Short Description
The Museum Abteiberg in Mönchengladbach, which opened in 1982, is considered the first museum of postmodernism. It is based on Johannes Cladders’ groundbreaking exhibition and collection program in the late 1960s and 1970s and is the first building by the Viennese architect Hans Hollein. The museum has an outstanding international collection that traces the development of contemporary art from the 1980s and 1990s to the present day. The museum represents an exhibition and event program that is characterized by an intensive examination of the current present and the mediation of new artistic questions. Dealing with contemporary art plays just as central a role as researching its history, preserving and constantly expanding the collection’s holdings. As a municipal museum supported by the city of Mönchengladbach, it sees itself as a place of public debate, a house with an intensive relationship to the city.
Position & Tasks
The focus of the traineeship is on active participation in the preparation of a collection exhibition and an online inventory catalogue in the field of contemporary art and collaboration on a publication project on the earlier history of the collection (Walter Kaesbach Foundation). The envisaged fields of activity extend to all areas of museum work and are based on the guidelines for the scientific traineeship of the German Museum Association. Due to flat hierarchies and short communication channels within the team, the traineeship offers a broad insight into the entire museum operation. In practice, the traineeship includes the following tasks in particular:
Exhibitions
- Support of the collection management in the planning and preparation of a comprehensive collection exhibition on contemporary art
- Collaboration in the conception of the content of the collection exhibition
- independent art-historical research
- Collaboration on current collection presentations of the permanent exhibition and on a publication project on the earlier history of the collection (Walter Kaesbach Foundation)
Collection
- Inventory, documentation and digitization of collection objects
- Communication with artists in the context of inventory and exhibition planning
- Collaboration on a new online inventory catalogue
- Insight into all other aspects of the collection’s work, such as loans, custody account management, and management of acquisitions and donations
- Collaboration on a publication project on the early history of the collection (Walter Kaesbach Foundation)
Management and administration
- Collaboration in the preparation of funding applications and cost planning
- Collaboration in project and cost controlling
- Collaboration in the drafting of contracts for freelancers (assistants, freelancers, interns, etc.)
- Collaboration in the planning, awarding of contracts and billing of services and other services
Education and Outreach / Communication
- Collaboration in the creation of mediation concepts for exhibitions and works in the collection
- Independent development of mediation formats (guided tours, courses, etc.)
- Participation in press and public relations: press releases, homepage, social media, etc.
Who Can Apply?
- Interest in the collection, in the history of the collection and museum and in the exhibition programme of the Museum Abteiberg
- art-historical knowledge of contemporary art and interdisciplinary interest
- Confident knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
- Knowledge of working with collection databases such as MuseumPlus is desirable
- Planning and organizational skills
- Teamwork
- A high degree of sociability and communication skills
- Operational readiness
- Reliability
- Flexibility
- Motivation
How to Apply
Online Application
Program Benefits
- 50% of the salary of pay group 12 experience level 1 according to the collective agreement for the public service (TVöD-V) for a bachelor’s degree or 50% of the salary of pay group 13 experience level 1 according to the collective agreement for the public service (TVöD-V) for a master’s degree
- predominantly flexible working hours and the possibility of mobile working
- On individual occasions, the need to work during working hours that are not typical for administration (in the evening or on weekends) may arise; the willingness to do so is assumed
- Laptop from the beginning of the traineeship
- 30-day holiday
- discounted Deutschlandticket
- Numerous company sports activities as well as support for health concerns
- Discounts & Promotions
Entry Fee
None
Location
Mönchengladbach, Germany
Timeline
- Application Deadline: 19 November 2025
Website Link: https://moenchengladbach-portal.rexx-recruitment.com/Volontariat-Museum-Abteiberg-im-Bereich-Sammlung-de-j4350.html
