Assistant Curator, Modern and Contemporary

Nationalmuseums; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 33,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading museum in Edinburgh seeks an Assistant Curator for Modern and Contemporary art. The role involves supporting curatorial activities, conducting research, and enhancing audience engagement with the collection. Ideal candidates will have a degree in art history and experience in museum settings.

Qualifications

• Professional experience in a gallery or museum environment.
• Knowledge of Modern and Contemporary art.

Responsibilities

• Assist with curatorial activities related to the collection.
• Conduct provenance research and respond to inquiries.
• Create and update collection records.

Skills

Communication

Organizational Skills

Initiative

Teamwork

Education

Degree in Art History

Tools

Microsoft Office 365

Axiell Collections

Job description

Contract type:

Details:

Location:

Edinburgh

Category:

Collections Care
Curatorial
Research

Salary:

£29,888 - £32,602 per annum (pay award pending)

Contract type:

Contract Temporary

Hours:

Full time

Telephone:

01316246537

Assistant Curator, Modern and Contemporary

About the role

Are you passionate about Modern and Contemporary art, with a particular interest in and knowledge of an area relevant to this part of the national collection? Are you detail-oriented, proactive, and able to manage your time effectively to meet deadlines? Are you keen to develop your skills and experience across a variety of curatorial activities? If so, we’d love to hear from you.

We’re excited to offer a fixed-term opportunity to join our enthusiastic and dedicated Modern and Contemporary Curatorial team. We're looking for a highly motivated and well-organised individual to help deliver a wide range of curatorial activities.

We’re looking for someone with initiative who already has professional experience of working in a gallery or museum environment, or with an art or heritage collection. You will be able to work both independently and collaboratively, while being supported and guided by colleagues in the Curatorial team.

In this role, you’ll assist with and help deliver several aspects of curatorial work relating to the collection and audience offer associated with the Modern and Contemporary Curatorial team. You will assist with the organisation, maintenance and delivery of collection displays and exhibitions, as well as supporting the acquisitions process. You’ll carry out research into artworks in the collection, including provenance research, and will respond to enquiries about the collection. The role also includes developing, creating and sharing information about the Modern and Contemporary collection for audiences, including writing interpretation and contributing to digital content.

The difference you’ll make

As part of the Collection & Research department you’llassist colleagues in the Modern and Contemporary Curatorial team with a variety of curatorial work. Reporting to the Chief Curator, Modern and Contemporary Art you will:

- Work closely with colleagues across all departments in the organisation, maintenance and delivery of exhibitions and displays and overall audience offer at Modern One and Modern Two.
- Assist with due diligence provenance research, data capture, and collection audit and review programmes in collaboration with Curatorial, Collections Management and Conservation teams.
- Support colleagues to deliver artwork changes for existing collection displays.
- Share information on the collection with our audiences and partners, including answering research enquiries about the collection.
- Undertake directed research, including on provenance, into the collection and potential acquisitions.
- Create and update collection acquisition, loan and object records.
- Write in-gallery and online interpretation about the collection for our focus audiences meeting the National Galleries of Scotland tone of voice, interpretation framework and editorial processes.
- Liaise with collections management colleagues to ensure the highest standards of care and protection for the collection.

Who we are looking for

To succeed in this role, you’ll need the following range of knowledge, skills, and experience:

- A degree or equivalent in art history or a related subject.
- Knowledge of a subject area relevant to the National Galleries of Scotland’s Modern and Contemporary collection.
- Professional experience of working in a gallery or museum environment and/or evidence of professional experience working with art/heritage collections.
- A proactive approach with the ability to take initiative.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong organisational and administrative skills, including an ability to prioritise effectively and work accurately without close supervision.
- Ability to work as part of a team and develop and maintain effective working relations with a broad range of people and teams, internally and externally.
- A demonstrable commitment to supporting the organisation’s equality, diversity and inclusion principles.
- Proficient IT skills particularly Microsoft Office 365.

It would also be great if you have:

- A working knowledge of Axiell Collections or another collections management system.

Please apply directly via our careers portal. Applications via email will not be accepted.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Monday, 19 May 2025.

Interviews will be held on Tuesday, 10 June 2025 and Wednesday, 11 June 2025.

National Museum Directors' Council, Tate Britain, Millbank, London SW1P 4RG.