Curator of Early Netherlandish and German Paintings
Organisation:
The National Gallery
Salary:
£66,837 p.a.
Type:
Full-Time Position
Location:
London, England
Closing Date:
Sunday, 12th May 2024
Job Ref No:
Job Description
Job context
The National Gallery houses one of the greatest collections of paintings in the world; its collection belongs to the British public and entrance is free. The Curatorial Department plays a fundamental role in the study, care, and display of the collection, in the conception and delivery of exhibitions, in helping the widest possible public understand and enjoy the paintings, and in national advisory work. Within the Department, Collection Curators are responsible for specific areas. For the 1200—1600 period, there are the Curators of Italian Paintings before 1500; Sixteenth-century Italian Paintings; and Early Netherlandish and German Painting. The Department also includes a Senior Research Curator, Associate Curators and Curatorial Fellows. The Gallery is now recruiting a permanent Curator of Early Netherlandish and German Painting whose duties and responsibilities are set out below.
Job Purpose
The Curator of Early Netherlandish and German Paintings oversees, with other relevant Collection Curators, the care and growth of the Gallery's Renaissance collection. They are responsible specifically for the care and display of the Gallery's early Netherlandish and German pictures, and in charge of overseeing the conception and production of associated scholarly research, publications, and interpretation. The postholder takes the lead for seeking and recommending relevant new acquisitions and loans, and for in-house exhibitions, collection displays and Gallery refurbishment projects. They will be heavily involved in the Gallery's ‘NG200’ programme for its bicentenary in 2024, including the major redisplay of the collection ‘The Main Event’, The curator will participate in the Gallery's ‘NG 200’ programme for its bicentenary in 2024, including ‘The Main Event’ (see Introduction in the information pack). As a senior member of the Department, they will have line management responsibilities (usually 1 -2 direct reports), providing leadership and pastoral care to the curatorial team, and helping deliver an innovative, scholarly and collaborative curatorial vision. Furthermore, they will assist the Head of Department in matters of staffing, strategy, planning and budgets to deliver an effective and efficient curatorial role central to the life of the National Gallery and which supports the achievement of key institutional objectives.
Scope of Job
• Delivering all objectives in their area set by the Board and the Head of the Curatorial Department.
• Regular reporting to the Head of the Curatorial Department.
• Acting as a lead advocate for the National Gallery, including the ‘NG 200’ programme, with a wide range of internal and external colleagues and stakeholders.
• Ensuring that the Early Netherlandish and German collection is cared for and displayed to the highest standards, liaising with the Heads of Curatorial, Conservation and Framing.
• Ensuring accurate documentation and records keeping, and that confidential and sensitive information is handled appropriately.
• Monitoring progress of conservation treatments for works of art in the Early Netherlandish and German Collection.
• Working with the Heads of Science, Research and Conservation, and members of their teams, on the technical study and understanding of Early Netherlandish and German paintings.
• Being active in research and publications; contributing to the Gallery's research culture, including convening conferences, colloquia, etc.
• Ensuring that information on relevant paintings is up to date, taking account of the latest scholarly research.
• Dealing with relevant specialist enquiries including regarding provenance, export licence applications, valuations for loan and indemnity, export review and spoliation cases; supporting the Director of the National Gallery as DCMS National Advisor.
• Making sure that these areas are appropriately interpreted for diverse audiences, in the galleries and other media (including digital); producing and/or supervising this interpretation.
• With the Head of the Curatorial Department, researching and developing themes and principles for the collection displays, including the ‘NG 200’ project ‘The Main Event’.
• Devising, planning and overseeing the installation of relevant displays.
• Working with Art Handling who will schedule all picture moves/rehangs.
• Overseeing the ongoing organisation and development of the exhibition programme.
• Suggesting speakers for, and contributing to, the Learning and Digital Departments' public programmes, including those associated with exhibition projects.
• Contributing to the teaching, supervision and marking of MA and PhD students associated with National Gallery programmes and partnerships.
• Working with the Communications Department and advising on the specialist content of talks and public presentations.
• Developing active networks of colleagues in museums, heritage sector and academic institutions, nationally and internationally.
• Being involved in fundraising and development work, and the cultivation of existing and potential patrons and supporters, playing a key role in stewarding relevant patrons/supporters.
Managerial responsibility
• Line-managing an Associate Curator and/or a Curatorial Fellow (up to 2 direct reports), including setting and reviewing objectives in accordance with the Gallery's performance management process and providing advice, guidance and motivation as necessary.
• Undertaking managerial responsibilities, including curatorial input on aspects of the NG200 programme.
• Supervising students, e.p., co-hosted MA degree courses and CDA programme, and mentoring students/early career curators, as required.
• Budget management as delegated by the Head of the Curatorial Department.
Key deliverables
• Deliver the Gallery's Collection Development Strategy.
• Contribute to development of themes and principles for the ‘NG 200’ project ‘The Main Event’, the first complete redisplay of the collection.
• Act as a key member of the curatorial team on ‘The Main Event’, participating on the development and delivery of the project.
• Devise, plan and oversee the installation of collection displays associated with the Early Netherlandish and German paintings.
• Propose potential new acquisitions and loans within the relevant areas of the collection, oversee loans in and out of the Gallery; attend regular loans meetings.
• Oversee and steward current exhibition project(s).
• Oversee the curatorial contribution to the Learning Department's activities and to public programmes for the Early Netherlandish and German paintings.
• Oversee the curatorial contribution to the Digital Department's activities for the Early Netherlandish and German paintings.
• Deliver appropriate publications (for the general public and the scholarly community) and oversee the delivery of curatorial contributions to National Gallery Global's publications as well as publications which accompany exhibitions at the National Gallery or under its aegis in relation to Renaissance art.
• Deal with general and specialist enquiries, export licence applications, valuations for loan and for indemnity, export review cases in these areas; provide professional curatorial advice to the Director and Board, through the Head of Department when appropriate; support the Director of the National Gallery in their role as DCMS National Advisor.
• Line-manage members of the curatorial team. Lead and manage with clarity and purpose; motivate direct reports and other members of the curatorial team to achieve objectives. Take responsibility for delivering on actions, achieving consistently high standards.
• Budgetary responsibilities as delegated by the Head of the Curatorial Department.
• Support fund-raising and development work, including activity associated with the ’NG 200’ programme.
• Help the Gallery's Development Department on increasing philanthropic support from individuals, trusts, foundations and corporates, and on the activities of the Gallery's patrons' circles.
Key relationships
Key individuals: In addition to the curatorial team and the Head of the Curatorial Department, the Director of the National Gallery, Director of Collections and Research, Head of Science, Head of Research, Head of Art Handling, Head of Conservation and Keeper, Preventative Conservation Working Group, Head of Research Centre, Head Registrar, Head of Exhibitions, Head of Learning, Head of Digital Services, Director of Development, Head of Building and Facilities.
Key departments: Curatorial, Art Handling, Building and Facilities, Conservation, Framing, Scientific, Photographic and Imaging, Operations, Press, Creative, Development, Digital Services, Collection Information, Security and Visitor Engagement, Learning, Marketing, Operations, Director's Office.
External relationships both UK and International: Colleagues in the museums and galleries sector, and academic institutions; auction houses, art dealers and commercial galleries; lenders (public and private); UK external bodies e.g., Arts Council England, DCMS, AHRC, Paul Mellon Centre, Yale University; other relevant professional societies and bodies.
Required Skills / Qualifications
Key required skills
• Substantial experience as a curator of old master paintings, primarily in Early Netherlandish and German art.
• Evidence of the design and delivery of successful exhibitions with a strong record of curating exhibitions of Early Netherlandish and German art at an international standard.
• Demonstrable strong record of peer-reviewed publications in Early Netherlandish and German art to an international standard.
• Substantial experience as a public speaker, equally confident in giving specialist/academic lectures and public talks.
• Effective communicator with a proven ability to disseminate knowledge of specialist field to wide and varied audiences as well as explaining complex decisions to internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven record of ability to supervise well and shape effectively the work of internationally-recognised specialist curatorial staff; evidence of good self-management skills and emotional intelligence to deal with many people across diverse teams, external colleagues and donors.
• Effective problem solver with proven ability in taking responsibility for achieving results, taking decisions (often under pressure), collaborating, negotiating and mediating successfully.
• Substantial experience of managing simultaneously numerous, complex projects involving multiple stakeholders with varying deadlines.
• Knowledgeable concerning the National Gallery's status as a DCMS-sponsored institution and the national advisory roles of its specialist curatorial staff.
Key required attributes
• Excellent organisational/time-management skills with ability to prioritise a high workload and multiple complex issues/tasks when working under pressure and to tight deadlines. Ability to work flexibly and collaboratively.
• Proactive, high level of initiative whilst knowing when to escalate issues to senior management; ability to be decisive and able to take responsibility for informed decisions.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively and effectively as a team player.
• Pride in delivering highest quality and accurate work on time and in budget.
• Positive and people focused; able to lead curatorial and other teams across a complex organisation, able to work flexibly and collaboratively.
• Excellent interpersonal and consultative skills including the ability to communicate, present, negotiate, influence, and build credibility with a wide range of people at varying levels within the Gallery.
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with a range of contacts within the museum and gallery sector and the wider industry; able to act as an external ambassador and advocate for the Gallery and to develop appropriate professional contacts with colleagues in the museum, academic and artistic worlds, nationally and internationally.
Essential minimum qualification on entry
• Educated to post-Graduate degree level in Art History (or able to demonstrate the equivalent level of knowledge and thinking ability gained through experience) specialising in Early Netherlandish and German painting.
• Fluent in written and spoken English, and demonstrable ability in German, Italian or French to minimum level CEFR Global Scale C1 or demonstrable potential speedily to reach this level equivalent.
• Significant relevant publication record, primarily in Early Netherlandish and German art.
Additional essential criteria or considerations
• The job holder will be required to travel throughout the UK and internationally, not least to undertake courier trips, critical research or accompanying patrons' group.
• They will be required to attend some events outside normal working hours (i.e. receptions and private views, dinners, seminars).
• They need to be able to work and communicate effectively in at least one other Western European language.
• They need to possess substantial knowledge of and interest in the National Gallery and its collection.
• They must value and respect colleagues and members of the public, regardless of their background, and promote a positive environment which supports equality and diversity.
• They must be willing to cooperate and contribute to measures introduced by the Gallery to ensure equality of opportunity and encourage diversity.
Application Instructions
Applications closing date - Sunday 12th May at 23:45hrs
