Junior Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art

Who are we looking for?

You are an enthusiastic and results-oriented museum professional with strong planning and organizational skills. You are able to work independently, but also enjoy being part of a team of curators and collection staff. For this position, you must hold a completed (Research) MA in Art History/Art and Cultural Studies, have excellent knowledge of the Dutch language, and very good knowledge of the English language. Even if you do not meet all the job requirements but believe you can make a significant contribution to our organization in the role of junior curator, we encourage you to apply.

You will assist the curator of modern and contemporary art with a research project focused on the theme of landscape in the Fries Museum’s collection and related ecological and sustainability issues (for more information, see https://www.nwo.nl/nieuws/zeven-toekenningen-nieuwe-ronde-museumbeurzen). You will also assist with general tasks such as responding to information requests, registering and documenting the collection in the Adlib collection management system, and preparing and discussing acquisition proposals during curatorial meetings.

Job Requirements

• A completed (Research) Master’s degree in Art History/Art and Cultural Studies.
• One year of museum experience or practical experience as a curator-in-training.
• Demonstrable knowledge of cultural history.
• A keen interest in ecological and sustainability issues in contemporary art.
• Experience with project-based work.
• Experience with collection management systems; preferably Adlib.
• Experience with publishing.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in at least Dutch and English.
• An affinity for the Frisian language and culture.

Skills

• You are culturally sensitive.
• You are a team player and have strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• You can work independently and are good at planning and organizing.

Organization

Fries Museum | Keramiekmuseum Princessehof is an organization of independent and contemporary museums where quality and the public come first. With its large and varied collection, the Fries Museum offers a reflection of the past and perspectives on the future. The museum is a treasure trove of heritage and visual arts, attracting, connecting, and inspiring both local residents and visitors from across the country. One of its components is the Fries Resistance Museum, which focuses on World War II, its aftermath, and freedom today. An innovative and challenging project for the coming years is Fries Museum on the Road: starting in the spring of 2024, the Fries Museum will spend three years traveling with items from its collection to the villages in Fryslân where the collection originated, to share and gather stories.

The Princessehof is the national ceramics museum and the only national museum in the Northern Netherlands, housed in an 18th-century city palace that is also the birthplace of M.C. Escher. With its world-famous collection, the museum tells current and relevant stories, ranging from imperial porcelain from China, beautiful Art Nouveau ceramics, and Delft Blue, to works by modern and contemporary artists and designers. The museum organization consists of 68 employees with a combined total of 55 full-time equivalents (FTEs), divided across six departments (Collections, Public & Presentations, Facilities & Hospitality, Management, Finance & Control, and Human Resources). They work together with over 160 volunteers and a large number of externally hired staff.

We offer

• A challenging position for 16 hours a week;
• A salary based on knowledge and experience in accordance with the pay scales of the Museum Collective Bargaining Agreement, up to €3,622 gross per month for a 36-hour workweek;
• A temporary employment contract for a period of 8 months.

We adhere to the Museum Collective Bargaining Agreement. The exception to this is the pension fund: the Fries Museum and the Princessehof Ceramics Museum are members of the ABP.

Apply

Are you our junior curator of modern and contemporary art? If so, please email your cover letter and resume by August 9, 2023, to Mr. Jos Taekema (Head of Collections) at vacatures@friesmuseum.nl, with the subject line “Junior Curator Position.”

For more information, please contact Jos Taekema at 058-2050078 or by email at j.taekema@friesmuseum.nl,

The first job interviews will take place on August 16, 2023.

The follow-up interviews will take place on August 22, 2023, and August 23, 2023.

If you require any accommodations during the application process, please let us know.

Fries Museum | Keramiekmuseum Princessehof is an inclusive organization that welcomes all segments of society. Through our human resources policy, we aim to contribute to a labor market where everyone has equal opportunities and where there is no room for discrimination. We welcome a diversity of backgrounds and expertise and select our employees based on the required qualifications.

Recruitment agencies are asked to refrain from contacting us regarding this job opening.