Curator of Modern and Contemporary Urban History

The collection

As the Amsterdam Museum, we manage, research, and make accessible the more than 100,000 objects in our art and heritage collection. The museum manages this collection, which is largely owned by the city of Amsterdam and thus also by its residents, ensuring it remains sustainably available as a source for new exhibitions, research, and inspiration. We are also actively committed to expanding the collection through co-creation and participatory collecting projects, in which intangible heritage and digitally collected stories play an increasingly important role. In addition, commissioning contemporary creators is central to our mission. By expanding our collection in this way, we offer new perspectives on the existing collection and are working toward a multifaceted Amsterdam collection for today’s museum visitors, with an eye toward future generations.

Your role

As a curator of modern and contemporary urban history, you will be responsible for managing, making accessible (including digitally), and expanding the collection related to the urban history of Amsterdam in the^19th,^20th, and 21st centuries. You will maintain relevant networks and bring new ones with you. Together with partners in the city, you will devise relevant and innovative exhibitions and other programs. You will conduct historical research, write texts for (online) publications and grant applications, and develop and moderate public programs. You will represent the museum at various events and in the media.

What are we looking for?

• You have proven expertise in the academic discipline of (urban) history
  
• You have experience in creating exhibitions and related (public) programming, including online content (such as podcasts and video productions).
  
• You are familiar with, or are willing to become familiar with, the latest methods in the field of inclusive programming.
  
• You have a strong command of both Dutch and English, both spoken and written. This enables you to communicate effectively with (international) partners and draft texts tailored to different audiences. In addition, you are an engaging speaker and moderator
  
• You are familiar with relevant topics and current developments in the field of 19th-century Amsterdam history^to century to the present
  

Your skills

• Innovative and Creative
  
• Strong in communication
  
• Flexible and resilient
  
• Connecting
  
• Proactive and results-oriented
  

What do we offer you?

• A dynamic and inspiring work environment with passionate colleagues
  
• You will be part of the curatorial team and will collaborate with specialists in areas such as education, public programming, and collection research. You will have plenty of opportunity to take the initiative and further your professional development.
  
• A fixed-term employment contract (one year); extension is a possibility
  
• A competitive salary (min. €3,406 / max. €5,736 gross per month for a 36-hour workweek) in accordance with the City of Amsterdam’s Personnel Regulations, excluding the 17.05% Individual Choice Budget. Your final pay grade will depend on your age, knowledge, and experience.
  
• A laptop on loan from the museum
  

In addition to your answers, please provide the following: • Name • Email address • Phone number

How can you respond?

Are you interested in this position? If so, please answer the questions below. There is no need to include a cover letter or resume. This allows us to evaluate all applicants in the same way and as objectively as possible.

Please use no more than 300 words to answer each question.

1. What demonstrates your expertise in the field of modern and contemporary Amsterdam urban history?
   
2. What experience do you have writing content for different audiences, and how do you effectively share your knowledge in presentations or as a moderator?
   
3. Describe a project or plan related to Amsterdam’s urban history (from the 19th^century century to the present) that you are proud of. What was your role, and how did you approach this? Which partners did you involve in the process?
   
4. Amsterdam is a city with a rich history, where there is a growing focus on diversity of voices and decolonization. Please explain how the Amsterdam Museum can contribute to this through its collection and research on contemporary urban history.
   
5. The 750^th anniversary of the city will be celebrated in 2025. What exhibition on contemporary Amsterdam urban culture will you organize for this occasion, who will you collaborate with, and what (online) public programming would you like to implement as part of it?
   

Let's get to know each other!

If you are interested, we invite you to apply and send your applicationby September 3 at the latesttopo@amsterdammuseum.nl, with the subject line “Curator of Modern and Contemporary Urban History.”

If you have any questions regarding the content, please contact Margriet Schavemaker, Artistic Director, atm.schavemaker@amsterdammuseum.nl. The first interviews are tentatively scheduled for the last week of September.

The Amsterdam Museum endorses the Diversity & Inclusion Code and is committed to being a diverse and inclusive organization. An organization that welcomes everyone and harnesses the power of its employees’ diversity to achieve leading results for the city. Talent as a foundation, diversity as a strength. We strive to ensure that our workforce reflects Amsterdam’s working population in all its diversity. Job openings are open to everyone, unless explicitly stated otherwise.