Organizer Information
Tate's vision is to serve as artistically adventurous and culturally inclusive art museums for the UK and the world, delivered through activities across its four galleries — Tate Liverpool, Tate St Ives, Tate Britain, and Tate Modern — alongside its digital platforms and national and international partnerships. At the heart of Tate is its collection, which includes the national collection of British art from the 16th century to the present day, and international modern and contemporary art from 1900 to the present, spanning all continents. Tate is committed to maintaining free entry for audiences to its collections and sees access to art as a universal human right, positioning its galleries as sites of creative learning. Tate Britain specifically aims to increase public awareness, understanding, and enjoyment of British art from the 16th century to the present day, with its Curatorial Department divided into three period-expertise teams — Historic, Modern, and Contemporary — together with a Programme Management team.
Title & Description
Assistant Curator, British Art (1850–1915) — Tate Britain, Curatorial
Tate Britain is seeking an Assistant Curator to join its Historic British Art team, focused on British Art from 1850 to 1915. The postholder will support the Historic Curatorial Team in researching, planning, administering, and delivering temporary exhibitions — such as British Impressionism — and temporary collection displays, while helping maintain the permanent collection displays and working on acquisitions. Responsibilities include keeping up with scholarship, assisting with researching, writing, and editing catalogue and gallery texts, and contributing to relationship cultivation, marketing, press, and public events.
Tate is looking for a candidate with strong research and organisational skills, a passion for this period of British art, and a commitment to contributing to the diversification of British art histories. The role sits within the Historic British Art team, working alongside the Senior Curator, three Curators, three other Assistant Curators, and occasional temporary colleagues.
The Role Overview
- Position Type: Full-time, 36 hours per week
- Contract Type: Permanent
- Salary: £32,674 per annum
- Reports To: Curator of British Art, 1850–1915
- Department / Programme: Curatorial, Historic British Art team, Tate Britain
- Working Hours: Full time, 36 hours per week (occasional out-of-hours work for events, talks, and tours)
Position & Tasks
- Contribute to the maintenance and development of the permanent collection and permanent collection displays, including acquisitions, in the period 1850–1915
- Contribute to the planning and delivery of temporary exhibitions and displays in the period 1850–1915, including British Impressionism and James Tissot
- Support exhibition tours, such as James McNeill Whistler to the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, and the National Museum of Asian Art, the Smithsonian, Washington
- Manage loan correspondence, project records (e.g. TMS database), and filing
- Liaise with lenders, registrars, and conservators to meet display requirements
- Process invoices, monitor the budget, and contribute to budget planning
- Research and contribute to gallery texts and publications
- Support the project leader and exhibition assistant in cross-team communication and project management
- Liaise with the installation team and build contractors, providing detailed layouts and display case/build requirements
- Liaise with other teams across Tate, including Conservation, Visitor Experience, Security, Press, Publishing, and Events
- Contribute to events, talks, and tours as required, sometimes out-of-hours
- Keep abreast of research and undertake training
Categories
- Curatorial
- British Art
- Museums & Galleries
- Exhibitions
- Collections Management
- Research
Eligibility
- Demonstrable knowledge of one or more aspects of British art of the period 1850–1915
- Research skills, experience, and curiosity; enthusiasm for new directions in art historical research around this period
- Curatorial experience, ideally gained from working with a collection
- Experience of working on loan exhibitions and on changing displays
- Proven track record of collaborative and team-based working, with a commitment to applying principles of equality, diversity, and respect for all in the workplace
- Highly organised approach to work, with demonstrable ability to work under pressure and to deadlines
- Excellent writing skills and presentation skills
- Computer literacy — ability to use standard Microsoft programmes (Word, Excel, Outlook, basic CAD) and other programmes, including collections databases (training on Tate-specific applications, such as the TMS database, will be provided)
- Interest in and commitment to the work of Tate
- Note: the source states these requirements are guidelines rather than hard rules, and welcomes candidates who bring transferable skills even without meeting every criterion
- Proof that the candidate is legally entitled to work in the UK (a condition of offer, alongside satisfactory references covering the last 3 years of employment or education, health clearance, and a satisfactory Disclosure Check)
Program Benefits
- Salary: £32,674 per annum
- 25 days leave per year, rising to 27 (pro rata for part-time colleagues)
- Birthdays off each year
- Pension scheme with generous employer contributions
- Life Assurance and Income Protection for DC scheme members
- Interest-free Season Ticket Loan
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Rental deposit scheme — an interest-free advance toward the cost of a deposit for privately rented accommodation
- Discounts in Tate Restaurants and Cafes
- Access to Tate Benefits, offering discounts in high street stores
- Access to a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme (telephone-based support and online resources) for work, personal, or family issues
- Free entry to paying exhibitions at Tate Galleries, with opportunities for family and friends to visit major exhibitions out-of-hours
- Discounts on items purchased in Tate shops
- Free access to a number of other galleries and museums throughout the UK on production of a valid staff pass
- Free access to other galleries and museums abroad through International Council of Museums (ICOM) membership
- Health/medical insurance, dental/vision coverage: Not specified in the source
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 30 August 2026
- Interviews: Thursday, 17 September 2026
Location
Tate Britain, Millbank, London, United Kingdom
Additional Details
- Tate is committed to becoming a truly inclusive organisation, with a workforce and audience as diverse as the communities it serves, and expects all employees to contribute to this aim
- Tate's staff values are: Open, Bold, Rigorous, and Kind
- The role occasionally requires out-of-hours work for events, talks, and tours
- All positions at Tate are offered subject to satisfactory references, health clearance, a satisfactory Disclosure Check, and proof of legal entitlement to work in the UK