Project Curator: Contemporary & Modern Middle Eastern Art – The British Museum

The British Museum is one of the world’s leading cultural institutions, dedicated to the preservation, research, interpretation, and public accessibility of global collections spanning thousands of years of human history. Founded in 1753 and opened to the public in 1759, the Museum holds one of the most significant and diverse collections of art, archaeology, and cultural heritage worldwide. Located in Bloomsbury, London, the British Museum serves as a major international centre for research, conservation, education, and public engagement.

The Middle East Department of the British Museum is responsible for research, interpretation, and care of collections representing the history, cultures, and artistic production of the Middle East across different periods. The department’s holdings include important collections relating to contemporary and modern Middle Eastern art, reflecting the region’s diverse artistic practices, histories, and cultural developments.

As part of the Museum’s ongoing Digitisation and Documentation Programme, the British Museum is expanding access to its collections through improved cataloguing, digital documentation, and online resources. This programme supports the Museum’s broader transformation strategy and Masterplan, aiming to enhance public engagement and ensure that internationally significant collections are accurately recorded, preserved, and accessible for future generations.

The British Museum is seeking a skilled and research-oriented professional to contribute to this important initiative by supporting the documentation and digitisation of its Contemporary & Modern Middle Eastern Art collections.

The successful candidate will join the Museum’s Middle East Department and contribute to a major digitisation and documentation project focused on improving access to the Museum’s internationally significant collections. The role involves researching, cataloguing, documenting, and digitising artworks within the Contemporary and Modern Middle Eastern Art collections. The Project Curator will work closely with curatorial teams, collections managers, imaging specialists, and documentation professionals to ensure that collection records are accurate, consistent, and accessible according to professional museum standards.

This opportunity is designed for a museum, heritage, or research professional with expertise in contemporary and modern Middle Eastern art, digital humanities, collection documentation, or related fields. The successful candidate will contribute to increasing visibility and accessibility of artworks through improved digital records, supporting both academic research and public engagement.

The role offers the opportunity to participate in one of the British Museum’s major strategic programmes, contributing to the long-term preservation and interpretation of important artistic and cultural materials.

Key responsibilities include:

• Researching, documenting, and digitising artworks within the Contemporary & Modern Middle Eastern Art collections.
• Improving the quality, accuracy, and accessibility of collection records.
• Working collaboratively with curators, collections managers, imaging assistants, and other Museum specialists.
• Consulting object registers, archival materials, historical documentation, and research resources to support cataloguing activities.
• Ensuring publicly available collection information meets professional standards for accuracy and consistency.
• Supporting the preparation of digital collection records and documentation outputs.
• Managing project priorities, monitoring progress against objectives, and contributing to successful delivery of the Museum’s digitisation programme.
• Maintaining careful attention to detail when handling research information and collection documentation.
• Contributing to the Museum’s wider mission of improving access to global cultural heritage.

Applicants should be professionals with experience and knowledge relevant to contemporary and modern Middle Eastern art collections. Eligible candidates should have:

• A degree in Contemporary & Modern Middle Eastern Arts, Digital Humanities, Art History, Museum Studies, or a related discipline.
• Experience working with museum collections, archives, heritage materials, or collection management systems.
• Experience researching and cataloguing artworks, particularly works on paper.
• Strong research and documentation skills.
• Ability to maintain accuracy and consistency when managing large-scale documentation projects.
• Interest in improving public access to cultural collections.

The opportunity is open internationally; however, candidates must have or be able to obtain the legal right to work in the United Kingdom. The British Museum holds a Skilled Worker sponsor licence, but applicants are responsible for checking whether the salary level and role meet current UK visa sponsorship requirements.

The Project Curator role forms part of the British Museum’s wider transformation programme, including its long-term Masterplan aimed at improving galleries, collections access, research facilities, and public engagement. The successful candidate will contribute to the Museum’s values: Care Deeply, Embrace the Unknown, Value Many Voices.

Applicants should demonstrate how their previous professional experience reflects these values throughout the recruitment process. The British Museum also follows the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) requirements for pre-employment screening.

This opportunity is particularly suited to museum professionals, researchers, art historians, and emerging curators interested in contemporary and modern Middle Eastern artistic practices and digital collection accessibility.