Curator: South Asia

www.nationalmuseums.org.uk - Jobboard; London; On-site; GBP 43,000 - 44,000

Job description

Curator: South Asia
Asia
Full time, 41 hours per week (including one hour paid lunch break)
Fixed term (6 months, maternity cover)
£43,207 per annum
Application deadline: 12pm (midday) on 22 April 2025

About the role:
The postholder should have an established specialism in South Asia, with a good understanding of broader areas. The role involves undertaking research into and making publicly accessible the later South Asian collections and other related collections across the Museum. The postholder will contribute to the management of the department in support of the Museum Operating Plan and all relevant Museum strategies. This person will be responsible for the curation, presentation, development, and research of the medieval to modern South Asian collections, including the Himalayan and Islamic South Asian collections (c. 8th century - today). This includes sculpture, painting, works on paper, popular prints, decorative arts, and photography.

Key areas of responsibility:

1. To make the South Asian collection, and knowledge about it, publicly accessible via publication, digital, display, and broadcast
2. To lead on upgrading the documentation of the South Asian collection
3. To lead on improving the display of the South Asian collection in Room 33 and elsewhere both on- and off-site through assistance with loans
4. To act as an advocate for the Museum
5. To work as a team member with colleagues within and beyond the department on working parties and committees
6. To collaborate with other institutions or groups nationally and internationally, and to develop or ensure good relations with relevant stakeholders

About you:

1. BA/BSc (or equivalent) in relevant subject South Asian Art History, South Asian History
2. Experience of a temporary exhibition or gallery refurbishment
3. Experience as a supervisor or director of a research or fieldwork project
4. Experience of engaging the public in the relevant field
5. Management experience of people, projects and budgets
6. Open, effective communicator with good spoken and written English
7. Ability to work as part of a team
8. Ability to present in public in an engaging manner

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 a leading visitor attraction, and its world-famous collection includes the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies, the Sutton-Hoo finds, and the Lewis Chessmen. The Museum also holds an extensive collection of prints and drawings spanning 600 years, including works by the greatest graphic artists such as Dürer, Michelangelo and Rembrandt.

The Museum offers a competitive benefits package including:

1. Generous annual leave allowance of 25 days (rising to 30 days after 10 years' service) plus 2.5 privilege days and plus bank holidays.
2. Membership of the civil service defined benefit pension scheme (find out here what benefits a civil service pension provides).
3. Free entry to a wide range of museums and exhibitions
4. 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.
5. Interest-free travel, bicycle, and rental deposit loans
6. Professional and personal development opportunities
7. Employee Assistance Programme
8. Discounts on food and gift shop purchases

Additional details:
For more information about this role, please see the job description. If you have any additional needs that we should be aware of to support you with your application, please provide details. We have a legal responsibility to ensure that employees have the right to work in the UK. If you currently do not hold the right to work in the UK, we can only sponsor a limited number of roles that meet eligibility criteria. To offer a sponsorship, the job role you apply needs to be in the list of eligible occupations: Skilled Worker Visa Eligible Occupations. Additionally (with some limited exceptions), the role will need to meet the minimum salary threshold of £38,700 or the going rate for the job, whichever is the highest.

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.