Job description
Job Title: Curator of Fine Art
Reporting to: Senior Curator (York Art Gallery)
Salary: YMT SO1, SCP 29-31, £27,374 to £29,182 per annum
Contract : Temporary, maternity cover role (up to 12 months) , 37 hours per week
Main Purpose of the Job
To lead on the development of the Fine Art Collection at York Art Gallery in relation
to acquisitions, research, private collectors, exhibitions and collection displays,
working in collaboration within the Trust and external organisations.
Core Responsibilities
Key Results
Collection Management
Implement a programme of ongoing
and retrospective documentation,
conservation, storage and acquisition
for the Trust’s Fine Arts Collection,
ensuring that the collections are
developed, managed and documented
to the appropriate Accreditation
standards and YMT policies.
Improved access to collections;
collections are safe and secure; YMT
retains Accredited status.
Deal with loans in and out from the art
collection, in liaison with the Registrar.
Safe and secure arrangements for
loans of works to and from York Art
Gallery.
To work with the Friends of York Art
Gallery with the Senior Curator
Friends are working actively in support
of the gallery, funding new acquisitions
and supporting educational activities
within the gallery’s programme.
Exhibitions and Collection Displays
Interpret the Fine Arts collection
through visitor- focussed exciting and
innovative exhibitions and displays,
publications, ICT, talks, seminars,
events and public enquiries.
Collections interpreted in an accessible
and varied way for a range of target
audiences.
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Advocacy
To be an advocate for historic and
Contacts with other institutions
contemporary art and artists by taking a established and thriving. Involved in
lead locally, regionally, nationally and
conferences, relevant networks.
internationally
Research
Implement a plan of ongoing research
on the Fine Arts collections that has a
measurable public output to defined
target audiences.
Acquisitions
Acquire new works for the collection in
line with the agreed Acquisition Policy,
helping to secure funding from both
public and private sources.
Management
Supervise project staff and volunteers;
report to the Senior Curator of Art. Work
closely with the Assistant Curator Arts
Learning with regard to the
development and delivery of the public
programme.
Partnerships
Develop effective partnerships with
agreed organisations including York
and Yorkshire based museums,
galleries, National and regional
museums and galleries and specialist
groups.
Funding
Contribute to funding applications to
Trusts and Foundations, businesses
and private individuals in order to
increase resources available for public
programmes, acquisitions and
collection management.
Digital
Enable access to the collection through
digital, physical and intellectual
improvements
Research programme in place with
publications of any research work that
is undertaken by staff, freelance
researchers, or collaborations with
other organisations.
Collections continue to grow and
develop through external funding
sources.
Objectives agreed with Senior Curator
of Art. Shared objectives with Learning.
Partnerships in place with public
benefit.
Additional funding secured.
Collections more accessible to a wide
range of audiences
Other
You may from time to time be required
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to undertake such other duties of a
similar nature which fall within the job
purpose outlined above and which are
consistent with the grading of the post.
Key Relationships
Senior Curator (York Art Gallery)
Curator of Ceramics
Learning team
Curatorial teams
Registrar
Museums managers
Volunteers manager
Front of house staff
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
YMT has a strategic commitment to increasing its digital skill base. The post
holder should be able to demonstrate competence in one or more of the following
areas:
Digital recording – e.g. photography, sound, video
Social networking – e.g. twitter, facebook, flickr
Contributing to online communities – e.g. mumsnet, reddit, linkedin
Blogging or other online publishing – e.g. wordpress, tumblr
Essential
Degree in appropriate subject
Postgraduate Qualification in Museum/Art Gallery Studies and/or AMA, or
equivalent experience
Substantial experience of working with Fine Art collections
Knowledge of documentation systems and conservation issues for Fine Art
collections
Experience of working with volunteers
Excellent communicator able to speak easily in public
Social networking and digital skills
Knowledgeable about Fine Art and able to communicate information and
enthusiasm to a non-specialist audience
Committed to Continuous Professional Development for self and colleagues
ICT experience for documentation and general office use
Desirable
Outgoing, personable and a team player
Project Management experience
Published research
Knowledge/experience of working with contemporary art
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Job Title
months)
Curator of Fine Art (temporary, maternity cover role, up to 12
Terms and conditions of service
Health
Prospective employees must be cleared by the Occupational Health Service as
medically fit for employment by the Trust.
Probationary period
Appointment is subject to the successful completion of a six month probationary
period.
Reporting line
This post reports to the Senior Curator (York Art Gallery).
Salary
The salary for the post is YMT S01, SCP29-31, (£27,374 to £29,182) per annum.
Annual leave
The annual leave entitlement is 25 days per annum pro rata, increasing by five
days after five years continuous service with the Trust, plus public holidays.
Pension
The Trust belongs to the Local Government Pension Scheme and all new
employees are enrolled where their contracts are for longer than 3 months. It is
possible to opt out of the pension using forms available at www.nypf.org.uk.
Hours of work
The hours of work are 37 per week.
Period of notice
The period of written notice required for you to terminate this post is 1 month.
The Trust will give you 1 months’ notice if you have less than 5 years of completed
service. Thereafter you will receive 1 weeks’ notice for every completed year of
service, up to a maximum of 12 weeks after 12 completed years of service.
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