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Curator, International Art, Tate Modern
Deadline: 12 May, 2013

Tate Modern’s programme of exhibitions and collection displays provide public access to groundbreaking modern and contemporary art. To ensure the highest standard of content and delivery of this programme, Tate Modern are currently seeking an experienced Curator to play a leading role in their team.

The Curatorial Department, Tate Modern is responsible for the delivery of exhibitions, collection displays, live performances and film programmes, ensuring the highest standard of content and delivery of this programme. It is also responsible for building the modern international aspect of Tate’s collections.

An experienced curator of modern international art, with specialist knowledge of the period 1900- 1965 is required to devise, develop and deliver exhibitions and collection displays, as well as contribute to Tate Modern’s programme including research and propose acquisitions within Tate’s acquisition strategy. The successful candidate will lead and manage project teams, supervise exhibition and collection display development and installation design, contribute texts and editorial supervision to a range of publications, and manage budgets. As a member of the curatorial team at Tate Modern, the post holder will support the senior management team and contribute to the overall vision of Tate.

Research and Development
Within the context of Tate’s research programme and goals, you will:
• Draw upon art historical and curatorial expertise to research and develop existing and new concepts for exhibition and collection display projects.
• Present research and critical thinking about art historical and museological issues as well as Tate’s programme.
• Follow and engage in scholarly debate about modern and contemporary art.
• Maintain and expand expertise in your specialist area(s).
• Contribute to Tate’s overall research programme.
• Increase expertise in specialist areas by visiting exhibitions, researching and writing papers or articles, presenting lectures, attending conferences, etc.

Exhibitions & Collection Displays
Within the context of Tate Modern’s programme, you will:
• Lead, co-ordinate and manage exhibition and display project teams, as required, to ensure smooth delivery of projects. This will involve negotiation of loans and liaison with artists, collectors, public and private institutions, and responsibility for budgets.
• Write informative and scholarly texts for Tate exhibition catalogues; edit exhibition exhibition catalogues.
• Responsibility for establishing and maintaining key schedule dates for projects.
• Responsibility for project budgets; drawing up, managing and monitoring accurate detailed budget estimates for expenditure and income, to obtain best value without comprising high standards of presentation.
• Research existing or new proposals for exhibition and collection display projects.
• Write and present project descriptions for Tate Trustees, Tate Modern Council, funding bodies etc.
• Write accessible gallery wall texts and captions.
• Lead tours and presentations of displays and collection exhibitions.

Acquisitions
Within the framework of the acquisition strategy, you will:
• Research and propose acquisitions, and contribute generally to the work of the team of curators that focuses on acquisitions as well as new areas of collecting.
• Maintain and develop an appropriate network of contacts among artists, artists’ estates, gallerists, critics, scholars and auction houses.
• Liaise with Development department and build relationships with possible benefactors.


Administration and management
To assist with the smooth running of the department and to contribute to the achievement of departmental goals, you will:
• Deputise for senior management, when requested.
• Line management of staff
• Attend Tate events.
• Participate in staff recruitment when required.
• Take on administration-related tasks and projects, when required.
• Provide valuations of works of art
• Give expert advice to external bodies, as required.

Person Specification
Essential
• Expert knowledge of international art in the period 1900-1965 as well as a keen interest in contemporary art.
• A relevant degree and post-graduate degree in the history of art or related field.
• Substantial and relevant work experience in an art gallery, museum, or with a collection.
• Extensive experience of the processes involved in staging displays and exhibitions, including managing budgets.
• A high level of knowledge and understanding of issues surrounding collecting modern and contemporary art within a global museum context.
• A well-developed visual sense and understanding of issues involved in the display of works of art in a public gallery.
• Awareness of issues of equality and cultural diversity as they affect the work of a major museum.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills, with the capacity to lead, yet flexible enough to work well within a team, and work collaboratively across Tate and beyond.
• Skilled negotiator with aptitude for managing different types of relationships
• Demonstrable excellence in verbal communication and presentation.
• First-class research skills as well as excellent writing skills, including the capacity to write authoritative texts for a specialist readership as well as accessible texts for a general public.
• Excellent organisation, planning and administrative skills, with ability to prioritise and coordinate multiple activities to meet deadlines.
• Ability and willingness to travel and to attend out of hours functions, as required, to meet Tate’s objectives.
• An interest in and commitment to the work of Tate.

Desirable
• Knowledge of at least one foreign language
• Knowledge of Tate’s Collection.
• Knowledge of the scope of UK collections as they relate to Tate.
• An established network of contacts in the field of modern and contemporary art.

Selection
Our opportunities are open for you to apply online. Please visit: www.tate.org.uk/about/workingattate/ to create an account by registering your details or if you are an existing user, log into your account. For all opportunities, we ask candidates to complete an online application form for the vacancy they are interested in. If you need an application form in an alternative format, please call us on 020 7887 4997. Once you have submitted your application, you can keep track of its progress by logging in to your account.

The closing date for the submission of completed application forms is Sunday 12 May 2013 by midnight.

Further information: http://workingat.tate.org.uk/pages/job_search_view.aspx?jobId=1091&JobIndex=1&categoryList=&workingPatternList=&locations=&group=&keywords=&PageIndex=1&Number=6

Commissioned by Creative Scotland, managed by VAGA (Visual Arts and Galleries Association) and led by independent curators Kirsteen Macdonald (Glasgow) and Ellen Blumenstein (The Office, Berlin) the VAGA International Research Enquiry (VIRE) aims to benefit the visual arts sector as a whole by identifying opportunities available to curators at all stages of their careers.

VIRE is investigating existing curatorial work in an international context, that presents the potential to promote exchange, foster partnerships and develop programmes in the future for curators working both in institutions and independently.

This survey is aimed at curators based in the UK or whose work is closely linked to the UK. There are 21 questions and it should take around 20 minutes to complete. The survey closes on 11 April 2011. Click here to take the survey.

All responses will be kept securely and the results will feed into the VIRE research project. At the end of the survey there is an opportunity for you to leave comments and suggestions as well as your email address. Your email address will not be passed to any third parties and will only be used, with your permission, to keep you informed about the VIRE project and may include individual follow up in response to your answers/comments.

We thank you in advance for your contribution.