Curator, Exhibitions

Curator, Exhibitions

Art Jameel

Based at Hayy Jameel, Jeddah

Reporting to: Deputy Director and Head of Exhibitions and Programmes

The Curator, Exhibitions is a key member of the Exhibitions and Programming team at Art Jameel, contributing to the research, planning and implementation of a robust exhibition and public programme across Hayy Jameel, and from time to time at the Jameel Arts Centre. Together with the Deputy Director and Head of Exhibitions and the Senior Curator, Exhibitions, the Curator, Exhibitions will contribute to setting the strategic agenda for Art Jameel’s exhibitions, research and partnerships and forging strong networks and relationships across the arts and culture industries locally in KSA as well as regionally and globally. The Curator, Exhibitions inputs into Art Jameel Collection acquisitions research and proposals, working closely with the Art Jameel Collections team to ensure a consistent identification and acquisition of key works, as well as building strong relationships with galleries and the commercial arts sector.

They will actively build connections with local, regional and international artists as well as forge strong regional and global partnerships for exhibition development, touring opportunities and co-productions. Together with the strategy and development team, they will take an active role in identifying opportunities for exhibitions and programmes support.

This role contributes to programming across Art Jameel, setting a high standard for the quality of exhibitions, publications, programmes and research outputs, and ensuring a smooth workflow across departments. The Curator, Exhibitions is expected to represent Art Jameel at a high level externally, including maintaining good relationships with local and national government stakeholders, presenting to the board and other stakeholders as required, and representing Art Jameel at international events.

Original research and the development of timely and pertinent ideas is at the core of this role, contributing to the tone and tenor of an exhibitions and arts programme that is robust, deeply researched, timely and original.

Main Responsibilities and Duties

• Work closely with Deputy Director, Senior Curator and curatorial team to ensure the exhibitions program is original, timely and in line with Art Jameel’s global mission and strategy;
• Maintain strong and dynamic relationships with local and international artists, from early career to established names;
• Conceive, curate, and deliver visionary exhibitions and projects including single-artist exhibitions, thematic group shows, surveys, and public art projects;
• Work closely with design colleagues to create exhibitions with a high calibre of design and production and close attention to visitor experiences;
• Seek new resources for exhibitions and projects through effective collaboration with Development colleagues;
• Collaborate closely with colleagues, particularly in Learning and Outreach, to support audience building and engagement;
• Input in the strategy and director of Hayy Studios and the Hayy residency programme;
• Conceive and deliver a dynamic and responsive public programme for both broad and specialist audiences, working closely with colleagues across Hayy;
• Collaborate with Hayy Cinema team to programme films from time to time that respond to the exhibitions programme;
• Manage and mentor curatorial team, including assistant curators and interns;
• Participate as a speaker / moderator in public programmes at Hayy Jameel as needed;
• Undertake studio visits and offsite research as needed to develop the exhibitions programme;
• Build good relationships with local stakeholders and partners including universities, museums, galleries, and other relevant entities;
• Research and propose acquisitions for the Art Jameel Collection;
• Build knowledge around the Art Jameel collection through research, inclusion of collection works in exhibitions, and public programmes and publications;
• Manage and report on specific exhibition budgets to ensure optimal use of resources;
• Present on the exhibitions programme to the Art Jameel board and other stakeholders as required;
• Build good working relationships across the organisation;
• Lead editorially on exhibition related publications, including edited volumes and monographs;
• Represent Art Jameel and Hayy Jameel in public events as required;
• Support Hayy Jameel’s programmes through delivery of talks, tours and other events for a variety of audiences as required

Requirements

• Graduate level degree in the Arts or Humanities
• At least four years of demonstrable experience working with displays, exhibitions or a permanent collection
• Demonstrable experience working on public programs, such as talks, panel discussions and workshops
• A broad knowledge of international contemporary art
• Good knowledge of artists based in KSA and the wider region
• Written and spoken fluency in Arabic as well as English is preferred. Other relevant languages (for example: Urdu, Hindi, Malayalam, Farsi, French) are also useful
• Excellent writing, research, and organizational skills
• Well-developed interpersonal skills will enable the candidate to work effectively as part of a team and collaboratively across the museum. She/he will also be able to prioritize her/his work to meet deadlines, and maintain her/his attention to detail under pressure