Assistant Curator, European and Scottish Art

About the role

We’re excited to offer a fixed-term opportunity within our dedicated Collection & Research department. We're looking for a highly motivated, well-organised individual, with an interest in provenance research, to support our European and Scottish Art team in delivering a range of curatorial activities.

Are you passionate about Scottish and European Art (1500─1945) with a particular interest in an area relevant to the collection at the National (located at the Mound, Edinburgh)? Have you previously worked with drawings, watercolours and prints? Do you have professional experience of working in a gallery or museum environment, or with an art or heritage collection? If so, we’d love to hear from you.

You must be detail-oriented, proactive, and confident in managing your time effectively to meet targets and deadlines. You will also be able to work both independently and collaboratively, while being supported and guided by colleagues in the Curatorial team.

This is a great opportunity to develop your skills and gain experience across a variety of curatorial activities, particularly in provenance research. You’ll assist with and help deliver several aspects of curatorial work relating to the collection and audience offer associated with the European and Scottish Art curatorial team. You’ll carry out research into artworks in the collection, with a particular focus on spoliation-related provenance research, and will respond to enquiries about the collection.

You will also assist with planning future and maintaining existing collection displays, and support the acquisitions and loans processes. The role includes developing, creating and sharing information about the European and Scottish Art collection with our focus audiences, including giving in-gallery talks and tours and writing digital interpretation.

The difference you’ll make

As the Assistant Curator, European and Scottish Art, you will support colleagues in the European and Scottish Art team with various aspects of curatorial work. Reporting to the Senior Curator, British Drawings and Prints, you will:

- Assist with due diligence provenance research and collection audit and review programmes, in collaboration with Curatorial, Collections Management and Conservation teams and with a particular focus on drawings and prints.
- Work closely with colleagues across the organisation in the planning, maintenance and delivery of displays and overall audience offer at the National gallery, especially within the Scottish galleries, including supporting colleagues to implement artwork changes within existing collection displays.
- Share information on the collection with our audiences and partners, including answering research enquiries about the collection.
- Undertake directed research, including on provenance, into the collection and potential acquisitions.
- Create and update collection records.
- Write in-gallery and online interpretation about the collection for our focus audiences, in line with the National Galleries of Scotland tone of voice, interpretation framework and editorial processes.

Who we are looking for

To succeed in this role, you’ll need the following range of knowledge, skills, and experience:

- A degree or equivalent in art history or a related subject.
- Knowledge of a subject area relevant to the National Galleries of Scotland’s European and Scottish Art collection (1500─1945) and some experience of provenance research.
- Professional experience of working in a gallery or museum environment and/or evidence of professional experience working with art/heritage collections, including drawings and prints.
- A proactive approach with the ability to take initiative.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong organisational and administrative skills, including an ability to prioritise effectively and work accurately without close supervision.
- Ability to work as part of a team and develop and maintain effective working relations with a broad range of people and teams, internally and externally.
- A demonstrable commitment to supporting the organisation’s equality, diversity and inclusion principles.
- Proficient IT skills particularly Microsoft Office 365.

It would also be great if you have:

- A working knowledge of Axiell Collections or another collections management system.
- Some knowledge or experience of Scottish art (1600─1945).

Please apply directly via our careers portal. Applications via email will not be accepted.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Monday, 02 June 2025.

Interviews will likely be held on Monday, 16 June 2025 and Tuesday, 17 June 2025.

Museum Website: https://www.nationalgalleries.org/careers