Curator, Contemporary British Art

What you will do (Main Duties and Responsibilities)

Exhibitions, Commissions and Displays:

Within the framework of the programme priorities at Tate Britain, led by the Director, Tate Britain and the Director of Exhibition and Displays, and reporting to the Senior Curator of Contemporary British Art, you will: 
o Contribute to the planning and development of a diverse programme of exhibitions, commissions and displays at Tate Britain towards a rich visitor experience. 
o Conceive, develop and lead exhibitions, commissions and displays, managing projects, supervising Assistant Curators and liaising across departments, to ensure smooth completion according to Tate’s goals and the highest international standards. 
o Work with external stakeholders on the development and execution of outstanding exhibitions, Collection displays and commissions, such as the bi-annual commission in the Duveen Galleries and the Duveen Sculpture Collection display.
o Liaise closely with artists, their studios and representatives to facilitate the realisation of their projects at Tate Britain.
o Mentor and supervise Assistant Curators delivering displays such as Art Now, contemporary collection installations and collection interventions in other period rooms.
o Write informative and scholarly texts for Tate exhibition catalogues, conceiving and editing books in close collaboration with colleagues in Tate Publishing.
o Work with colleagues on appropriate interpretation strategies, writing and compiling accessible texts for exhibitions and displays and delivering supporting talks, tours and other events. 
o Maintain awareness of exhibition practice and innovation nationally and internationally. 
o Act as a key project contact for Tate teams, providing material and information as required to support fundraising, internal and external communications as well as practical delivery. 
o Work sustainably, innovatively, and collaboratively to research and develop solutions to reduce the carbon emissions associated with Tate Britain’s programme, supporting Tate’s institutional commitment to reduce its carbon impact.


Project Management:

o When curating projects, lead on their project management across the development, production and delivery of commissions and complex, multi-disciplinary exhibitions working to the highest production standards from conception to close and deinstallation.

o Communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders to proactively engage their support and contribution to the project.

o Working with the Senior Design and Production Manager and in consultation with the Head of Programme Management and Business, advise on the practical and financial feasibility at project conception and work to find creative and practical solutions to assist with content decisions.

o With the Senior Design and Production Manager identify internal and external staffing needs and, in consultation with Tate colleagues, source and hire temporary expertise ensuring appropriate contracts are in place.

o Devise project timelines, identifying and managing key deadlines and coordinating workflow and communication across internal and external teams.

o Maintain key project documents to support effective tracking and evaluation of projects.

o Effectively manage, control and communicate change to the project plan, timeline and budget, reporting to the Head of Programme Management and Business and Director of Exhibitions and Displays.

o Schedule regular production and logistics meetings, ensuring effective and collaborative liaison across Tate teams and departments, and coordination with external contributors.

o Oversee and ensure the timely coordination of any project fabrication, transportation, insurance or indemnity, installation and deinstallation.

Collection:

Within the strategic framework of acquisitions led by the Director of the British Collection and reporting to the Senior Curator of Contemporary British Art you will: 
o Apply a high level of specialist expertise on contemporary British art, including awareness of the art market and current valuations, across collections activity at Tate. 
o Propose, research and write about acquisitions in the clear language of the Tate house style, ranging from trustee notes to online text, in rigorous consideration of acquisitions strategy and procedures.
o Maintain and develop a network of contacts among artists, estates, galleries, collectors, critics, auction houses and benefactors to support acquisitions relationships and fundraising. 
o Supervise Assistant Curators’ (volunteer, intern and Curatorial Assistant on occasion) research on contemporary British Art and acquisition causes.
o Liaise with modern and contemporary curatorial colleagues on a regular programme of studio and exhibition visits across the UK towards developing collecting priorities. 
o Work across departments on the stewardship of the Collection, maintaining and updating knowledge on works of art in the Collection.
o Support outward loans from the Collection, both internationally and nationally.
 
Research:

Within the context of Tate’s research programme and goals and working with other team members as required, you will:  

o Develop and share your specialist expertise on contemporary British art and its wider contexts (social, cultural, political, economic, and international).  
o Contribute to critical thinking on questions of decolonisation, race and empire, relating to all activities, including cataloguing and interpretation of the collection. 
o Provide academic supervision where required, for doctoral and other students associated with Tate’s research programme.  
o Contribute to the wider research culture at Tate and beyond through participation in conferences and symposia, published and online material and public speaking.

Museum Website: https://workingat.tate.org.uk/pages/job_search_view.aspx?preview=preview&jobId=10566