Senior Curator (maternity cover)

Senior Curator (maternity cover)

Gainsborough's House Closing date: Mon, 20 Jul 2026

Artform: Visual arts
Role: Curation
Contract: Contract
East

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 "> published -

Job Summary

The Senior Curator (maternity cover) is an in-person role based on-site at Gainsborough’s House in Sudbury, Suffolk. It is a role reporting directly to the Executive Director and part of the museum’s leadership team.

Job Description

This is an exciting opportunity to join Gainsborough's House at a crucial moment in our story. In 2027, we celebrate the tercentenary of Thomas Gainsborough with a landmark exhibition at his birthplace in Sudbury, Suffolk.

We are seeking a Senior Curator (maternity cover) for a 12 month contract leading on the delivery of the Gainsborough 300 exhibition and broader season programme, which has already been two years in the planning.

The Senior Curator (maternity cover) will be the museum's curatorial lead for our collection and exhibition programme, working closely with the Executive Director on the development of the artistic programme. The postholder will manage a small curatorial and learning team, providing leadership and guidance, as well as determining work schedules and assisting with budget management. They will work independently and in collaboration with others to curate and deliver exhibitions and displays, working on all aspects of development and delivery. Sharing their passion for Thomas Gainsborough, our collection and broader exhibition programme, they will be able to work well with colleagues and specialists as well as general museum visitors. The Senior Curator will deliver talks and tours that aim to inspire and engage with the broadest audience possible. They will be a strong public advocate for the museum's mission and vision.

Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends will be required.

Job Requirements

Essential
A degree in Art History or a closely related subject
Significant curatorial experience
A proven track record of exhibition development and delivery
A specialist interest relevant to Thomas Gainsborough and/or a broad knowledge of the history of European art
Some management experience, with a proven ability to guide and encourage more junior team members
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Good experience of designing and presenting talks and tours for a wide range of audiences
Knowledge and experience of collection care
Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
Experience managing project budgets and schedules
Solid IT literacy

Desirable
A relevant post-graduate degree or equivalent research experience
Experience working with historic interiors
Experience of the Museum+ database software or comparable collection management systems
Experience of environmental monitoring software (like Hanwell)

Job Responsibilities

Curate the permanent displays including providing interpretation
Lead on the collection catalogue and research
Be a key advocate for Thomas Gainsborough, his art and legacy at his birthplace
Ensure collections management, accreditation, collections, conservation and salvage policies and plans are maintained
Line-manage the Assistant Curator and curatorial office
Line-manage the Learning and Engagement Curator to ensure delivery of an integrated programme
Communicate details of the collection and exhibitions to the wider GH team, including volunteers
Oversee the environmental conditions of the galleries, condition checks and cleaning
Manage insurance, conservation and photography of the collection
Assist with the annual finance audit, including the valuation of Heritage Assets
Manage the art stores, study room and library

See full job responsibilities on our website job listing.

Job Overview

  • Job Title: Senior Curator (maternity cover)
  • Salary: £30k-£40k
  • Hours: Full time
  • Artform: Visual arts
  • Role: Curation
  • Contract: Contract
  • Closing date: Mon, 20 Jul 2026
  • Location:
    East
    | view on Google Maps

Job: Senior Curator (maternity cover)

Job: Senior Curator (maternity cover)

Organisation: Gainsborough's House

Postcode: CO10 2EU

How to Apply

To apply, send an up-to-date CV and a supporting statement to [email protected]. These should be PDF or MS Word documents and both file names should include your full name.

The supporting statement should be no longer than 2 sides of A4 and should directly relate your personal skills and experiences to the list of Essential and Desirable attributes listed above.

The closing date for applications is: Monday 20 July at 12 noon.

We expect interviews to be w/c 3 August.