Dorset Curatorial Fellow (Modern Paintings and Modern & Contemporary Projects)

Salary: The salary is £38,133 per annum working full time hours of 35 per week.

Location: London

Build professional curatorial experience through a traineeship exploring modern and contemporary painting, exhibitions and public engagement.

The National Gallery is an art museum in Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, in Central London, England. Founded in 1824, it houses a collection of over 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900. The National Gallery has a vacancy for the Dorset Curatorial Fellow (Modern Paintings and Modern & Contemporary Projects). This is a fixed-term contract for 22 months.

The Dorset Curatorial Fellow will gain professional experience and knowledge through involvement in a range of curatorial practices concerning the research and delivery of the National Gallery’s Modern & Contemporary Projects programme, Exhibitions, and the Gallery’s development of the painting collection into the 20th and 21st century. They will participate in the creation and delivery of interpretation and public-facing activity, and help with scholarly research, publications, commissions and exhibitions.

Scope of job

Reporting to the Associate Curator for Modern & Contemporary Projects, the Curatorial Fellow will assist in the research, development, delivery, and interpretation of projects within the Gallery as follows:

• Provide support to the Curators and Associate Curators of Post -1800, Modern Paintings, and Modern & Contemporary Projects
• Part of their time will be dedicated to their responsibility for assisting with the Residency and awards programme, including the management of their juries, and acting as central liaison for artists in post
• Receive training in and assist with researching and curating exhibitions and commissions, with the curatorial delivery of public programmes, with liaising with contemporary artists, dealing with public enquiries and with the internal communication of information about Modern and Contemporary Projects
• Receive training in the care, display, research, and interpretation of the collection, in dealing with acquisitions, loans, rehangs and redisplays
• Receive training in curating exhibitions, the delivery of public programmes, dealing with public enquiries and ensuring collection information is up to date
• Assist with a range of essential museum functions such as art handling, framing, conservation, scientific research, communications, exhibitions and education as well as working with national and international partners
• Act as a Gallery courier, accompanying paintings within the UK and abroad
• May be asked to assist with exhibition projects in different ways and at different points between evolution and conception (depending on timings, they may not see the project through to public opening)

Knowledge, skills and experience

Key required skills

• Demonstrable experience in independent critical and historical reflection of Modern and Contemporary art, as evidenced through publications or a post - graduate degree in Art History, Curatorial Studies or another relevant subject.
• Knowledge of artistic practice of the 20th and 21st Centuries with an understanding of different artistic production needs.
• Relevant experience in project development and delivery with practicing artists and their studios.
• Fluency in English and a proven working knowledge of at least one other language.
• Ability to write concisely and accurately in English, with an awareness of the needs of both specialist and general audiences.
• Ability to prioritise tasks and meet deadlines.
• Competent public speaker.
• Broad IT skills.

Key required attributes

• Interest in how the Gallery communicates the results of its research to a broad public, using digital and other media
• Diplomatic and sensitive in dealing with a wide range of people from the general public to lenders, owners and dealers
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively as a team player
• Demonstrable interest in curatorial work and in the history of the National Gallery
• Demonstrate personal accountability to work effectively to tight deadlines and finish off work to the highest of standard; show an innate integrity to use one’s time to best advantage to further the Gallery’s objectives
• Desire to promote fruitful discussions around diversity and inclusion in terms of gender, race, religion through chosen research projects within and beyond the Gallery

Essential minimum qualification on entry

• An undergraduate or postgraduate degree in Art History, Curatorial studies or another rele vant subject.
• Knowledge of 20th and 21st century art movements at either first degree or postgraduate degree.

Additional essential criteria or considerations

• Occasional irregular hours to attend events , including giving tours, and for working with artists out of hours may be required
• Some travel throughout the UK and abroad may be required
• Show an innate integrity to use one's time to best advantage to furt her the Gallery's objectives

We welcome and encourage applications from candidates who are under-represented in the creative industries.

Please make sure that you state in your application that you found this role via Creative Access.