40 Brunswick Square, London, WC1N 1AZ

Job Title: Arts Scholars Assistant Curator

 

Reporting to: Curator: Exhibitions and Displays 

Purpose of Job: To support exhibition and collection programme delivery, working closely with the Curator, and the Collections Manager. This post is supported by the Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars.  

 

Employment Status: Part-time, Temporary (6 months)

Salary: £30k per annum, pro rata  

Working pattern: 2-3 days per week, to be confirmed with the successful candidate. Working hours typically fall between 9.00 and 18.00 Mon-Fri (excluding 1 hour per day for lunch). Some flexibility to accommodate extra days during installation and de-installation of displays would be useful.

 

On-site status: Possibility to work from home at times as agreed with line manager. On-site working will be required for installation and de-installation and essential in person meetings and tasks.

 

 

Inspired by three great eighteenth- century activists - Thomas Coram, William Hogarth and George Frideric Handel - the Foundling Museum is a force for change. We believe in creative action that brings past and present together to stimulate imaginations and enrich young lives. With a campaigning spirit, we celebrate the work of artists and inspire people to take positive action that transforms the lives of children and young people, and creates a lasting impact on society.

 

The Museum brings its historic story of children in care to life, in ways that are meaningful for people today, by working with outstanding artists from all creative disciplines, including our Foundling Fellows. Artists are central to the Foundling Hospital story and the spirit of its Artist Governors lives on in the work of the many practitioners who support our programmes, from visual artists and designers to film-makers and musicians. They remind us that the arts do not just provide the visuals, the commentary and the soundtrack to our lives; they can change, challenge and improve them.

This role sits within the Curatorial team, responsible for planning and delivery of special exhibitions, collection displays, digital collection and exhibition content, public programmes and collection care. 

 

·      To support delivery of the special exhibition programme, including curatorial and registration support such as managing object lists, image requests, research etc [planned projects - Forgotten Foundlings; Family]

·      To curate smaller scale temporary displays this Autumn/Winter which complement and contrast with our exhibition [planned projects – Manorism display with Yomi Sode and photographer Akytom; National Gallery collaboration Fruits of the Spirit – Faithfulness]

·      To liaise with external curators, artists, and freelance contractors

·      To work with the Curator, Collections Manager and Operations Team on installation and de-installation

·      To write and edit text for interpretation, publications and reports

·      To contribute to the development of future programmes

 

·      To work with the Collections Manager and Curator to support the display and care of the Collection

·      To undertake research into the Collection and contribute to interpretation and collection display development

 

·      To contribute to the development and delivery of public programmes, including giving talks or tours in person or online.

 

·      To support the creation of collection and exhibition content for all Museum digital channels, including website, social media, and third-party channels such as Art UK, Smartify. [planned project – a primarily digital collaboration with writing collective 26 for Bloomsbury Festival using Smartify]

 

·      To support the work of colleagues in other teams, including Learning and Participation, Communications, and Development/Fundraising

·      To represent the Museum in a range of settings including private views, public events, development events etc.

·      To be flexible in approach and carry out any duties that may fall within the range of the role, as requested by line manager or senior team

·      Degree level qualification in a relevant subject or demonstrable knowledge/output to an equivalent level

·      Experience of curating exhibitions or displays 

·      Experience of working with contemporary artists (across disciplines such as literature, music, visual art)

·      Experience of producing publications/other exhibition outputs particularly digital content 

·      Good research skills

·      Excellent organisation and administration skills

·      Ability to work to tight deadlines

·      Ability to work both independently and as part of a team

·      Demonstrable ability to communicate well and clearly, both in written and spoken word, with a range of audiences

 

·      An understanding of eighteenth-century British art, culture and social history as the historic context of the Foundling Museum

 

Closing Date               Wednesday 31 August 2022

Interviews                   w/c 5 September 2022