Curatorial Assistant

WADDESDON MANOR; England; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A renowned cultural institution in England is seeking a Curatorial Assistant to support the Collection team. The successful candidate will help with exhibitions and ensure effective management of enquiries and collections. This role requires a passion for art history, an undergraduate degree, and strong organizational and communication skills. The ideal candidate will show enthusiasm and a willingness to learn, contributing to a collaborative environment within the Collections Department.

Qualifications

• Passion for art history, history or social history.
• Meticulous approach to information gathering and record keeping.
• Good IT skills.

Responsibilities

• Become familiar with the whole collection and develop interests in particular subject areas.
• Support the delivery of exhibitions, projects, and permanent displays.
• Manage the distribution of incoming enquiries about the collections.

Skills

Art history

Research skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Teamwork

Education

Undergraduate degree or equivalent

Job description

Curatorial Assistant

We are seeking a Curatorial Assistant to be an integral part of the Collection team.

You will participate in an ambitious and inclusive permanent display and exhibitions programme, and deliver the strategy for care, access and engagement for the Collections. You will contribute to the efficient day-to-day running of the Collections Department, creating a sense of common purpose, with an openness to innovative thinking and awareness of best practice.

Key responsibilities

• Become familiar with the whole collection and develop interests in particular subject areas. Those that would benefit from particular focus include (but are not limited to) paintings (specifically Dutch 17th century), textiles, photographs, books, prints and drawings, sculpture and contemporary art
• Undertake research and information gathering for projects and reports
• Support the delivery of exhibitions, projects and permanent displays
• Manage the distribution of incoming enquiries about the collections, passing on to relevant colleagues, taking action as appropriate and drafting some communications as required. Keep track of progress on enquiries
• Ensure that bibliographic citations about collections, history of Waddesdon, archives and research are up-to-date. Maintain and research bibliographies – other than those through image requests
• Assist with inventories of the Collections
• Assist conservation campaigns and surveys
• Undertake digital filing and assist with transferring documents to Sharepoint

Your areas of knowledge and expertise that matter for this role

Essential

• Undergraduate degree or equivalent
• Passion for art history, history or social history
• Area of interest or expertise in one or more area of the Collections, or demonstrable willingness to develop this
• Meticulous approach to information gathering and record keeping and/or evidence of research skills
• Good organisational and time management
• Good IT skills
• Good communication skills with both internal and external stakeholders
• Able to work collaboratively and independently
• Good team player with a friendly, open attitude
• Enthusiastic and willing to learn and share your knowledge

Desirable

• Spoken or reading knowledge of a European language, ideally French or German
• Familiarity with collections management databases and structures

For the full role profile, please see the attachment. To apply, submit your current CV and a covering letter.