Vacancy: Curator - Public Engagement - Constitutional Court Art Collection
CURATOR – PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Location: Constitutional Court, Johannesburg
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
The Constitutional Court Trust (CCT) is looking for a Curator – Public Engagement to join a dynamic young team working on the Constitutional Court Art Collection (CCAC) at the CCT. This curator will work closely with the Curator of Collection Care, under the supervision of the CCT Trust Manager.
As a critical member of a small team, the curator will bring enthusiasm and a flexible approach to their work, and will be expected to participate in after-hours programming and undertake prosaic but critical routines, including cleaning and moving of artworks, setting up for events, etc.
This is a 1 year fixed contract post, starting no later than March 2025, renewable depending on funding and performance. This is an in-person (not hybrid) role, and may include occasional travel.
ABOUT THE CCT AND THE CCAC PROGRAMME
Established soon after South Africa's transition to democracy, the Constitutional Court Trust (CCT) in an independent non-profit organisation that exists to promote human rights, the rule of law, constitutionalism and judicial independence in the African region – with a special focus on the
Constitutional Court of South Africa. It does so through artistic expression, legal scholarship and exchange programmes, and library initiatives, with a cross-cutting commitment to youth development. The CCT is the custodian of the Constitutional Court Art Collection (CCAC), a unique collection of predominantly South African artworks, intended to stimulate and enrich education, critical debate and research on the transformative role of the Constitution and the Constitutional Court of South Africa, based on the values of freedom, dignity and equality.
To learn more about the CCT, go to http://www.concourttrust.org.za.
To learn more about the CCAC programme, go to http://ccac.concourttrust.org.za/.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The overarching focus of this role is to work collaboratively with the Curator – Collection Care, under the supervision of the CCT Manager, to ensure that the CCAC is cared for and exhibited, both thoughtfully and responsibly, and made accessible for the benefit of the Constitutional Court and Constitution Hill communities, and the wider public, in line with the CCT's mandate, best practice and heritage obligations, with tasks including:
Overseeing day-to-day management of the programme, including exhibition rotations, publications, events and marketing; maintenance of collection management system, art preservation and conservation processes, art storage and display spaces, etc.
Supporting the management and strategic development of the CCAC programme, including through the identification and fostering of potential funding opportunities, managing special projects and publications, and providing other support to the CCT Trust Manager;
Supervising the work of CCAC assistant curators and interns, and any CCAC contractors, and representing the CCT in meetings with stakeholders, as directed by the CCT Trust Manager.
REQUIRED SKILLS, EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Must be a South African citizen or resident with right to work in South Africa;
Must already have a degree in visual arts, curatorial studies, museum / heritage studies, or another demonstrably relevant field, with at least 3 – 5 years full-time relevant post-qualification experience, and evidence of progressive responsibility;
Must have a strong commitment to human rights within the South African context and good knowledge of South African history;
Must have solid IT skills, with competency in office software and experience working with web-based content / collection management systems;
Must have good writing and research skills, with experience working on publications and in developing web / social media content;
Must have experience in conducting public tours, conceptualising and coordinating events;
Must have demonstrable leadership skills and at least basic supervisory experience, with a commitment to collaboration, mentoring and respectful team-building;
Requires excellent written and oral communications skills, with a good eye for detail, and the ability to engage with a wide range of stakeholders;
Requires a motivated self-starter with the ability to follow instructions, to work both independently and as part of a team to meet deadlines, all while retaining an excellent attention to detail.
PREFERRED SKILLS, EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Experience working with funders, managing projects, overseeing project budgets and preparing reports;
Experience developing and delivering education programmes, mentoring graduate interns and student placements;
Familiarity with art conservation principles, ideally with practical experience in working with conservators, overseeing conservation projects;
Proficiency in InDesign / PhotoShop / LightRoom or similar image editing software.
A valid driver's licence and own transport.
TO APPLY
Submit a CV (no more than 3 pages), with motivation letter (no more than 1 page), copies of academic transcripts, one carefully selected sample of a publication, product or educational materials you were responsible for developing that has direct relevance to the role being advertised, and current contact details of at least three referees (at least two professional) to elizabeth @concourttrust.org.za
The subject line of your email must include the following: CCAC Curator - PE 202412 – [Your Name].
Deadline: Sunday 5 January 2025
Interviews are provisionally scheduled for Thursday 23 January 2025.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Download Vacancy PDF here: