Curatorial Trainee, Exhibitions
Salary £ 23,608
Oxford
Vacancy listed 02/08/2023
Application deadline 22/09/2023
Details
Please refer to the attached candidate package for a full job description and instructions on how to apply.

Introduction to the role 

Modern Art Oxford is offering an exciting curatorial trainee opportunity within its Exhibitions team. Working as Curatorial Trainee, Exhibitions you will support the research, administration and delivery of exhibitions, commissions and live programmes, ensuring appropriate and ongoing communication across departments to realise projects successfully, within budget and to the highest standard. 
This role is aimed at providing in-depth, long-term professional development for an early-career curator who wishes to develop new curatorial knowledge by gaining a wide range of skills and experience in the research, planning and delivery of contemporary art exhibitions and events. Modern Art Oxford is committed to creating equality of opportunity for all and we value diversity in our team, which we aim to strengthen through this new initiative. As part of our Anti-racism Action Plan, we particularly welcome applications from people from the global majority who are under-represented in the workforce in our sector.

What you will gain

As the Curatorial Trainee, Exhibitions, you will gain in-depth knowledge of the curatorial work that goes into the Modern Art Oxford programme. Working closely with the Curator, Exhibitions & Live Programmes, you will acquire first hand experience in exhibition organising, registrar duties, curatorial research, catalogue publishing, artist liaison and general support to the exhibitions and live programmes team. You will be trusted to use your initiative in problem solving and encouraged to contribute ideas, as well as receive the support to shape your interests and to realise your potential. 
In addition to playing an integral role in the daily running of the Exhibitions team you will also benefit from  structured mentoring from the Curator, Exhibitions & Live Programmes and Senior Curator, Exhibitions. Your curatorial interests will be supported by a training and development allowance to pay towards travel for personal curatorial research, attendance at conferences, networking and other development opportunities.

About your team 

The Curatorial Trainee, Exhibitions is line-managed by the Curator, Exhibitions & Live Programmes and supports the Senior Curator, Exhibitions, Production Manager and Assistant Production Manager. 

Responsibilities

Curatorial
Contribute to the curatorial vision and delivery of the Exhibitions and Live Programme, including:
  • Be a proactive and positive member of the Exhibitions team, attending regular curatorial and exhibition production meetings
  • Support the Curator, Exhibitions & Live Programmes and Senior Curator, Exhibitions with curatorial research by sourcing information and contributing ideas for the forthcoming programme
  • Research and curate changing vitrine displays in the ground floor spaces of the gallery using material from the Modern Art Oxford archive 
  • Support the Curator, Exhibitions & Live Programmes with the research, planning and delivery of the Live Programme

Exhibitions Administration
Support the research, planning and delivery of the Exhibitions and Live Programme  including:
  • Oversee the administration of the Exhibitions programme, including: maintaining exhibition checklists, minute-taking in team meetings, scheduling internal and external meetings, ordering exhibition-related materials and supplies and other miscellaneous administrative tasks as required.
  • Support the Curator, Exhibitions & Live Programmes with timely and accurate issuing, completion and return of loan forms, lender correspondence, condition reports and insurance documents.
  • Support the Curator with the administration of registrar duties relating to the shipping and movement of artworks for exhibitions
  • Undertake the condition checking of all art works on arrival and departure, with support from the Curator, Exhibitions & Live Programmes
  • Support exhibition logistics including researching and booking accommodation and travel for artists and curators as required
  • Arrange the documentation and photography of exhibitions and events
  • Ensure the effective archiving of exhibition-related materials, including correspondence, photography, printed materials and financial records, with support from the Curator, Exhibitions & Live Programmes
  • Update exhibition forward planning documents and shared calendars
  • Support the administration of the reporting and evaluation of exhibitions and events, in particular inputting and collating information for reporting to key stakeholders
  • Supervise temporary placement students in collaboration with Communities, Practice & Participation colleagues

Communication
Support the Exhibitions team to prepare digital and print materials for public engagement with Exhibitions and Live Programme, including: 
  • Assist with the production of exhibition labels, signage and handouts, liaising as appropriate with colleagues and suppliers
  • Assist with drafting interpretation text and proofreading labels, catalogues, leaflets and other gallery and public-facing information
  • Manage the appropriate sourcing of images and other digital content from artists, galleries and lenders, including image credits and permissions
  • Manage the programme email account and respond to unsolicited proposals, queries and requests relating to exhibitions and the archive
  • Lead tours and public talks of exhibitions.

