Job description
Job details
Job title:
Directorate:
Department:
Grade:
Location:
Project Curator (Revealing the Collections)
Communications & Outreach
Library
4
London - HQ
If other, state
where:
London - V&A
Job purpose
To be the creative lead and project manager of the ‘Revealing the Collections’ project (RTC).
As such to conceive and manage the delivery of its individual elements; to research the history
and use of the collections; and to co-ordinate contributions from RIBA staff and creative
partners – in order to generate greater understanding and support of the value and purpose of
the RIBA’s Collections both within the RIBA and amongst key partners and public audiences.
Working relationships
Reporting to:
Number of roles this job
manages:
Other key relationships:
Head of Collections and Public Programmes
1: Assistant Curator (Revealing the Collections); 2:
volunteers/interns involved with the project
Managers and members of the Collections and Public
Programmes Teams; the British Architectural Trust
Board and the Library Committee; creative and cultural
partners.
Main responsibilities
1) To develop and manage all elements of the RTC project to enable the Collections Team
and others to better communicate the nature, significance and purpose of the RIBA
collections.
2) To work as lead curator on the RTC project, along side existing curatorial posts,
undertaking research (and managing that undertaken by other staff and partners) on the
nature, history and use of the collections in order to inform the creation of accurate,
inspiring and effective ways of communicating and promoting them to a wider audience.
3) To create (and manage the creation by other staff and partners) of exciting, engaging and
rigorous new content – in a variety of traditional and contemporary media – that explores
and communicates the significance and purpose of the RIBA Collections.
4) To develop and manage relationships with external partners who may contribute to the
RTC project, ensuring the significance and purpose of the RIBA Collections is considered
and described from a wide range of public, professional and creative viewpoints.
5) To line manage the Assistant Curator (RTC) as well as any volunteers and interns recruited
to work on the project.
6) To produce a core bibliography of scholarly works published – and research undertaken –
on the RIBA Collections in order to inform the development of a new research strategy.
7) To promote the RTC project and the RIBA Collections within and outside the RIBA, in
order to ensure the project has wide-ranging institutional support and long-term impact.
Job Description Template
Version: 13 April 2015
Useful information
 ‘Revealing the Collections’ (RTC) is an 18-month project to develop new resources and
tools to enable the RIBA to better understand, and more effectively communicate, the
nature, significance and purpose of its collections, and to foster a closer relationship
between the collections and its staff, its members and its public audiences
 It is envisaged that outputs of this project may include: new introductory material or guides
(in print and digital form); publications on collection highlights and history; a range of case
studies (delivered in a range of different media) that reveal the nature and significance of
the collections; workshops, talks and lectures; a review of previous publications,
exhibitions and research undertaken on the collections; other interpretive outputs
developed with partner organizations. The project may inform our exhibition programme,
but curation and development of exhibitions is not the purpose of the RTC project.
 The Project Curator will:
 lead and manage the formation and delivery of this project
 be expected to undertake their own research on the history, development and use of
the collections, as well as to manage significant contributions from each of the RIBA’s
curators and other members of the Collections Team
 be expected to research, write and publish a peer-reviewed article on the RIBA
Collections.


work both at 66 and 76 Portland Place and the RIBA’s offices, reading room and
stores at the V&A
 be responsible for the management of any additional staff and/or volunteers recruited
to work on the Revealing the Collections project
 work alongside the RIBA’s curatorial staff and may be called upon to temporarily
support other aspects of the core work of the Collections Team as and when required
This is a fixed-term 18-month position.
Skills, knowledge and experience
 Significant experience working in a curatorial role with a historic collection (or a relevant
equivalent).
 Experience managing and delivering research and/or interpretation projects to established
deadlines.
 A research-based postgraduate qualification in a relevant subject-area (or an equivalent
demonstrable research record): e.g. architectural history, cultural history, art history.
 The ability to work innovatively and creatively; as well as an interest in current interpretive
practice and developments in the cultural sector.
 An engaging, clear and accessible presentation and writing style.
 The ability to lead and work within a team, as well as to research and develop material
independently.
 The ability to build effective working relationships and to manage and influence
stakeholders.
 Experience of managing curatorial staff and/or volunteers.
 A demonstrable interest in architectural history and contemporary architectural culture.
Written by:
Kent Rawlinson
Job Description Template
Version: 13 April 2015
Date drafted:
11/08/2015
Library Department Structure
Job Description Template
Version: 13 April 2015