Organizer Information
The Singapore Art Museum (SAM), opened in 1996, is the first fully dedicated visual arts museum in Singapore and a leading institution for contemporary art in the region. As part of its expanding team, the museum is looking for a Singapore Art Museum Assistant Curator to join its Curatorial & Collections department. SAM houses one of the world's most significant collections of contemporary art from Singapore, Southeast Asia, and broader Asia, with a strong emphasis on works from the 1970s onward and critical developments from the 1990s.
Title & Description
Assistant Curator (Residencies), Curatorial & Collections
This full-time curatorial position focuses on the Residencies and Activations programme at SAM. The role supports the planning, execution, and administration of artist and curatorial residencies, public activations (such as lectures, talks, workshops, and discursive events), and related initiatives. The Assistant Curator collaborates with visiting artists and curators to develop innovative methodologies for artistic production, presentation, and cross-disciplinary projects, while highlighting these processes through social and digital media. The opportunity contributes to building networks within the Singapore and Southeast Asian contemporary art scene, providing hands-on experience in residency management, public programming, content creation, and scholarship on contemporary art practices, with a regional emphasis on Singapore, Southeast Asia, and beyond.
The Role Overview
- Salary: Not specified in the posting (typical for museum positions in Singapore; commensurate with experience)
- Contract Type: Full-time position
- Reporting to: Head of Department (HOD) Curatorial & Collections; works closely with HOD/Curator and key stakeholders
- Programme: Residencies and Activations (artist, curatorial, research, and community-focused residencies; public and semi-public events)
- Location: Singapore (on-site at Singapore Art Museum)
Position & Tasks
- Collaborate with HOD on curatorial administration, planning, execution, and daily operations of Residencies and Activations, including site preparation, travel/accommodation logistics, visa processing, and subsistence arrangements.
- Develop and implement innovative approaches to showcase artistic, curatorial, and exhibition processes via social and digital media channels.
- Schedule, plan, and execute public/semi-public activations (lectures, talks, workshops); produce content for website, publicity materials, and collaterals.
- Work with HOD/Curator and stakeholders to create context-responsive discursive events hosting artists and curators.
- Partner closely with resident artists/curators and SAM curators to foster new ideas, production methods, and collaborative/cross-disciplinary projects.
- Assist visiting artists/curators in navigating Singapore's and Southeast Asia's cultural landscape.
- Build professional networks with contemporary artists, cultural communities, and creative partners engaging with the Singapore art scene.
- Conduct research and contribute to scholarship on contemporary art, supporting collections development when required.
- Demonstrate thought leadership through knowledge-sharing at conferences, talks, and publications, engaging with content from residents.
- Manage ad-hoc projects, processes, and procedures as needed.
Categories
Curatorial, Residency, Contemporary Art, Visual Arts, Interdisciplinary Arts, Public Art (with focus on activations, public programmes, and Southeast Asian contemporary practices)
Eligibility
Open to candidates with a graduate or post-graduate degree in contemporary art, art history, visual cultures, or related fields. Requires at least 5 years of experience in a curatorial capacity (preferably with public programmes experience); recent graduates are also encouraged to apply. Key skills include keen interest and knowledge in contemporary art practices, excellent research/writing/communication/interpersonal abilities, fluency in English (additional languages ideal), strong project management and organizational skills, attention to detail, ability to multitask, and a motivated, team-oriented approach. No strict nationality restrictions; international applicants eligible (on-site in Singapore required).
Program Benefits
- Full-time employment in a leading contemporary art museum
- Hands-on involvement in high-profile residencies, activations, and public programmes
- Opportunities to build regional and international networks in contemporary art
- Contribution to scholarship, collections development, and thought leadership
- Professional growth through collaboration with artists, curators, and stakeholders
- Experience in innovative digital/social media content creation for art processes
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Application materials (resume/CV and cover letter implied; specific details not listed)
- Send a complete application via email
How to Apply?
Please send your application to hr@singaporeartmuseum.sg.
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: Ongoing
Location
Singapore
Additional Details
This is a staff employment position focused on residency programme coordination, not an open call for artists to apply for residencies (SAM runs separate open calls for residencies). The role involves occasional public interaction, multitasking across projects, and engagement with diverse cultural contexts. SAM emphasises contemporary art from Southeast Asia and welcomes applications from passionate candidates, even if they do not meet all criteria perfectly.