We are currently looking for an experienced and passionate Assistant Curator, to join our Visual Arts team on a full time, eight months fixed term basis.
As the hub of visual arts activity at the Southbank Centre, Hayward Gallery presents a diverse exhibition programme that features monographic surveys of influential artists from across the world and major international group shows exploring pivotal themes and issues of the day. This is an exceptional opportunity to contribute to the planning and delivery of exhibitions that push boundaries, explore vital cultural themes, and foster a sense of discovery.
As Assistant Curator, you will work closely with Hayward Gallery Curators, contributing to all aspects of exhibition planning and delivery. From managing exhibition workflows to liaising with artists, lenders, and internal teams, you’ll ensure exhibitions run smoothly, on time, and within budget. You will also play a key role in research, organising public talks, and overseeing the creation of exhibition catalogues. Your expertise and organisational skills will be crucial in supporting delivering exhibitions that both challenge and engage our visitors.
Key Responsibilities
* Exhibition Organisation: Support curators in planning and coordinating exhibitions, managing schedules, and ensuring communication between stakeholders.
* Budget Management: Assist with scoping and tracking exhibition budgets, liaising with operations teams, and identifying any financial risks.
* Liaison and Loans: Lead the loan process, acting as the primary contact for lenders and artists, ensuring smooth transactions and documentation. Working with the registrar's teams for loan administration.
* Research & Development: Contribute to the development of the Project Space programme and undertake research for upcoming exhibitions.
* Interpretation & Publications: Write and proof engaging interpretive texts for gallery guides, labels, and the website. Oversee the production of exhibition catalogues.
* Collaboration: Ensure strong internal and external communication, working closely with curatorial, operations, and technical teams to realise exhibition goals.
* Public Engagement: Organise and assist with public talks and private tours, facilitating a deeper connection between visitors and the artists we showcase.
Person Specification
* Exhibition Experience: Proven experience in organising exhibitions, managing loans, and working with technical and operational teams.
* Budget & Financial Acumen: Strong skills in budget tracking and reconciliation.
* Artistic Passion: A genuine interest in contemporary art and its presentation to the public.
* Strong Communication: Able to work well and communicate with a wide range of people, with the ability to engage a broad range of stakeholders.
* Organisational Skills: Able to demonstrate effective prioritising skills and a methodical approach while applying strong attention to detail.
* IT Proficiency: Experience with MS Office, Google Drive, and Photoshop.
* Collaborative Spirit: A flexible, positive attitude and the ability to work well in a team environment.
* Commitment to Diversity: A demonstrated understanding of and commitment to diversity and inclusion in the arts.
* Art History Knowledge: A strong foundation in art history to support curatorial work.
Please download the attached Job Description for a full overview of this role responsibilities.
We welcome applications from people from a Black, Asian or Ethnically Diverse background or those who are D/deaf or disabled. If you wish to discuss reasonable adjustments such as a BSL interpreter for your interview please indicate this on your application form. Interviews will take place at The Southbank Centre. If you would like to speak to someone about any adjustments or concerns you can also email hrteam@southbankcentre.co.uk and we will be in touch with you to make the necessary arrangements.
By attracting people to work for us from a broad range of backgrounds with diverse attitudes, opinions and beliefs we can continue to look at the world with fresh eyes and find new ways of doing things. The Southbank Centre is a warm and welcoming place to work, with great aspirations and ambitions to create great and accessible work for all. We pride ourselves in building a supportive environment to enable the development of our staff.
If you feel you have just some of the required skills and experience but meet the person specification, we would still encourage you to apply; we are very open to continuing the training and development of individuals who are self-motivated to acquire new skills and knowledge relevant to the role.
Southbank Centre
The Southbank Centre is Europe’s largest arts centre and one of the UK’s top five visitor attractions, occupying an 11-acre site that sits in the midst of London’s most vibrant cultural quarter on the South Bank of the Thames.
Its impact and reach are significant and it is respected internationally as a convener of great artists and diverse audiences and for being entrepreneurial and innovative in response to a volatile and changing financial landscape. The Southbank Centre is a charity that is determined to demonstrate its ambition to remain innovative, disruptive and experimental in what it does and to be highly relevant to the artists it wants to work with and to the audiences it wants to attract.
The Southbank Centre believes that a commitment to diversity and inclusion helps it be a more relevant and effective organisation.
Our Artistic Mission
The Southbank Centre exists to provide great artistic experiences for everyone. Through art, we invite our visitors to enjoy shared cultural encounters together. To gaze. To listen. To be moved. To discover a new idea or a new perspective. We are proud that for the last 70 years, the performances and exhibitions here have moved millions. We have provided a home for art and for artists. A community centred on art, where everyone, no matter their job, helps make the experience.
At the Southbank Centre we believe in:
* Creating welcoming spaces: Because upholding respect, safety and belonging is at the heart of vibrant teams and communities.
* Making wonderful experiences together: Because we all contribute to amazing artistic moments at the Southbank Centre.
* Sparking new thinking: Because different views and thought-provoking conversations inspire innovation, learning and growth.
Benefits & Perks:
As well as working at one of London's most popular and exciting sites the successful candidate will also benefit from the following:
* A min 5% employer’s pension contribution (rising to 9% depending on your employee contribution), from day 1 of employment
* 28 days annual leave, plus bank holidays (pro-rata for part time employees)
* Hybrid working model (3 days office working, 2 days from home)
* Enhanced sick pay
* Enhanced family leave benefits
* Up to 30% discounts at onsite retail, food and beverage vendors
* Staff ticket offers for Southbank Centre events
* Free entry to Hayward Gallery
* Free/discounted entry with other reciprocal organisations
* Free staff yoga
* Free access to emotional support from a confidential specialist Employee Assistance Programme available 24/7
* Season ticket loan
* Cycle to work scheme
The deadline for applications is 23:59 on the closing date for the job posting.
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