Finance
To support the Exhibitions team with accurate and up-to-date financial administration, including:
  • Oversee the financial administration of the Exhibitions programme, working closely with the Curator, Exhibitions & Live Programmes, Production Manager and Senior Curator, Exhibition to ensure that budgets are accurate and updated
  • Monitor budgets and contribute to the preparation of budget estimates and forecasts.
  • Provide regular budget updates to the Curator, Exhibitions & Live Programmes and Senior Curator, Exhibitions
  • Process invoices to ensure timely payment, clearly communicating with external stakeholders on details required by finance colleagues
  • Reconcile Exhibitions budgets with the finance accounting system, working closely with the Finance Manager and Curator, Exhibitions & Live Programmes
  • Process and administer staff expenses relating to exhibitions expenditure including management of some departmental credit cards

Person Specification:

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate an enthusiasm for contemporary art and a willingness to gain a broad range of curatorial skills and experiences. They will have strong administration skills and a proactive mindset, with a keen attention to detail and an ability to prioritise and deliver multiple strands of work to deadlines. Good planning and communication skills are essential in this busy, demanding and exciting environment. They will be comfortable working as part of a team.

Essential
  • A keen  interest in contemporary art and visual culture with a desire and willingness to develop a career in the arts sector 
  • Highly organised and methodical with experience of managing and updating records and databases 
  • A solutions-focused attitude
  • A motivated, proactive self-starter who takes initiative with the ability to work
collaboratively as part of a team
  • Rigorous attention to detail
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Good time and workload management skills 
  • Proficient IT skills – MS Office, Excel in particular

Desirable
  • An undergraduate degree in an Arts and Humanities subject
  • At least one year’s experience in an administrative role
  • Knowledge of the Adobe suite including inDesign, Photoshop and Sketch Up
  • Experience of working within an arts organisation


The requirements listed here are offered as guidelines to indicate your suitability for the role. You don’t have to satisfy every requirement and we welcome candidates who bring transferable skills. If you apply you have the opportunity to be considered.  

Modern Art Oxford is committed to creating equality of opportunity for all and we value diversity in our team. As part of our Anti-racism Action Plan, we welcome applications from people from the global majority who are under-represented in the workforce in our sector.

Benefits

Annual leave
25 days plus 8 public holidays .

Pension
An auto-enrolment pension scheme is in place with Legal & General. Under pension auto enrolment legislation, the employee will pay 5% (before tax relief) and the employer will pay 3% of qualifying earnings to the Legal and General plan.

Discounts and other benefits
Employees are entitled to a discount in our Modern Art Oxford Shop and Café. There is an Employee Assistance Programme through Gemelli and a discounts, Cycle-scheme and
Tech-scheme program available through BHN Extras.

Notes

Modern Art Oxford is one of the UK’s most exciting and influential contemporary art organisations, renowned for its bold and ambitious artistic programme that promotes diversity and internationalism and celebrates contemporary art as a progressive agent of social change.

Founded in 1965, it is the only public institution dedicated to contemporary visual arts in Oxford and plays a central role in the city’s cultural landscape.

Modern Art Oxford welcomes more than 100,000 visitors each year with 10,000 attendances in creative learning and participation activities. The organisation’s digital content reaches 450,000 through Modern Art Oxford’s digital channels annually. Through a wide range of high-quality content creation and programming, Modern Art Oxford aims to make contemporary art accessible and engaging to the widest audience and to promote creativity in all of its visual forms. Over the last 50 years Modern Art Oxford has brought some of the world’s most important artists to the city, and the UK, and has developed an international reputation for pioneering emerging and under-represented artists.

Modern Art Oxford is a registered charity and relies on core funding from Arts Council England and Oxford City Council, and the generous support of individuals, trusts and foundations, sponsors and friends.

Organisational Values
Modern Art Oxford aspires to the following values as an employer and organisation:

Welcoming
We are inclusive, caring, and respectful.

Ambitious
We are creative, resourceful and aspire to excellence.

Collaborative
We are dedicated to learning and are responsive and curious.

Conscientious
We act with integrity and are socially engaged and accountable.

Attached documents
Title File
Modern Art Oxford-Curatorial Trainee Exhibitions-Candidate Package PDF Modern_Art_Oxford-Curatorial_Trainee_Exhibitions-Candidate_Package.pdf
Modern Art Oxford-Curatorial Trainee Exhibitions-Candidate Package DOCX Modern_Art_Oxford-Curatorial_Trainee_Exhibitions-Candidate_Package.docx

This vacancy has now been closed