Packard Curator – National Horse Racing Museum

The role 

NHRM is looking for an enthusiastic, dynamic, well-organized, self-directed and motivated Curator to help us exploit the museum’s considerable potential.

The post is funded through the generosity of the Packard Foundation and the Patron of the British Sporting Art Trust, Sir Samuel Whitbread.

The role will be based in Newmarket but the Packard Curator will also be expected, on occasion, to travel regionally to meet current and potential funders and exhibition partners.

Reporting 

The Packard Curator will report directly to the Trustees.

Key responsibilities

The postholder will be required to:

• Manage the curatorial programme across the museum’s galleries and displays, working with the Trustees and external exhibition curators. This will include managing and delivering the comprehensive reinterpretation of Palace House, managing loan exhibitions, gallery display changes, special display projects, in-focus displays and new commissions, and assessing the viability of project proposals and visiting artists-in-residence
• Manage the design and installation of exhibitions, including Interpretation for Collection
• Overall responsibility of the ELTEK system and GIS
• Champion diversity and innovation in programming, audience development and digital reach in accordance with the Arts Council’s Cultural Case for Diversity
• Support the Registrar to ensure that the collections at the galleries are properly catalogued and managed and sustainably handled, stored and made accessible
• Manage the curatorial budget, Museum Accreditation, insurances
• Manage the Curatorial team and the Creative Programme Manager, including allocating projects for Volunteers and the Project Officer
• Ensure that the public offer is coherent and distinctive, appealing to increasingly broad audiences
• Help cultivate and secure corporate sponsors and individual donors for exhibitions and displays
• Broaden the museum’s position in the sector through leadership in the field, building and leveraging connections with artists, scholars, dealers, collectors, donors and peer institutions
• Build relationships with art researchers, concentrating on those in the area of sporting art
• Represent the organisation to stakeholders where appropriate, including (but not limited to) Curator Lead tours and exhibition previews
• Deliver improved public and scholarly access to, and increase awareness of, the collections
• Work with Community Engagement colleagues to develop initiatives for collections and exhibitions
• Work closely with the British Sporting Art Trust (BSAT) to ensure effective communication
• Deal with various media streams, such as Press enquiries, radio interviews and providing copy for website, social media, press and ‘What’s On’ leaflets, as well as general email and telephone enquiries
• Working with external institutions to agree loans/acquisitions and draw up relating agreements
• Work with colleagues to monitor the security of the museum and BSAT collection, including emergency planning

Key skills and characteristics

The postholder should ideally have:

• A degree in Art History, Museum Studies or a related discipline, ideally at Master’s level or above
• A sound knowledge of British art history
• Experience of working in a curatorial role in a museum or gallery environment
• Demonstrable experience of research skills, preparing exhibition text and mediating collections to the public through exhibitions, publication and lecturing/guiding
• Experience of managing project budgets
• Excellent administrative skills
• Good presentation skills for formal and informal groups, communication skills (both verbal and written) and cultivation and interpersonal skills
• Good IT skills, including the ability to edit and manage complex documents
• The ability to work well in a team, and with a diverse range of professionals and audiences
• The ability to assess priorities and make decisions, to meet demanding deadlines, balance multiple tasks, make decisions and prioritise key issues.

Desirable but not essential attributes include:

• Evidence of interest in, knowledge of and enthusiasm for British Sporting Art
• A working knowledge of the horseracing industry.

Salary: FTE c.£40,000 (depending on experience)

Term: initially a 12-month contract, with the expectation of renewal. This includes a three-month probation period.

Hours of work: 30hrs per week. Some evening and weekend work will also be required.

Annual leave: 28 days including public holidays pro rata.

Notice period: Following probation period one month on either side

Other benefits: Contributory pension scheme

To apply

Apply via email to Emma Stewart on [email protected] with your CV and cover letter.