Organizer Information
The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is one of the United Kingdom’s most historic and influential cultural institutions, founded in 1768 by a group of artists and architects with the support of King George III. Its original mission—to promote the arts of design and make art accessible to a broad public—remains central today. Over more than two centuries, the RA has evolved from a small academic society into a major international contemporary art organisation, known for its critically acclaimed exhibitions and its dual identity as both a public museum and a living academy of artists.
Today, the RA operates as a multidisciplinary institution in London, hosting major exhibitions across historical, modern, and contemporary art. It brings together artists, curators, educators, researchers, and cultural professionals in a collaborative environment dedicated to artistic production and public engagement. In recent years, the institution has undergone significant leadership renewal, marking a new phase in its development, with renewed emphasis on expanding its exhibition programme and reaching wider and more diverse audiences.
The RA also invests heavily in workplace culture and professional development, offering structured training programmes such as unconscious bias awareness, LGBTQ+ inclusion, bystander intervention, and mental health first aid. It maintains internal networks and employee forums to ensure inclusive participation across all levels of the organisation.
Title & Description
Assistant Curator – Curatorial Department
This position offers a rare opportunity to join the Royal Academy of Arts’ Curatorial team at a moment of institutional transformation and expansion. The Assistant Curator will contribute to the research, development, and delivery of the RA’s ambitious programme of temporary exhibitions.
The role is central to shaping exhibitions from initial concept through to final installation. Working closely with senior curators, guest curators, artists, institutional partners, and lenders, the Assistant Curator will support the intellectual, logistical, and interpretative development of exhibitions. This includes contributing to research on artworks, artists, historical contexts, and curatorial themes, as well as helping to translate these ideas into public-facing exhibition formats.
The position is designed for a highly detail-oriented and research-driven curator who is comfortable operating in a fast-paced institutional environment and contributing to multiple projects simultaneously.
The Role Overview
- Position: Assistant Curator
- Department: Curatorial / Artistic Programmes
- Salary: £33,500 per annum
- Contract Type: Permanent, Full Time
- Location: London, United Kingdom
- Reporting Line: Senior Curator
- Application Deadline: Closes in 9 days at 10:00 BST (exact date not specified in source)
Position & Tasks
- Supporting the research and development of temporary exhibitions
- Collaborating with guest curators, artists, and institutional partners
- Conducting detailed research on artworks, artists, and exhibition themes
- Liaising with lenders, galleries, museums, and other cultural institutions
- Assisting in shaping exhibition concepts from proposal to execution
- Contributing to curatorial decision-making and exhibition development processes
- Supporting documentation, interpretation, and curatorial writing tasks
- Working collaboratively across internal departments within the RA
- Ensuring smooth communication between curatorial, technical, and production teams
- Contributing to the delivery of exhibitions in both conceptual and practical stages
Categories
- Visual Arts
- Curatorial Practice
- Museum and Gallery Studies
- Art History
- Exhibition Development
- Cultural Programming
- Research and Interpretation
Eligibility
- Experience working in a museum, gallery, or equivalent cultural institution
- Strong curatorial or exhibition-related experience
- Excellent research skills with attention to detail
- Ability to build and maintain professional relationships with diverse stakeholders
- Strong collaborative working approach
- Passion for art across multiple periods, media, and geographical contexts
- Ability to work effectively in team-based institutional environments
The role is open to candidates with relevant professional experience in curatorial or museum settings; eligibility to work in the UK may apply depending on hiring requirements.
Program Benefits
- Annual salary of £33,500
- Permanent employment within a globally recognised art institution
- Opportunity to work on high-profile international exhibitions
- Direct collaboration with leading curators, artists, and cultural organisations
- Access to professional development and training programmes
- Experience within a major curatorial department undergoing strategic expansion
- Exposure to large-scale exhibition production and institutional leadership processes
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- CV (Curriculum Vitae)
- Completed application form via the RA careers portal
- Any additional supporting materials requested through the application system
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 15 May 2026
Location
Royal Academy of Arts, London, United Kingdom
Additional Details
The Royal Academy of Arts emphasizes inclusivity, accessibility, and workplace wellbeing. It actively promotes equality across all recruitment and employment processes and provides support for candidates requiring reasonable adjustments during application or interview stages.
The Assistant Curator role sits within a highly collaborative environment, requiring flexibility, strong communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously. The RA encourages cross-departmental engagement, meaning the role will involve interaction not only with curatorial staff but also with exhibitions teams, education departments, technical teams, and external cultural partners.
Employees are expected to contribute to the RA’s broader mission of expanding access to art and maintaining its status as a leading international cultural institution.