Organizer Information
Liverpool Biennial is the UK’s largest free festival of contemporary visual art, established in 1998 and based in Liverpool, UK. Operating as a non-profit cultural organization, it commissions and presents ambitious contemporary art projects across the city in galleries, public spaces, historic sites, and unexpected urban locations. Over more than two decades, the Biennial has developed a strong international reputation for commissioning new work and activating urban space through contemporary art practices.
The organisation works across multiple departments, including Programme, Learning, Front of House, Production, and Development, and collaborates closely with international curators, artists, institutions, and local communities. Its programming spans exhibitions, performances, public realm interventions, talks, workshops, screenings, and publishing. The Biennial has a long track record of large-scale commissioning, having produced hundreds of new artworks and engaging millions of visitors globally.
Liverpool Biennial 2027 is currently in development under co-curators Aimee Harrison and Lucía Sanromán, with a strong emphasis on public engagement, accessibility, sustainability, and collaborative curatorial production. The Assistant Curator roles are part of this long-term curatorial and production structure.
Title & Description
Assistant Curator Jobs Liverpool Biennial 2027 (Production / Public Programme)
This opportunity offers two Assistant Curator positions within the Liverpool Biennial Programme Team, each supporting the development and delivery of one of the UK’s most significant international contemporary art festivals. One role focuses on Production, while the other focuses on Public Programme.
The Assistant Curators will contribute to the research, planning, coordination, and delivery of exhibitions and year-round cultural programming leading up to and during Liverpool Biennial 2027. This includes supporting the production of new commissions, coordinating logistics for exhibitions, assisting with public-facing events, and ensuring that curatorial ideas are effectively translated into real-world installations and audience experiences.
The Production-focused role emphasises technical planning, installation logistics, venue coordination, and fabrication processes. The Public Programme-focused role emphasises live events, participatory projects, audience engagement, and delivery of talks, workshops, and screenings. Both roles contribute to a shared curatorial infrastructure that connects artists, audiences, venues, and institutional partners across Liverpool.
The Role Overview
- Position Title: Assistant Curator (Production / Public Programme)
- Contract Type: Fixed-term, full-time
- Duration: Until 31 October 2027
- Salary: £27,837 – £29,229 (depending on experience)
- Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week
- Department: Programme Team
- Reporting To: Programme Manager
- Line Management Responsibility: Interns and Volunteers
- Notice Period: 2 months
- Additional Benefits: 25 days annual leave + public holidays; wellbeing support via Wellbeing in the Arts initiative
- Working Structure: Hybrid/office-based (Liverpool Biennial offices) with event-based flexibility, including evenings and weekends when required (TOIL system applies)
Position & Tasks
- Supporting curatorial research, project development, and production workflows for exhibitions and public programmes
- Coordinating logistics for installations, de-installations, and ongoing maintenance of artworks
- Managing communication between artists, venues, contractors, and internal departments
- Assisting in budget monitoring, procurement processes, invoicing, and financial tracking
- Organizing travel, accommodation, and logistical support for artists and collaborators
- Preparing documentation, reports, timelines, and production checklists
- Supporting accessibility planning and implementation across projects
- Contributing to risk assessments, health and safety compliance, and safeguarding protocols
- Supporting audience engagement activities and public-facing programming (especially for Public Programme role)
- Attending site visits, meetings, and research trips
- Representing Liverpool Biennial at events, talks, and professional engagements
- Supporting sustainability strategies in production and programming processes
Categories
- Contemporary Visual Art
- Curatorial Practice
- Exhibition Production
- Public Programming
- Performance Art
- Installation Art
- Participatory Art
- Live Art
- Art Administration
- Cultural Management
- Art Writing / Publishing (supportive role)
Eligibility
- Minimum 3 years of experience in contemporary art curation, production, or arts administration
- Experience managing multiple projects and budgets simultaneously
- Strong communication and coordination skills in professional arts contexts
- Ability to work under pressure and manage complex deadlines
- Understanding of equality, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility practices in the arts
- Commitment to environmental sustainability in cultural production
- Eligibility for enhanced DBS certification (UK safeguarding requirement)
- International applicants may apply, but must be able to work in the UK (work authorisation required)
Role-specific requirements:
- Production role: knowledge of health & safety in exhibition contexts, technical production workflows
- Public Programme role: experience with live, hybrid, or digital programming formats
Program Benefits
- Competitive salary (£27,837–£29,229)
- Fixed-term professional role within a major international biennial
- Opportunity to work directly with internationally recognised co-curators
- Hands-on experience in large-scale curatorial production
- Exposure to international artists, institutions, and commissioning processes
- Professional development within a high-profile cultural organisation
- Access to mentoring and internal training opportunities
- Networking across the UK and the international contemporary art sector
- Contribution to publicly funded, city-wide cultural programming with high visibility
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Supporting statement addressing the selection criteria with examples
- Contact details for two referees (requested if shortlisted)
- Equality monitoring form (separate confidential process)
- Optional: hyperlinks to relevant project examples
- Optional access format: 3-minute audio or video CV summary
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 19 April 2026
- Interview Dates: 5 May 2026 and 12 May 2026 (in-person, Liverpool)
- Contract Start: To be confirmed upon appointment
- Contract End: 31 October 2027
Location
Liverpool, United Kingdom
Additional Details
- Candidates may be considered for both Production and Public Programme roles
- The organization operates under strong commitments to accessibility, sustainability, and inclusion
- Flexible working arrangements include time-off-in-lieu for evening/weekend work
- Strong emphasis on collaborative curatorial practice and cross-departmental working
- Applicants identifying as disabled who meet the essential criteria are guaranteed an interview (Disability Confident Employer scheme)
- The role involves both administrative and hands-on curatorial production work in real exhibition contexts