Guest Curator

Guest Curator

Dance Umbrella Closing date: Mon, 13 Jul 2026

Artform: Dance
Role: Curation
Contract: Temporary
London
  • Part time
  • £10k-£15k

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 "> published -

Job Description

Dance Umbrella is inviting applications from cultural practitioners with an interest in dance and performance who are ready to hone their curatorial voice and want to access a professional development support package.
As Guest Curator, you will:
- Develop and deliver one main event as part of Dance Umbrella Festival 2027. This might take the form of an existing presentation format within the festival, such as a double bill or venue takeover, or a new format that you propose.
- Work with Dance Umbrella and steering group partners to ensure all or a portion of the programme can be toured to a DCS steering group festival or venue, extending the reach of your work.
- Access sustained mentoring and professional development throughout the cycle.
- Connect with Dance Umbrella's national and international networks, with dedicated travel opportunities to attend significant international platforms and to experience contemporary dance beyond the western context, supported by the British Council.
- Participate in national and international professional development programmes including a four-day professional development residential at Dance East (Ipswich) January 2027 and the Aerowaves Start Up programme for emerging dance presenters, which takes place during the Spring Forward festival (14- 17th April 2027 in Limerick, Ireland)

The Guest Curator role is one strand of the broader DCS programme, which is building a professional development pipeline for curators from underrepresented backgrounds at different stages of their careers.

Job Requirements

We are looking for someone who:
- Is passionate about dance and performance.
- Wants to hone their curatorial voice.
- Has clear sense of the work they want to champion and why.
- Has a keen interest in selecting artists and shaping audiences' experiences.
- Can demonstrate experience of bringing a performance-related programme, event or project together. This might come from curating, producing, making work, community organising, or another route entirely.
- Is interested in developing a programme that could have a life beyond Dance Umbrella through presentation and touring opportunities.
- Can work independently and manage their own time across a flexible, part-time commitment.
- Can demonstrate strong relationship building skills with colleagues, artists, partners and freelancers.

Job Responsibilities

- Research and curate a programme for Dance Umbrella Festival 2027 that could tour to another festival/venue outside London, reaching out to and building relationships with artists fit for the strand and host venues.
- Lead on creative direction of the final event or events in collaboration with the Dance Umbrella Artistic Director and Senior Producer.
- Plan and deliver the event or events alongside the Dance Umbrella creative team to ensure smooth delivery of content.
- Be responsible for devising and delivering the programme within an agreed production budget set and managed by Dance Umbrella.
- Collaborate with Dance Umbrella to create a production schedule for the event or events.
- Manage creative working relationships with any collaborators.
- Collaborate with Dance Umbrella on marketing materials and communications strategy for the programme strand, including working with the marketing team and coordinating project management tasks.

Useful Links

Job Overview

  • Job Title: Guest Curator
  • Salary: £10k-£15k
  • Hours: Part time
  • Artform: Dance
  • Role: Curation
  • Contract: Temporary
  • Closing date: Mon, 13 Jul 2026
  • Location:
    London

How to Apply

To apply, please submit the following:
- A CV (no longer than two sides of A4, with font no smaller than size 11)
- A supporting statement (no more than two sides of A4, font size no smaller than 11), outlining your skills and experience, why you are interested in the role, the curatorial ideas or questions you are currently thinking about, and what you would bring to the DU festival programme.
- Two referee contacts. Please let us know if referees may be contacted in advance of interview.
- The Equal Opportunities form.

If you would prefer to submit your supporting statement as an audio or video recording of no more than five minutes, you are welcome to do so. Please send the file as a link.
Email applications to:
[email protected]
Subject: APPLICATION - GUEST CURATOR 2027 (DCS)

If you have any access requirements or would like to discuss the role before applying, please contact [email protected]. We are happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the process.