Department of Visual Arts
Application deadline: June 17, 2024
London EC2Y8DS
United Kingdom
Applications are now open for two Curators at the Barbican.
The Barbican is a unique, dynamic Arts and Learning Centre that presents artistic experiences with collaborators across music, theatre, dance, visual arts and cinema that variously entertain, enable, enrich, and enlighten our many audiences. Our aim is to be a 21st century international Arts Centre that champions equity, diversity, and inclusion, and explores new approaches to arts, education, and enterprise.
Job summary
These two curatorial positions will play a critical role in further consolidating the Barbican Visual Arts reputation as a leading international venue for the presentation of visionary exhibitions and path breaking commissions that rethink art historical narratives and explore pivotal contemporary issues and themes. The curators will contribute to an inter-disciplinary programme that encompasses contemporary and modern art, fashion, design, architecture, performance, film, and photography.
They will lead and co-ordinate project teams for the development, creative planning and realisation of exhibitions, public art commissions and events that align with the overall artistic programme, strategic framework and purpose and values of the Barbican Centre.
Each curator should develop new and creative approaches to the making of exhibitions and demonstrate innovative and unexpected ways of working with architecture and public space. They will work collaboratively and manage relationships with a wide range of stakeholders—in order to realise exhibitions and commissions for the Barbican which would involve mobilising support through fundraising and building relationships and international institutional partnerships to promote the Gallery’s partnership and touring exhibitions abroad. Read more
Key info
Department: Visual Arts
Grade: E
Job Type: Permanent, Full-time (35 hours)
Salary range: 46,050–51,530 GBP per annum (inclusive of Inner London Weighting), dependent on skills and experience
Application deadline: Monday, June 17, 12pm BST
Essential requirements:
–Post graduate degree or equivalent knowledge and experience in arts-related discipline, preferably art history, design/architecture history, art theory or cultural studies.
–An excellent knowledge of 20th and 21st century contemporary and modern art
–Knowledge and experience in curating large loan-based exhibitions with an internationally recognised track record
–Significant experience working with living artists and having delivered public art commissions.
–Good publishing track record.
–Experience managing multi-disciplinary teams including freelance and contractors delivering complex productions.
–Financial acumen with a proven history of fundraising, managing large budgets and delivering financial returns on investment.
–A strong international network.
You must be able to demonstrate:
–Excellent communication skills with the ability to negotiate complex contracts including hire agreements, loans from artists, collectors, galleries, and museums.
–Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to create mutually beneficial relationships.
–Ability to work inclusively and collaboratively across teams and sectors to achieve positive outcomes.
–Ability to undertake detailed research.
–Ability to exercise tact and diplomacy with collaborators and stakeholders.
–Ability to communicate clearly with varied audiences.
–Ability to work to tight deadlines and maintain a calm, ordered approach.
–Ability to work inclusively and collaboratively across boundaries to achieve positive outcomes.
This is a full-time, permanent position based in the Barbican, with the possibility to work 2 days per week remotely. The Barbican is a values-based organisation and welcomes applications from all backgrounds and sectors. Equity, diversity, and inclusion are at the forefront of our strategy. We are open to discussing flexible working arrangements where possible, and all workplace attendance requirements are based on the role, to provide employees with an agreed working pattern to enable them to plan in the longer term and therefore provide a good work/home life balance.
If you have questions about the role, please contact Katrina Crookall at katrina.crookall@barbican.org.uk.
If you have questions about the application process, please contact careers@barbican.org.uk.
How to apply
To apply online, please click here.
Closing deadline and interview dates
Closing date is Monday, June 17, 2024, 12pm BST. Please note that we are unable to accept late applications.
Interviews are to be held the week of June 24, 2024.
As part of our commitment to increasing the diversity of staff within the Barbican we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from groups that are currently underrepresented, including people from the Global Majority* and D/deaf and disabled people. We want to better reflect and understand the communities we exist to serve. We are members of the Disability Confident Scheme and guarantee to interview all disabled candidates who would like to be considered under this scheme and who meet the minimum essential criteria for the role. If you are a disabled person and need adjustments to the application process please contact us.
*Global Majority is a collective term that refers to people who are Black, Asian, Brown, dual-heritage, indigenous to the global south, and or, have been racialised as 'ethnic minorities'.
