The Holburne Museum in Bath has an opening for a Senior Curator. It is a part-time position for 22.5 hours per week. The deadline for applications is Friday 17 June at 17:00.
From the vacancy text, 3 June 2016
The Holburne Museum was founded in 1882 as Bath’s first art museum, with at its heart, the unique survival of a Victorian townhouse collection bequeathed by Sir William Holburne. It is a treasure house of Old Master paintings, portrait miniatures, porcelain, Renaissance bronzes and ceramics, silver and embroidery and is particularly renowned for its eighteenth-century British paintings.
The Senior Curator manages a small, close-knit team and is responsible for establishing and maintaining good practice in the management of the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions. Working closely within the Museum’s friendly and energetic team of 21 staff and 300 volunteers, the post holder will lead on delivering and maintaining the forward plan for Collections and will assist in shaping the Museum’s acclaimed temporary exhibition programme.
The Senior Curator is also responsible for the care, documentation, research, interpretation and development of the Holburne’s important collection of Fine Art. The substantial Fine Art collection includes over 300 oil paintings, 200 portrait miniatures, over 1,000 prints and drawings and Sir William Holburne’s library.
Job description
Title: Senior Curator (job share)
Location: The Holburne Museum
Reports to: The Director
Responsible for: One member of staff and volunteers
Contract: Part time
Hours of work: 22.5 per week
Salary: In the region of £28,000 pro rata depending on experience
Applicants may only apply by application form (see below). CVs will not be accepted.
Person specification
E = Essential criteria / D = Desirable criteria
- Degree in art history or a related subject (E)
- Postgraduate or professional qualification (D)
- Excellent knowledge of the history of art, with a specialism in British eighteenth-century and/or Old Master painting and a track-record of publications, lectures and exhibitions (E)
- Significant experience as a curator of historic collections (E)
- Experience of line-management at a senior level and proven ability to mentor and motivate colleagues and volunteers (E)
- Excellent working knowledge of current standards of collections care and museum practice (E)
- Practical up-to-date experience of art handling, transport, storage and risk management (E)
- Ability to assess conservation requirements and undertake condition checks (E)
- Experience of departmental Budget management (D)
- Excellent written and spoken communication skills and a demonstrable ability to interpret art successfully and confidently for a wide range of audiences (E)
- Working knowledge of at least one European language other than English (D)
- Excellent computer skills; proven ability to use and develop an electronic collections management system (E)
- Proven ability to assist with fundraising for collections (D)
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines (E)
- Practical, versatile and positive, prepared for a wide variety of tasks within a small, dynamic and committed team (E)
- Flexible approach and willingness to share this job with the existing Senior Curator as one of two equal partners with a single aim (E)
For more information and the application form, see the museum website.
