Organizer Information
The Alte Nationalgalerie is part of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, the largest cultural institution in Germany and one of the most significant museum organizations in the world. Located on Museum Island, Berlin — a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999 — the museum was built between 1862 and 1876 under Friedrich Wilhelm IV, designed by Friedrich August Stüler and completed by Johann Heinrich Strack, and opened in 1876 as a showcase for contemporary art of its time, founded on a bequest from banker Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Wagener. Today the Alte Nationalgalerie houses roughly 2,000 paintings and a comparable number of sculptures spanning Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism, and the Gründerzeit, including major works by Caspar David Friedrich, Adolph Menzel, Max Liebermann, and an extensive sculpture collection with an annex at the Friedrichswerder Church. As one of the five pillars of the Nationalgalerie (alongside the Neue Nationalgalerie, Museum Berggruen, Hamburger Bahnhof, and Friedrichswerdersche Kirche), the museum is currently undergoing a development process aimed at cross-generational, barrier-free public engagement with 19th-century art.
Title & Description
Research Assistant / Curator (d/f/m) — Alte Nationalgalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
The Alte Nationalgalerie, home to an outstanding collection of 19th-century painting and sculpture including major works of Romanticism, an excellent Impressionist painting collection, and an extensive sculpture collection, is seeking a scientifically experienced and team-oriented Research Assistant/Curator. The museum is currently undergoing a strategic development process guided by the principle of opening itself up from the present for cross-generational, as barrier-free as possible, exchange — inviting people from different backgrounds and interests to encounter 19th-century art and making the relevance of the epoch tangible for the present. The role sits within this strategic development of the museum's team.
The Role Overview
- Position Type: Full-time, 39 hours/week; part-time possible
- Contract Type: Unlimited (permanent)
- Salary: EG 13 TVöD Bund
- Start Date: From 1 November 2026
- Reports To: Not specified in the source
- Department / Programme: Curatorial team, Alte Nationalgalerie
- Working Hours: 39 hours per week; part-time arrangements possible
Position & Tasks
- Living collecting competence — Scientific research, organisational support, and profiling of the holdings of paintings, especially from the second half of the so-called long 19th century
- Creating relevance — Developing and collaborating on special exhibitions and programs that bridge the gap between the uniqueness and complexity of the 19th century and today's social issues
- Intensifying international ties — Preparing and accompanying prospective, medium- and long-term collaborations and research projects for the Directorate
- Interdisciplinary collaboration — Close, low-hierarchy cooperation within the curatorial team as well as with education and mediation
- Anchoring a culture of welcome — Actively shaping the house into an open, approachable place where research and proximity to the public go hand in hand
Categories
- Curatorial Practice
- Art History
- Museum Studies
- Collection Management
- Exhibition Making
- 19th-Century Painting and Sculpture
Eligibility
- Completed academic university degree (Master's, Magister/Magistra, Diplom univ., or equivalent) in art history or a related subject
- Expertise and own scientific focus in the art of the so-called long 19th century
- Several years of position-relevant curatorial professional and training experience, particularly in the conception and implementation of special exhibitions and events that attract the public
- Experience in strategic leadership support and committee work
- Experience in third-party funding, budget management, and procurement procedures
- Desired (preferred but not mandatory): a doctorate in art history or a related subject
- Desired (preferred but not mandatory): a national and international network of museums, universities, and research institutions
- Desired (preferred but not mandatory): competence in partnership interface work
- Desired (preferred but not mandatory): ability to convey complex content concisely
- Desired (preferred but not mandatory): knowledge of German and English, plus knowledge of another modern foreign language, both written and spoken
- Applications welcomed from all people regardless of age, gender, nationality, cultural and social background, religion or ideology, disability, or sexual identity
- Applications from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, as well as people with a migration and refugee background, are explicitly welcomed
- Persons with severe disabilities and persons with equivalent status are given special consideration if equally qualified
Program Benefits
- One of the most beautiful places to work in Germany, in the heart of Berlin, with great charisma
- The opportunity to help shape the future of the Alte Nationalgalerie and its outstanding 19th-century collection
- Collaboration in a dedicated team within the largest cultural institution in Germany and one of the most important in the world
- Job ticket with employer participation
- A wide range of further education and training opportunities
- An actively cultivated culture of appreciation
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Reference number: SMB-ANG-1-2026 (to be included in the application)
- Cover letter
- Curriculum Vitae
- Examination certificates or certificates
- Employment references and/or references
- Work samples
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 15 July 2026
- Start of Contract: from 1 November 2026
Location
Bodestraße 1-3, 10178 Berlin, Germany
Additional Details
- The museum actively cultivates a culture of appreciation and equal opportunity and diversity in its hiring
- Contact for questions about the area of responsibility: Frau Dr. Hüsch, +49 30 266 42 4400
- Contact for questions about the application process: Mr. Pfeilsticker, +49 30 266 411 640