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Senior Curator: Public Practicethe Design Museum
7 days ago
  • LevelSenior
  • ProfessionsCurator, Project Manager, Account Manager
  • TypeFull Time
  • LocationLondon, United Kingdom

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Description

Closing Date: 17-Nov-2024

Overview
The Design Museum’s vision is a world in which design enables this planet and its inhabitants to thrive. The Learning Team at the museum work to share the transformative potential of design and nurture skills such as creativity, imagination, exploration, discovery, play, radical thinking and empathy.
The Senior Curator: Public Practice curates and oversees the public practice strand of the learning programme which complements the exhibitions and builds new audiences, establishes new partnerships and enriches the cultural life of the museum. They will be a thinker and a connector, engaged with design’s role in the contemporary world and an ambassador for the museum. They will diversify the possibilities of design and its role in civic and community life, foster a series of new relationships and ensure equality, diversity, and inclusion in every aspect of the programme.
Job scope
This role will oversee the museum's talks and events programme, and community projects with the support of an Assistant Curator to ensure that the programme supports accessible lifelong learning within the museum. The programme will present the work of diverse cutting-edge designers, thinkers, and cultural makers who are shaping the future of contemporary design. The role will own the Public Practice programme portfolio and be accountable for the success of programme strategy and deliverables.
Job description
Programming and audiences
  • Diversify the possibilities of design to build the museum’s profile and reputation as the centre of design discussion and debate.
  • Expand the possibilities of the museum spaces as sites of learning, through formats such as talks, workshops, lectures, symposia, performances, festivals, resources, digital and offsite projects.
  • Engage audiences from currently underrepresented backgrounds in discussions around design.
  • Provide support and resources that champion equality and equity within the design sector at large.
  • Develop meaningful and sustainable relationships with HEI students and national and international universities and research organisations.
  • Forge new connections and long-term relationships with community groups.
Development and delivery
  • Liaise with internal stakeholders including Curatorial, Learning, Communications, Collections, Visitor Experience and Future Observatory to ensure that the programmes deliver to the museum’s priorities and stakeholders.
  • Identify and develop opportunities for collaboration with other cultural, industry and educational establishments.
  • Ensure the effective evaluation of the programme to ensure that ambitious participant targets are met and inform departmental strategy.
  • Use digital platforms to increase participation, impact, reach and effective delivery of programmes.
Sector knowledge, museum profile and advocacy
  • Be a public face of the Learning programmes, hosting and chairing events where necessary.
  • Raise the profile of the museum by participating in talks, debates, specialist networks and representing the museum at conferences.
  • Advocate for the programmes across the museum by contributing to cross-organisational teams.
  • Maintain up-to-date knowledge of key cultural, educational, and social policy contexts at government, regional and local level.
Programme management
  • Plan, set and meet financial targets / KPIs and manage associated budgets.
  • Prepare reports and feedback for senior leadership, committees and funders as necessary.
  • Directly deliver and/or manage the team that delivers the various areas of the programme.
  • Ensure health and safety, and safeguarding of visitors, other staff and volunteers in accordance with museum policies and procedures.
  • Negotiate contractual conditions when working in partnership on projects, including IP, fees, insurance and costs.
  • Recruit, train and supervise the project volunteer teams.
Departmental responsibilities
  • Represent Learning in the development of activities for the exhibition programme and act as the main conduit between the curatorial and learning teams.
  • Participate as necessary in all the activities undertaken by the department and to represent the Learning Department, working collaboratively with other departments.
  • Deputise effectively for the Head of Learning, when required.
  • Effective line management of an Assistant Curator.
Experience, skills, and knowledge
Essential
Experience
  • Significant experience in initiating, developing and implementing high-profile public events in the design sphere.
  • Proven experience of developing and implementing transformational programmes.
  • Experience of generating activity that engages new, diverse and general audiences.
  • Demonstrable experience of managing projects and budgets effectively and meeting ambitious targets – reputational as well as quantitative.
  • Experience of managing and developing teams including volunteers.
  • Awareness of how improving diversity and inclusion can impact developing audiences
Skills
  • Creative thinker with the ability to generate ideas.
  • A confident and engaging presenter, able to devise and deliver events.
  • Ability to transform an ambitious set of aims into a clear strategic programme.
  • Innovative programming approach, creating a portfolio that is both sector-leading and inclusive.
  • Ability to plan own workload, prioritise effectively and meet tight deadlines across a range of project work.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
  • Flexible and able to respond and re-programme at a pace.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Knowledge
  • A graduate or postgraduate qualification in design, visual culture or a related field, or equivalent experience.
  • Understanding of professional practice in design.
  • Growth mindset and adaptable attitude, understanding iterative research and development processes.
  • A good understanding of audience research and evaluation.
  • Effective resource management.
  • Forward-thinking, passionate about design and visual culture.

Skills Required

  • Project Management
  • Creative Thinking
  • Communication Skills

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