Curator: British Prints and Drawings (1500-1774)

The British Museum; London; Hybrid; GBP 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A renowned cultural institution in London is seeking a knowledgeable Curator for British Prints and Drawings. This full-time role involves leading the collection, conducting innovative research, and enhancing public engagement. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in graphic arts, excellent communication skills, and experience in curatorial work. A competitive benefits package is offered, with a strong commitment to workplace equality and diversity.

Benefits

Generous annual leave allowance

Membership in civil service pension scheme

Free entry to museums

Interest-free loans

Professional development opportunities

Discounts on food and gifts

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of printmaking techniques and history.
• Experience in organizing exhibitions and gallery displays.
• Museum curatorial experience with a publication history.

Responsibilities

• Lead the collection of British prints and drawings.
• Conduct research and curate exhibitions.
• Respond to public and scholarly enquiries.

Skills

Knowledge of graphic arts techniques

Excellent communication

Team collaboration

Curatorial experience

Research flair

Project management

Education

Degree in art history or equivalent

Job description

Overview

Curator: British Prints and Drawings (1500-1774) | Prints and Drawings | Full-time: 41 hours per week (including one hour paid lunch break) | Permanent | £44,719 per annum | Application deadline: 12pm (midday) on 8 October

About the role

The Museum is seeking a dedicated and knowledgeable curator to lead on its renowned collection of British prints and drawings by artists born between 1500 and 1775. This remarkable group includes works by figures such as John White, William Hogarth, Mary Delany, Thomas Gainsborough, and James Gillray.

The successful postholder will be responsible for deepening public and scholarly understanding of the collection through innovative research, exhibitions, and publications, while also advancing its digital accessibility through improved records and imaging. You’ll respond to enquiries, support acquisition efforts, and share your expertise with a wide range of audience, such as researchers and students to patrons and the public.

Alongside curatorial responsibilities for this period’s collection, the role involves participating in departmental operations, supporting fundraising efforts, and contributing to the Museum’s broader strategic goals, including its ambitious Masterplan.

This is an exciting opportunity to care for and interpret a major historic collection, and to bring fresh insight and visibility to the art and ideas of Britain’s early modern centuries.

Key areas of responsibility

• To assist with public and scholarly enquiries relating to the collection.
• To share specialist knowledge in an enthusiastic, engaging and inspiring fashion to broad audiences as and when is necessary (for the public, patrons, school or university groups, and colleagues from other institutions).
• To maintain, update and improve the online records of around 60,000 prints and 10,000 drawings including some of the Museum’s most important British holdings by artists such as John White, William Hogarth, Mary Delany, Thomas Gainsborough and James Gillray.
• To devise exhibitions wholly or in part derived from the British collection under their curatorial care.
• Be involved in fundraising and provide curatorial support to the Museum’s corporate and private patrons and supporters.
• To play a full part in everyday Departmental administration and participate in museum-wide projects and activities.
• Recommending suitable items to add to the collection and guiding them through the acquisition process.
• Other duties as assigned

About you

• Sound knowledge of the techniques and history of graphic arts, particularly all aspects of print making.
• Relevant experience of being involved as a curator in organising an exhibition or a permanent gallery display that has involved liaising with a variety of different parties.
• A degree in art history, history or equivalent
• Ability to work successfully as part of a team and to be an excellent communicator.
• Museum curatorial experience that has demonstrated a flair for research, including some publication history in a relevant field.
• An ability to manage museum projects (exhibition, new gallery display etc).
• Experience of presentations in seminars, lectures, gallery talks etc.

About the British Museum

Founded in 1753, the British Museum’s remarkable collection spans over two million years of human history and culture. The Museum is one of the leading visitor attractions and its world-famous collection includes the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures, Egyptian mummies, the Admonitions Scroll, and the Amaravati sculptures.

The Museum offers a competitive benefits package including:

• Generous annual leave allowance of 25 days (rising to 30 days after 10 years’ service) plus 2.5 privilege days and plus bank holidays
• Membership of the civil service defined benefit pension scheme (find out here what benefits a civil service pension provides).
• Free entry to a wide range of museums and exhibitions
• Participation in private and public Museum activities, including talks by leading curators from around the world and behind-the-scenes opportunities to learn how museums care for and manage their extraordinary collections
• Interest-free travel, bicycle and rental deposit loans
• Professional and personal development opportunities
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Discounts on food and gift shop purchases

Additional details

For more information about this role, please see the job description.

The interviews are expected to take place on Wednesday 19th November or Thursday 20th November.

If you have any additional needs that we should be aware of in order to support you with your application, please provide details to [e-mail].

The British Museum is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all staff and job applicants. We aim to create a working environment in which all individuals can make best use of their skills, free from unlawful discrimination or harassment. We value the benefits that a diverse workforce brings to a Museum which represents world culture. The Museum is committed to ensuring that no job applicant suffers unlawful discrimination because of any protected characteristics. Our recruitment procedures aim to ensure that individuals are treated because of their relevant knowledge, skills and experience.

We offer a flexible way of working scheme that allows our employees to work remotely in a way that suits them and the organisation. We welcome questions and conversations at interview stage about how flexible working could work for you. We would typically see this role as working on site about four days a week.

The Museum also adheres to the HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) for pre-employment screening of Civil Servants.