Short Description
Established in 1989, Wysing Arts Centre is a progressive organisation located in a rural setting, ten miles from the city of Cambridge. The centre houses 20 subsidised studios, accommodation for up to 80 visiting artists annually, and facilities including recording and ceramics studios. It also offers flexible spaces for experimentation, presentation, and learning, set within fields, woodland, and featuring several outdoor artworks.
Wysing’s mission is to support artists and to be a leader in its methodology. The centre provides artists and the public with the time and space to expand their creative practice, away from the pressures, habits, and conventions of daily life. Its rural site is designed as a creative sanctuary, operating on the belief that everyone should have the time and space to imagine otherwise.
The Role Overview
Position: Curator
Location: Wysing Arts Centre, Fox Road, Bourn, CB23 2TX
Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week. Some evening and weekend work is necessary.
additional hours claimed back under Wysing’s TOIL policy.
Salary: £30-£35,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent (with review/probation in the first three months)
Line manager: Director
Line manages: Assistant Curator
Position & Tasks
- Working closely with the Director and programme team, lead, conceive and deliver a diverse and ambitious programme including residencies, commissions and events, both on-site and off-site, ensuring that these align with the organisation’s strategic priorities, vision, mission and values.
- Stay research-active: track new trends in contemporary art and artist support, experiment with new models for residencies, commissions, participatory projects, and partnerships.
- Support artists/creative practitioners in the programme to develop their practice, experiment, and take risks. Facilitate professional development, mentoring, and peer critique for artists, including those in our residency and studios programme.
- In collaboration with the wider team and freelancers, lead on the smooth delivery of programmes and residencies on and off-site, ensuring that these run on time and to budget.
Who Can Apply?
Wysing Arts Centre is seeking an experienced and imaginative Curator to develop and deliver an ambitious artistic programme across residencies, commissions, exhibitions, and events. The Curator will be responsible for helping to shape the organisation’s artist-centred vision, fostering experimentation and critical discourse. A key aspect of the role involves embracing the potential of Wysing’s rural setting and its growing focus on biodiversity and environmental sustainability.
The role requires the Curator to stay research-active and create thoughtful frameworks for artist support, ensuring that Wysing’s programme remains at the forefront of national and international artistic development.
The ideal candidate will possess significant curatorial experience, a deep engagement with contemporary art, and a collaborative spirit. They should bring strong organisational skills, a commitment to equity and sustainability, and the confidence to represent Wysing’s values externally. This position represents a rare opportunity to contribute to the future direction of Wysing at a critical moment for the sector, working within a supportive, values-led environment that champions curiosity, innovation, and experimentation.
Application Requirements
- A statement covering what interests you about the post, and working at Wysing Arts Centre.
- A written statement clearly demonstrating how your skills, abilities, and experience match the key points in the job description and person specification, covering examples of where your curatorial experience is relevant to Wysing’s aims.
- A short video, maximum 2 minutes, introducing yourself and what excites you about the role. This is for us to get a sense of who you are.
- Current CV, maximum 2 sides of A4.
- Your contact details.
- Contact details for two referees.
How to Apply?
Online Application
Program Benefits
- 25 days of annual leave plus UK public holidays.
- Access to the WeCare employee assistance scheme as part of Wysing’s life insurance package.
- Pension scheme in line with organisational policy.
- Professional development support and opportunities for training.
- Work in a progressive, values-led environment that cultivates curiosity, risk-taking, ecological awareness, and artistic experimentation.
- TOIL for evening/weekend work.
Entry Fee
None
Location
Bourn, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
Timeline
- Application Deadline: 10 November 2025
Website Link: https://www.wysingartscentre.org//opportunities/jobs
