Organizer Information
Tate Modern is part of Tate, the United Kingdom's national museum and gallery group for British and international modern and contemporary art, and is widely regarded as a leading world museum in this field. Within Tate Modern, the Hyundai Tate Research Centre: Transnational was established in 2019 through a partnership with Hyundai Motor, which originally supported the Centre from January 2019 to December 2024 alongside its long-running sponsorship of Tate Modern's annual Hyundai Commission; that partnership has since been extended to 2036. The Centre was created to provide five curatorial posts within the Tate Modern Curatorial team and to deepen research reflecting transnational perspectives, expanding on the earlier Tate Research Centre: Asia. Its work is embedded across all four Tate galleries, drawing on contributors from Curatorial, Research, Learning, Marketing, Press, and Digital teams, and it has previously supported adjunct curatorial roles in fields including indigeneity, ecology, and the Africa and Caribbean diaspora. Its research has fed into exhibitions and programmes such as Surrealism Beyond Borders and Electric Dreams.
Title & Description
Tate Adjunct Curator: Indigenous Art — Hyundai Tate Research Centre: Transnational
Tate is seeking an experienced researcher or curator with in-depth, specialist knowledge of Indigenous art to take on this part-time, remote role within the Hyundai Tate Research Centre: Transnational. The Adjunct Curator will carry out original research from their own country of residence, working closely with colleagues in the Centre and liaising with Tate's Curatorial, Research, Collection, and Development departments. The role is intended to build on Tate's existing international network of artists, collectors, and arts professionals, further developing and disseminating knowledge of Indigenous art internally across the institution. A transnational outlook is important to the role, and applicants with a focus on practices across West Asia, Africa, and South Asia are particularly encouraged to apply, though consideration extends to a broader historic and intellectual remit.
The Role Overview
- Position Type: Part-time
- Contract Type: Freelance, fixed-term for 2.5 years
- Salary: £25,800 per annum (retained fee)
- Working Hours: Approximately 21.6 hours per week (anticipated level of engagement)
- Reports To: Not specified in the source
- Department / Programme: Hyundai Tate Research Centre: Transnational, liaising with Curatorial, Research, Collection, and Development departments
- Location Requirement: Remote from country of residence, with a limited number of agreed trips to London for events and programmes
Position & Tasks
- Undertake original research in one or more of the HTRC: T's areas of strategic priority
- Contribute towards the formulation of Tate's strategy for the HTRC: T and Indigenous art with a transnational outlook
- Contribute original research outputs, including essays, lectures, and digital resources, aligned with Tate's research strategy
- Plan and convene research workshops, seminars, and study days for artists, scholars, Indigenous communities, and museum professionals
- Foster inclusive and sensitive dialogue around indigeneity and institutional practice and protocols
- Collaborate with Learning, Public Programmes, and Curatorial teams to translate research into public-facing activity where appropriate
- Advise on the interpretation, display, and contextualisation of works connected to Indigeneity in Tate's collection and exhibitions
- Support curators and conservators in addressing the ethical, cultural, and ritual dimensions of artworks
- Contribute to exhibition research, acquisitions discussions, display, and interpretive frameworks as required
- Advise on and deliver specific acquisitions, in collaboration with the curatorial team at Tate Modern
- Build and sustain relationships with universities, research centres, Indigenous communities, artists, and cultural organisations internationally
- Position Tate as a leading forum for research on Indigenous art within a global, transnational perspective
- Seek opportunities for collaborative funding, residencies, and research exchanges
- Contribute to critical reflections on colonial legacies and power relations within the museum, particularly as they shape the display, interpretation, and governance of Indigenous and sacred material
- Support best practice in inclusive, respectful engagement with Indigenous communities and traditions
- Work collaboratively and keep in regular contact with HTRC: T's staff
- Provide a monthly report for circulation within Tate and to the sponsor of HTRC: T
- Provide a final report, for circulation within Tate and to the sponsor of HTRC: T
Categories
- Curatorial Practice
- Indigenous Art
- Museum Studies
- Art History
- Research
- Transnational Art Studies
- Collections & Acquisitions
- Public Programming
Eligibility
- No geographic or nationality restriction stated; the role is carried out remotely from the applicant's country of residence
- Cannot be currently working for other collecting institutions (conflict-of-interest restriction, due to Tate's status as a National Collection)
- Cannot be an individual or professional working in the commercial sector (e.g. commercial galleries, auction houses)
- Expert knowledge and practical and scholarly involvement in Indigenous art required, with an encouraged (not mandatory) focus on practices across West Asia, Africa, and South Asia
- Curatorial or museum experience required, particularly within contemporary art institutions
- An established network of contacts and an understanding of the issues surrounding collecting modern and contemporary art for museums
- A track record of conceiving, developing, and delivering research programmes exploring Indigenous art in transnational, transhistorical, and interdisciplinary contexts
- In-depth knowledge, practical involvement, and scholarly involvement in Indigenous art history, supported by a relevant graduate or post-graduate degree
- Ability to work collaboratively across disciplines and with diverse communities
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience addressing both specialist and public audiences
- Experience working with Indigenous communities in research or curatorial contexts
- Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion
- Demonstrated commitment to reflexive, respectful, and dialogic research practices
- Demonstrated commitment to Tate's core values of collaboration, integrity, and public engagement
Program Benefits
- Retained fee of £25,800 per annum
- Freelance engagement over a 2.5-year contract term
- Remote working arrangement from the applicant's country of residence
- Funded presence on a limited number of agreed trips, including to London, to participate in Tate events and programmes
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 22 July 2026
- Contract Duration: 2.5 years (freelance)
Location
United Kingdom / Online
Additional Details
- Tate already has an extensive international network of contacts (artists, collectors, arts professionals); the role is meant to further develop this network and disseminate knowledge internally rather than build it from scratch
- The restriction against applicants working for other collecting institutions, individuals, or commercial-sector entities (galleries, auction houses) is explicitly tied to Tate's status as a National Collection and the avoidance of conflicts of interest
- The role sits within a broader institutional effort at Tate to reflect on colonial legacies and power relations as they shape the display, interpretation, and governance of Indigenous and sacred material
- Reporting obligations include both a monthly report and a final report, circulated within Tate and to the sponsor of the Hyundai Tate Research Centre: Transnational