Organizer Information
This opportunity is hosted by the Ashmolean Museum, part of the University of Oxford and its Gardens, Libraries and Museums (GLAM) division. The Ashmolean is one of the world’s oldest public museums (founded in 1683) and a major institution for art and archaeology, with internationally significant collections spanning antiquity to contemporary practice.
Within the University’s GLAM structure, the museum plays a dual role: it is both a public-facing cultural institution and an academic research environment. Its mission integrates collections care, scholarly research, and public engagement, with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration, teaching, and global cultural exchange.
Title & Description
Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, Western Art (Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford)
This is a senior curatorial appointment focused on the development, research, interpretation, and public presentation of post-1945 modern and contemporary art within the Ashmolean Museum’s Western Art Department. The role combines collection stewardship with exhibition leadership, academic research, teaching, and external partnership development.
The curator will take responsibility for shaping the museum’s modern and contemporary art programme, particularly through Gallery 8—an experimental exhibition space dedicated to innovative, research-driven contemporary displays. The position also contributes to expanding the museum’s collection through acquisitions, loans, and collaborations with artists, collectors, and institutions.
A key dimension of the role is academic output: producing internationally significant research, publications, and contributing to university-level teaching within the University of Oxford.
The Role Overview
- Grade & Salary: Grade 9, starting from £56,623 per annum (with incremental progression within the scale)
- Contract Type: Fixed-term, 5 years
- Hours: Full-time (37.5 hours per week)
- Reporting to: Keeper of Western Art
- Working arrangement: Hybrid (minimum four days on-site, with one day remote working possible)
- Institutional Context: Ashmolean Museum / University of Oxford (GLAM Division)
This is a strategically important curatorial leadership role, requiring both academic authority and operational museum management experience, particularly in contemporary exhibition-making and collections development.
Position & Tasks
The curator will be responsible for a wide range of curatorial, research, and leadership duties:
Exhibitions & Programming
- Lead and coordinate contemporary exhibitions and displays, especially within Gallery 8
- Develop experimental and research-led exhibition programmes
- Collaborate with artists, independent curators, and collectors
- Build partnerships with regional, national, and international institutions
- Ensure coherence between contemporary programming and the broader museum collections
Collection Development & Curatorial Work
- Develop the post-1945 modern and contemporary Western art collection
- Manage acquisitions, loans, and collection expansion strategies
- Work closely with conservation teams on care, handling, and display
- Support documentation, digitisation (MuseumPlus system), and digital access initiatives
- Contribute to the collection, research, and interpretation
Research & Academic Engagement
- Conduct original research at internationally recognised academic standards
- Publish scholarly work in modern and contemporary art history
- Attract external research funding for exhibitions and academic projects
- Participate in conferences and academic networks
- Contribute to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching at the University of Oxford
Leadership & Collaboration
- Supervise interns, students, and volunteers
- Represent the department in internal and external contexts
- Work collaboratively across departments (Eastern Art, Antiquities, conservation, education, IT)
- Build and maintain professional networks across the contemporary art field
Categories
- Visual Art (Modern & Contemporary Art)
- Curatorial Practice
- Museum Studies
- Art History
- Exhibition Design & Programming
- Research & Academic Teaching
- Cultural Heritage Management
Eligibility
- Postgraduate degree (MA/PhD) in modern and/or contemporary art history or related field
- Strong academic record with publications of international relevance
- Demonstrated curatorial experience in museums or galleries
- Experience working with contemporary artists and commissioned projects
- Proven knowledge of modern and contemporary art collections management
- Established professional networks in the contemporary art sector
- Experience planning and delivering exhibitions, acquisitions, and loans
- Ability to manage budgets, schedules, and complex curatorial projects
- Strong communication and public engagement skills
- Experience supervising staff, interns, or students
Desirable:
- University teaching experience
- Public speaking and lecturing experience
- Additional language skills
- Experience with museum databases (especially MuseumPlus)
Program Benefits
- Competitive academic salary (Grade 9)
- 38 days of annual leave
- University pension scheme
- Flexible working arrangements
- Professional development and research support
- Access to University of Oxford facilities (clubs, sports, libraries)
- Employee assistance and wellbeing programmes
- Visa loan scheme for eligible international staff
- Family-friendly policies and childcare support
- Opportunity to work within a world-leading museum and university environment
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Supporting statement addressing all selection criteria with evidence-based examples
- Contact details of two referees
- Optional indication of whether referees may be contacted immediately
Failure to submit both CV and supporting statement will result in exclusion from the selection process.
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 22 June 2026
- Contract Duration: 5 years (fixed-term appointment)
Location
Ashmolean Museum, Beaumont Street, Oxford OX1 2PH, United Kingdom
Additional Details
This role is embedded within a highly research-intensive and internationally networked institution. It requires a balance of academic authority and museum practice, particularly in navigating the challenges of presenting contemporary art within historical museum contexts.
The post-holder will play a key role in shaping how contemporary art is interpreted within one of the world’s most significant encyclopedic museum collections. They will also contribute to the strategic development of the museum’s future direction, particularly in relation to equity, sustainability, digital access, and audience expansion.
The University of Oxford strongly emphasises equality, diversity, and inclusion, and encourages applications from underrepresented groups in higher education and museum leadership.