Job Description
Job Title:
Assistant Curator of Fine Art
Salary:
£21,500 per annum
Hours per week:
37 hours per week
Start date:
As soon as can be agreed with the successful candidate
Responsible to:
Head of Collections, The Bowes Museum;
Curatorial Director, Auckland Castle
Main Purpose of Job:
This is an exciting opportunity for an early-career art curator, which has been made possible by
funding from the John Ellerman Foundation.
Based at The Bowes Museum, the postholder will assist with the curation of the Fine Art
collection of around 1800 works. He or she also work for part of their time with Auckland Castle,
principally to research, promote, disseminate and co-ordinate interest in the Spanish art
collections at both sites and in conjunction with Durham University and other sites across County
Durham.
Main Duties:
Collections Management
1. Ensure that documentation and location records for The Bowes Museum collection are
up to date
2. Administer loans in and out according to the correct procedures outlined in The Bowes
Museum’s Collections Development plan
3. Ensure that correct handling methods are used to move and hang paintings
4. Maintain a tidy, ordered and secure environment in the picture store
5. Supervise volunteers and students as appropriate
Research and Development
6. Undertake research on The Bowes Museum’s collection, as agreed with the Director and
in relevant areas identified at Auckland Castle
7. Identify key areas of research and deliver proposals for programmes which are relevant
to the Spanish art collections (and other collections as appropriate) at The Bowes
Museum and in conjunction with the Spanish Research Institute in development at
Bishop Auckland.
8. Identify and liaise with external experts and academics, such as the Curator of Spanish
Art at Auckland Castle and colleagues at the Spanish Research Institute, and the Centre
for Visual Arts and Culture at Durham University, who could be consulted to assist
research or advise on research proposals and methodologies for the Spanish art
programme.
9. Write articles and papers for conferences, reports or publication as appropriate
10. Develop exhibition proposals and undertake research to implement these as directed
11. Promote the fine art collections as directed at both sites at regional and national level
through exhibitions, marketing strategies and promotions, meetings, delivering
conferences etc
Interpretation and Display
12. In conjunction with colleagues at both sites, work to develop ways of encouraging
engagement and understanding of Spanish art and the fine art collections as a whole,
for as wide an audience as possible throughout County Durham and beyond
13. Under the principal supervision of the Director of The Bowes Museum, produce a plan for
the re-hanging and re-interpretation of the Spanish art collection in the Museum
14. Assist the Director of Collections and the Curatorial Director and Curator(s) at Auckland
Castle with plans for the development of the Gallery of Spanish Art as identified and in
research and interpretation activities as part of that organisation’s strategy
15. Ensure a close working partnership between both organisations, and links between the
display and interpretation of the respective collections where appropriate
Other Duties
16. Ensure that work is carried out in accordance with Health and Safety guidelines when
working at The Bowes Museum and at Auckland Castle
17. Where appropriate, supervise volunteers, students or interns as part of a short-term
placement or programme, as part of the Bowes Museum or Auckland Castle Equality and
Volunteer Policies
18. Undertake any other duties as requested from time to time by the Head of Collections or
the Director at the Bowes Museum, and the Curatorial Director at Auckland Castle Trust.
Person Specification: Assistant Curator of Fine Art
Knowledge, skills and experience
Desirable Essential
Good communication skills

A high level of interpersonal skills

The ability to produce a high standard of work within tight deadlines and to
be able to deal effectively with conflicting priorities

Demonstrable curatorial skills, including experience of cataloguing objects

Experience and demonstrable knowledge of proper handling techniques for
fine art collections

Proven research skills.

An ability to bring scholarship, intellectual curiosity and rigour to the work of
researching, exploring and interpreting objects

An interest in exploring new ideas

An ability to organize tasks in an efficient and effective way and work alone,
without supervision

Proven ability to work as part of a team, flexibility and ability to prioritise and
work under pressure

The ability to produce concise and accurate written documentation

An understanding of Health and Safety issues

Good IT skills and knowledge of Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc

A relevant degree and/or postgraduate qualification, for example a Masters
or PhD, which demonstrates intellectual rigour

At least three years museum experience

Full driving license and own means of transport

Knowledge and interest in The Bowes Museum and Auckland Castle and 
their collections
Ability to speak effectively on subject area to a wide range of people with 
knowledge and energy and to represent the Museum as a suitable
ambassador in a variety of situations
Demonstrable foreign language skills, preferably Spanish and/or French

JOB APPLICATION FORM
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JOB APPLICATION FORM Cont.
Previous Work Experience
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Qualifications
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leaving
Referees
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Please tick if you do not have any objection Please tick if you do not have any objection to
to the Museum contacting
the Museum contacting
this referee prior to interview
this referee prior to interview
Appointment will only be confirmed subject to satisfactory references. Please supply contact telephone
numbers and email addresses where possible
Criminal
Convictions
Have you ever been convicted of a criminal
offence?
YES / NO
(declaration subject to the rehabilitation of
Offenders Act 1974)
Special
Requirements
Applicants with disabilities will be invited for
interview if they meet the essential job criteria.
If you are disabled, please specify any
provisions we need to make to accommodate
your disability.
Declaration
I declare that all information given in this
application form and any accompanying
documents is true in all respects and that false
information may render me liable for dismissal.
Signed
Date
Application form continues on a separate sheet.
JOB APPLICATION FORM Cont.
Skills, Knowledge and Experience
Using the person specification as a guide, use the box below to outline your suitability for the post.
Include how your qualifications, skills, abilities, experience and knowledge meet the requirements of
the position.
Continue on separate sheet if necessary
Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form
Please complete and return
The Bowes Museum operates a policy of equal opportunities and wishes to ensure that all
applicants are considered solely on their merits. Therefore, we need to check that decisions are
not influenced by unfair or unlawful discrimination. To help us do this we should be grateful if
you would complete this short questionnaire. Your answers will be treated with the utmost
confidence and will only be used for statistical and monitoring purposes only. This form will not
be considered when assessing information on your application form.
Job title/Department: .....................................................................
Gender
Male
Female
Ethnic Origin
How would you describe your ethnic origin?
Indian
Pakistani
Black Caribbean
Chinese
White
Black African
Bangladeshi
Other (please specify)
Nationality ......................................
Marital Status................................
Age Range
16 - 18
18 - 29
30 - 39
40 - 49
50 - 59
60 - 65
66 +
Disability
Do you consider yourself to be a person with a disability as described by the Disability
Discrimination Act 1995?
Yes
No
If yes, please provide details below:
Do not wish to declare
Rehabilitation of Offenders
The Bowes Museum uses the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Disclosure service to assess
applicants’ suitability for positions where they will supervise children under the age of 19 or
vulnerable adults. This post may fall into that category and therefore we will ask you about
any criminal convictions that you may have. Having a criminal record will not necessarily
bar you from working with us, each case will assess the needs of the individual position
against the nature of the offence.
At application stage, you will be asked to declare whether you have ever been convicted of
a criminal offence under the Rehabilitation of Offender Act 1974*, if selected for interview
you will be asked to detail the conviction in a separate form in order to make a decision
about your suitability for the post.
*Under the Rehabilitation of offenders Act 1974, ex-offenders have the right not to reveal
spent convictions. However, the same Act makes it clear that, where the nature of the work
involves contact with children or vulnerable adults, people may be asked to declare all
criminal convictions including those which are spent.