Senior Curator (French Art)

Creative Scotland; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent cultural institution in Scotland is seeking a knowledgeable Senior Curator with a deep expertise in French art to manage and promote a significant collection. The role includes developing research-led exhibitions, supporting loans, and conducting authoritative research. This full-time position offers a salary range of £42,938 - £48,054, hybrid working options, and a generous benefits package.

Benefits

Generous benefits package

Qualifications

• Deep expertise in French art and eager to share knowledge.
• Specialism in French art of the mid-19th to early 20th centuries.
• Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to development, display, interpretation of the collection.
• Support active programme of loans and exhibitions.
• Conduct authoritative research for the National Galleries of Scotland.

Skills

Expertise in French art

Collaboration

Research-led exhibition development

Knowledge of 17th and 18th-century French art

Job description

Overview

Full-time (35 hours) and Permanent
Salary £42,938 - £48,054 per annum (pay award pending)
Plus generous benefits package
Hybrid / flexible working

About the role

Are you a Senior Curator with deep expertise in French art and eager to share your knowledge? This is your chance to shape how an amazing collection of French art is experienced, researched and enjoyed by audiences.

We’re delighted to have an exciting and rare opportunity to join our dedicated Curatorial team. We are seeking a knowledgeable and passionate Senior Curator with a specialism in French art of the mid-19th to early 20th centuries, complemented by a broader knowledge of 17th- and 18th-century French art.

We’re looking for someone who is collaborative, forward-thinking and committed to supporting equity, diversity and inclusion. Someone who believes in the power of art to inspire, challenge and connect people.

In this role, you will make a major contribution to the development, understanding, display, interpretation, promotion, and use of the collection. You will bring excellent object knowledge, including works on paper, to support your academic specialism. You’ll support an active programme of loans and exhibitions related to the French works in the collection. Your strong and evidenced research profile will be matched by proven experience of developing research-led exhibitions that engage and inspire audiences.

Drawing on an established and wide network of contacts from museum peers, international research networks, to relevant organisations and academics, you will conduct authoritative research on behalf of the National Galleries of Scotland.

Working as a key part of our dedicated and passionate Curatorial team, you will contribute to delivering our audience offer, initiatives and projects, supporting our purpose to make art work for everyone.

How to apply

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

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Thursday, 09 October 2025.

Qualifications and requirements

• Senior Curator with deep expertise in French art and eager to share knowledge
• Specialism in French art of the mid-19th to early 20th centuries; broader knowledge of 17th- and 18th-century French art
• Collaborative, forward-thinking, and committed to equity, diversity and inclusion
• Strong object knowledge, including works on paper
• Experience developing research-led exhibitions and loan/exhibition programs
• Established network of museum peers, international research networks, and relevant organisations