Collections and Engagement Curator: Natural Science

Hastings Museum & Art Gallery - Collections and Engagement Curators

“A local museum with a global collection that inspires people and connects communities”

Positions:
Human History (world cultures, local and social history) - 26 hours per week
Art (fine art and decorative arts) - 18.5 hours per week
Natural Science (archaeology, zoology, and geology) - 18.5 hours per week

Do you love bringing collections and the stories they hold to life as well as have a passion for working with people? We are looking for a proactive and energetic person with previous experience of curation, engagement or museum learning.

As a Collections and Engagement Curator you will be integral to the success and development of Hastings Museum & Art Gallery as it transforms into a community museum. You will provide curatorial leadership and expertise in community-led initiatives linked to the museum’s business plan. You will be responsible for the curation and the development of the collections and community-led projects with our core and target audiences.

You will be expected to work as part of a small team and be passionate about encouraging participation and dialogue with the local community, stakeholder groups and volunteers. Your previous experience of developing high quality events, exhibitions and displays, learning sessions or community and access programmes will be central to making a success of this new role.

As a key member of our new collections and engagement team you will work with colleagues to develop and deliver new sustainable and engaging opportunities to achieve our ambition to become a community museum.

We understand as a hybrid role that you may have more experience in some areas than others and as such we will support you to develop your skills and knowledge.

About the museum
The Hastings Museum & Art Gallery was established in 1890 with ownership passing the local authority in 1905. Today, the museum is going through a period of significant change as we transform into a community museum. This transformation will ensure that we are relevant to the people of Hastings as well as to visitors to the town. It will see us become a socially engaged organisation focused on community engagement, particularly with groups from disadvantaged areas, minorities and vulnerable groups, as well as have a strong emphasis on promoting health, well-being, education and lifelong learning. Over the next three years we aim to be a more resilient museum with increased external funding and earned income.

Hastings
Over the last decade Hastings has undergone an economic and cultural renaissance. The area’s reputation as cultural centre continues to strengthen with flagship projects such as the RIBA award-wining Pier, Jerwood Gallery and iconic De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill stimulating new cultural economic activity. The town is full of life with plenty of things to do in the evening and at weekends, from the arcades on the sea to bars and cafes in the town centre sitting alongside a full calendar of festivals, arts and cultural events. Hastings is easily accessible by road, rail and bus – with good transport links to London and along the South Coast to places like Brighton.

Hastings Borough Council
Here, we have a vision to create a better Hastings; a strong community, where our residents can enjoy an excellent quality of life in an attractive environment.

We’re working to achieve this through the many services we provide, from regenerating the town centre and improving the cleanliness of our streets and beaches to increasing cultural opportunities and strengthening the local economy. We’re driven by a belief in fairness, a desire to tackle economic and social deprivation, and a recognition of the value of cultural diversity in the town.

To apply
Our main priority for this job role is to find people with the right values and attitude that match our own! If you would like to have an informal chat about applying for this role please call 01424 451151 and speak to our Museum and Cultural Development Manager. To apply please fill out an application form.