Job Description

About us

The Barbican is a unique, dynamic Arts and Learning Centre that presents artistic experiences with collaborators across music, theatre, dance, visual arts and cinema that variously entertain, enable, enrich, and enlighten our many audiences. Our aim is to be a 21st century international Arts Centre that champions equity, diversity, and inclusion, and explores new approaches to arts, education, and enterprise.

Job Summary

The Curator (Fashion and Textile) will contribute to consolidating the Barbican Visual Arts reputation as a leading international venue for the presentation of exhibitions, with a curatorial focus on 20th and 21st century fashion. They will lead and co-ordinate tailored project teams for the development, creative planning and realisation of exhibitions and events that align with the overall artistic programme, strategic framework and of the Barbican Centre.

Managing an Assistant Curator and/or a Curatorial Assistant you will be committed to providing the highest level of customer service, to both internal and external customers, and will actively seek to promote equality of opportunity.

You will design and elaborate a clear and distinct vision for the Barbican\'s Fashion and Textile Program and will devise, develop and design world quality exhibitions on fashion and textile that demonstrate a critical engagement with a range of historic and contemporary references.

You will develop, mobilize and support international institutional partnerships; and promote the Gallery\'s partnership and touring exhibitions abroad.

Essential requirements:

• A good knowledge of 20th and 21st century fashion and textile, and a strong international network
• Demonstrable experience in a curatorial role in fashion
• Experience managing multi-disciplinary teams including freelance and contractors delivering complex productions.
• Internationally recognized and respected track record of curating in specialist field.

You must be able to demonstrate:

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to consult with, and negotiate complex contracts including hire agreements, loans from artists, collectors, galleries, and museums.
• Ability to deliver complex projects, motivating and leading teams.
• Ability to work inclusively and collaboratively across teams and sectors to achieve positive outcomes.

This is a full-time, permanent position based in The Barbican.

The Barbican is a values-based organisation and welcome applications from all backgrounds and sectors. Equity, diversity and inclusion is at the forefront of our strategy. We are open to discussing flexible working arrangements where possible, and all workplace attendance requirements are based on the role to provide employees with an agreed working pattern to enable them to plan in the longer term and therefore provide a good work/home life balance.

For a confidential discussion, please contact Katrina Crookall at

To apply, please click on the apply online button above or visit the on the City of London Jobs site.

If there are any issues with the application process, please contact the Barbican Careers team at .

Closing Date is Mon 9 Oct 2023, at 12PM. Please note that we are unable to accept late applications.

Interview dates are to be confirmed.

As part of our commitment to increasing the diversity of staff within the Barbican we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from groups that are currently underrepresented, including people from the Global Majority* and D/deaf and disabled people. We want to better reflect and understand the communities we exist to serve. We are members of the Disability Confident Scheme and guarantee to interview all disabled candidates who would like to be considered under this scheme and who meet the minimum essential criteria for the role. If you are a disabled person and need adjustments to the application process please contact us.

*Global Majority is a collective term that refers to people who are Black, Asian, Brown, dual-heritage, indigenous to the global south, and or, have been racialised as \xe2\x80\x98ethnic minorities\xe2\x80\x99.

Artsjobsonline.com