Curator & Studio Director

ITP Media Group; Dubai; On-site; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

ITP Media Group in Dubai is seeking a Curator & Studio Director to oversee all aspects of the Studio 152 venue. This role involves curating a diverse calendar of exhibitions, managing venue operations, and ensuring high-quality client services.

The ideal candidate will have at least 8 years of experience in cultural venue management, with strong operational and client service skills. The position requires bilingual capabilities in Arabic and English, providing a unique opportunity to shape a prestigious cultural destination.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years experience in gallery, museum, or cultural venue management.
• Strong grasp of event production basics and client service.
• Ability to curate and deliver diverse programming.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day venue operations and client service workflows.
• Develop and manage the venue programming calendar.
• Coordinate with marketing and PR teams for communications.

Skills

Gallery/Museum/Experiential Programming

Client Service

Planning and Budgeting

Vendor Management

Bilingual English/Arabic

Education

8 years in cultural venue management or brand activations

Job description

Studio 152 is a new world-class exhibition space and gallery created by ITP Media Group and Al-Futtaim. We are seeking a Curator & Studio Director to be the day‑to‑day leader and single point of contact for everything that happens in the space, owning the calendar curating the programme, running venue operations and front‑of‑house and delivering white‑glove client service. The operating model is hybrid: ITP‑hosted cultural programming and venue‑hire activations for third‑party brands and partners. With activities ranging from editorial photo shoots to blue‑chip brand galas the role blends curatorial vision with operational excellence and hospitality.

Requirements

1. Calendar Ownership & Programming

• Own the master calendar and year plan; schedule curated exhibitions brand experiences/pop‑ups talks/panels/salons screenings/performances education/workshops/school tours and private events.
• Develop concepts, themes and curatorial narratives that position Studio 152 as a cultural destination while supporting ITP brands and partner needs.
• Balance public‑facing moments with private/closed activations; coordinate holds, options and confirmations with Sales and Events.

2. Venue Management & Operations

• Lead day‑to‑day venue operations (load‑in/out timing, floor plans, AV/lighting needs, furniture/configuration, cleaning/turnarounds) with an Ops/Facility Manager as a direct report.
• Build and manage front‑of‑house (welcoming, ushering, guest services, ticketing/check‑in when applicable); ensure accessibility and an elevated guest experience.
• Maintain venue readiness standards (HSE checks, incident reporting, daily walk‑throughs, handover/strike protocols).
• Create and enforce house rules, technical specs and production guidelines for visiting clients and vendors.

3. Client Services & Sales Enablement

• Run full client‑service workflows for venue‑hire and partnerships: brief‑taking, proposals, rate cards, contracts, production schedules, on‑site show management and post‑event reporting.
• Partner with Sales Leads (who own commercial targets) to upsell services, refine packages and support pitches with space layouts, mood boards and programme ideas.
• Serve as the primary client point of contact from client introductions through booking to wrap, ensuring expectations are met and exceeded.

4. Communications/PR & Brand Stewardship

• Position Studio 152 as a standalone cultural brand: maintain the brand voice, programming pillars and quality bar.
• Partner with ITP’s central Marketing & Events teams on comms plans, listings, social roll‑outs, eDMs and media relations.
• Own all documentation: media kits, tech specs, floor plans, press notes, photo/video documentation and the Studio 152 archive.

5. Cross‑Functional Liaison

• Coordinate with ITP editorial brands (e.g. Harper's Bazaar, Esquire, T Magazine, MENA Arabian Business) and external event owners to align creative scheduling and operational needs.
• Build working relationships with Al‑Futtaim stakeholders, mall/estate management, security and facilities teams.

6. Budgeting, Vendors & Procurement

• Manage programme and event‑level budgets (estimates, POs, reconciliations) and ensure cost control without compromising experience.
• Source and manage approved vendors (AV, fabrication, rigging, logistics, décor, staffing, FOH equipment); oversee tenders when required.

7. Governance, Compliance & Risk

• In collaboration with the Ops/Facility Manager and central ITP teams ensure compliance with all permits, insurance requirements and relevant local approvals.
• Implement HSE policies, safeguarding and incident‑response procedures; maintain risk assessments and method statements for higher‑risk builds.

8. Audience Insights & Measurement

• Establish a measurement framework with central Marketing/Analytics: footfall, dwell time, audience profiles, first‑party data capture (where appropriate), NPS/CSAT.
• Produce concise post‑event and quarterly impact reports; translate insights into programming choices and client pitch narratives.

9. Team Leadership

• Line‑manage the Ops/Facility Manager; matrix‑lead FOH and temporary staff.
• Run interfacing with central events and marketing teams to ensure successful delivery of events.
• Set clear objectives, SOPs and training for service standards; foster a culture of hospitality, inclusion and calm, solution‑oriented delivery.

Qualifications

• 8 years in gallery/museum/experiential programming, cultural venue management or premium brand activations, ideally mixing curatorial work with operations.
• Demonstrated ability to curate and deliver a fast, diverse calendar (multiple events per week) while maintaining quality and guest experience.
• Strong client‑service pedigree; comfortable with luxury partners and high‑profile stakeholders.
• Solid grasp of event production basics (AV/lighting vernacular, fabrication timelines, floor plans, access/logistics).
• Excellent planning, budgeting, vendor management and stakeholder communication skills.
• Comfortable partnering with central Marketing/PR teams; confident in media walk‑throughs and on‑site hosting.
• Bilingual Arabic/English strongly preferred; additional languages a plus.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Primary KPIs

• Audience data & insight quality: footfall, dwell profile depth, newsletter sign‑ups/registrations (where applicable).
• Client service & retention: CSAT/NPS, repeat bookings, testimonial quality.

Additional KPIs

• Utilisation rate: % of programmed/occupied days and prime‑time slots.
• Operational excellence: on‑time load‑ins/outs, incident‑free delivery, turnaround speed.
• Budget adherence: variance vs. forecast per activation/quarter.

Cultural impact: press mentions, partnerships, community participation