Short Description:
The Städelschule is seeking a dynamic Program Curator for Art Coordination to plan and implement a broad range of public programs in collaboration with faculty, students, and the administration. This role is key to enhancing the visibility of the institution on both local and international levels, with a focus on student engagement and public programming. The Program Curator will also coordinate exhibitions, lectures, and the annual graduate exhibition, among other activities.
Ideal candidates will have a degree in Art History, Curatorial Studies, or related fields (or equivalent experience), with at least three years of experience organizing exhibitions or public programs. Proficiency in both German and English is required.
Curator (f/m/d) full-time
for a 3-year full-time contract (40 hours/week), extendable with classification according to EG 13 TV-Hessen, from 1 November 2025.
The curator is tasked with developing and implementing an innovative and critically relevant exhibition program in cooperation with the director of Portikus, working closely with a talented team and the artists on exhibitions, new commissions, publication formats, and editions.
Supported by the Städelschule faculty and administration, and with the help of an active and committed Friends Association, the curator engages with diverse local, regional, and international audiences and the Städelschule student community.
The ideal candidate will be dynamic and well-connected, possess a strong artistic network with excellent communication skills, and have a proven track record of building and maintaining excellent working relationships with artists, sponsors, funders, and colleagues from institutions in and outside of Europe, North America, and beyond.
Tasks:
- Initiation, organization and implementation of exhibition programs, including solo and group exhibitions, as well as commissioning artists to produce new works
- Monitoring the exhibition production with the production team, the head of installation and the student installation team
- Development and implementation of exhibition budgets and the annual fundraising strategy together with the Portikus team and the director
- Planning and managing the budget and monitoring expenditure and budget reports
- Active engagement and development of regular mentoring and educational activities with Curatorial Studies and Fine Arts students of the Städelschule for the communication of the exhibitions
- Development and implementation of public relations work in cooperation with the Städelschule
- Representative function of the Portikus and the Städelschule at international events
- Building fruitful relationships with funding institutions and sponsors from the private and public sectors
Application Requirements:
Applicants must submit the following documents:
- Motivational letter with vision
- Current CV
- A portfolio of exhibition projects realized in the last five years and two published essays or texts related to your curatorial work
- 3 letters of recommendation with contact information and contact references from one or more former employers
Eligibility:
- Master’s degree in Art History, Museum Studies, Curatorial Studies or a related field and/or equivalent proven professional experience
- At least five years of experience as a curator and organizer of exhibitions in an art museum, gallery, or similar institution
- Extensive experience in the conception, development, fundraising and monitoring of complex exhibition projects and in the management of new commissions (including contracts and budgets)
- Experience in teaching, mediation and mentoring in artistic and academic contexts
- Evidence of ability to work closely and productively with artists and exhibition teams (technical team, curatorial team) while adhering to budget and time constraints
- Relevant experience in managing budgets, overseeing institutional operations and administrative processes
- Complete command of German (native speaker or C1/C2) and English is required. Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills in both languages are required.
- The ability to act as an ambassador for Portikus and the Städelschule in public
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and access in curatorial practice, programming and audience engagement
- Place of work is Frankfurt
Program Benefits or Awards:
- A diverse, interesting and international working environment with contact to a broad network of artists, curators and other actors from various disciplines
- A salary in pay group E11 according to the collective agreement of the State of Hesse
- A temporary employment contract in the public sector, limited to 1 year with the possibility of extension
- Flexible working hours outside core working hours
- Employer subsidy for the Deutschlandticket
- Social benefits in accordance with public service regulations
- Further training and continuing education opportunities
Entry Fee: NONE
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Deadline: May 31, 2025.
Website link: https://staedelschule.de/de/aktuelles/stellenangebote
