Curator: British Prints and Drawings (1775-1885)

About the role:
The Museum is seeking an enthusiastic and knowledgeable curator to oversee its outstanding collection of British prints and drawings by artists born between 1775 and 1885. This includes iconic works by J.M.W. Turner, John Constable, Beatrix Potter, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and James McNeill Whistler, as well as the vibrant ephemera of Sarah Sophia Banks.

The successful candidate will lead research, exhibitions, and publications related to the collection, while enhancing its online presence through improved records and imaging. Additional responsibilities include engaging audiences of all kinds, and support public enquiries, acquisitions, fundraising, and Study Room activities. This role also plays a key part in departmental administration and contributes to the Museum’s wider Masterplan.

This is a rare opportunity to shape public understanding of a rich period in British art and expand access to one of the world’s most significant collections of 19th-century works on paper.

Key areas of responsibility:
• To assist with public and scholarly enquiries relating to the collection.
• To share specialist knowledge in an enthusiastic, engaging and inspiring fashion to broad audiences as and when is necessary (for the public, patrons, school or university groups, and colleagues from other institutions).
• To maintain, update and improve the online records of around 26,000 drawings and more than 145,000 prints including some of the Museum’s most important British holdings by artists such as JMW Turner, John Constable, George Cruikshank, John Everett Millais, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Helen Allingham, Beatrix Potter and James McNeill Whistler, as well as the majority of Sarah Sophia Banks’ extensive collection of Georgian ephemera.
• To devise exhibitions wholly or in part derived from the British collection under their curatorial care.
• Be involved in fund raising and provide curatorial support to the Museum’s corporate and private patrons and supporters.
• To play a full part in everyday Departmental administration and participate in museum-wide projects and activities.
• Recommending suitable items to add to the collection and guiding them through the acquisition process.
• Other duties as assigned.

About you:
• Sound knowledge of the techniques and history of graphic arts, particularly all aspects of print making.
• Relevant experience of being involved as a curator in organising an exhibition or a permanent gallery display that has involved liaising with a variety of different parties.
• A degree in art history, history or equivalent.
• Ability to work successfully as part of a team and to be an excellent communicator.
• Museum curatorial experience that has demonstrated a flair for research, including some publication history in a relevant field.
• An ability to manage museum projects (exhibition, new gallery display etc).
• Experience of presentations in seminars, lectures, gallery talks etc.

About the British Museum:
Founded in 1753, the British Museum’s remarkable collection spans over two million years of human history and culture. The Museum is one of the leading visitor attractions and its world-famous collection includes the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon sculptures, Egyptian mummies, the Admonitions Scroll, and the Amaravati sculptures.

The Museum offers a competitive benefits package including:
• Generous annual leave allowance of 25 days (rising to 30 days after 10 years’ service) plus 2.5 privilege days and plus bank holidays
• Membership of the civil service defined benefit pension scheme (find out here what benefits a civil service pension provides).
• Free entry to a wide range of museums and exhibitions
• Participation in private and public Museum activities, including talks by leading curators from around the world and behind-the-scenes opportunities to learn how museums care for and manage their extraordinary collections
• Interest-free travel, bicycle and rental deposit loans
• Professional and personal development opportunities
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Discounts on food and gift shop purchases

Additional details:
For more information about this role, please see the job description.
The interviews are expected to take place on Wednesday 19th November or Thursday 20th November.

If you have any additional needs that we should be aware of in order to support you with your application, please provide details to [email protected].

The British Museum is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all staff and job applicants. We aim to create a working environment in which all individuals can make best use of their skills, free from unlawful discrimination or harassment. We value the benefits that a diverse workforce brings to a Museum which represents world culture. The Museum is committed to ensuring that no job applicant suffers unlawful discrimination because of any protected characteristics. Our recruitment procedures aim to ensure that individuals are treated because of their relevant knowledge, skills and experience.

We offer a flexible way of working scheme that allows our employees to work remotely in a way that suits them and the organisation. We welcome questions and conversations at interview stage about how flexible working could work for you. We would typically see this role as working on site about four days a week

The Museum also adheres to the HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) for pre-employment screening of Civil Servants.

Museum Website: https://bmrecruit.ciphr-irecruit.com//templates/CIPHR/jobdetail_8298.aspx