving and other sources.

Direct reports: Curators x 2, and the Curator, First Nations Art; Assistant Curators x 2.

Person Specification

The MCA is seeking an experienced and respected curator working at a senior level who demonstrates a deep knowledge of contemporary art and a strong commitment to curatorial excellence and innovation.
The successful candidate will be an inspiring exhibition maker and a persuasive communicator who will bring to the MCA a forward-looking approach to exhibition development and artistic programming that engages a broad and diverse public.
They will demonstrate a collaborative and inclusive leadership style, with the ability to build strong relationships working across the MCA team, with artists and with donors.
The ideal candidate will be committed to fostering diverse perspectives, cultural inclusion and meaningful engagement between a broad and diverse public and contemporary artists and their work.
A passionate professional in their field, they will be adaptable and solutions-focused and will thrive in a dynamic environment, balancing strategic priorities with operational delivery.

This open call has been edited. To read the full listing and to apply, please visit the link below.

Image credit: Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. Photograph: Brett Boardman. Via MCA Website