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- Tasks: Assist in curating and promoting Asian collections at National Museums Scotland.
- Company: Join one of Europe's leading museum groups with a diverse global collection.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and exclusive discounts from day one.
- Why this job: Engage with diverse communities and enhance your knowledge of Asian cultures.
- Qualifications: A degree or experience in art history, anthropology, or related fields is required.
- Other info: Part-time role with hybrid working options available.
The predicted salary is between 22350 - 24184 £ per year.
Overview
Assistant Curator Asia: West, South and Southeast Asian Collections | Part time | 24.5 hours per week
Location: National Museums Scotland, Hybrid
Salary: Full-time salary £31,929 – £34,549; Actual salary (pro-rata) £22,350.30 – £24,184.30
About National Museums Scotland
National Museums Scotland is one of the leading museum groups in Europe with one of the largest and most diverse collections in the world. Our values are Creative, Inclusive, Collaborative and Forward-thinking. We are looking for enthusiastic, passionate, honest, service-driven individuals to join our team.
About the Assistant Curator Asia: West, South and Southeast Asian Collections role
The position we are recruiting for is situated within the Global Arts, Cultures and Design department, and the selected candidate will be reporting to the Principal Curator in the Asia Section. The job holder will bring with them knowledge of and/or enthusiasm for working with collections of material culture from West, South and Southeast Asia. They will contribute to, enhance and promote the curatorial competence of National Museums Scotland particularly with regard to Asian cultures. Working within a multidisciplinary organisation and with external stakeholders, the job holder will develop specialist knowledge preferably in the Southeast Asian collections. The job holder will contribute to the Asia team’s efforts to engage diverse communities with the collections.
Responsibilities
- Apply expert knowledge of the subject and collections to create and improve National Museums’ documentation programmes
- Assist with programmes of improvement to collections care to meet National Museums’ best practice
- Assist with the supervision of volunteers supporting curatorial work, to ensure their contribution is focused and recognised
- Contribute to the Learning & Engagement activities of National Museums on the development and delivery of projects to reach a wide variety of audiences
- Commit to good health & safety and access practice and ensure familiarity with National Museums’ health & safety and access policies, procedures and guidelines
Skills and experience
- A relevant first degree, or equivalent experience in art history or anthropology or similar
- Knowledge of, an interest in, or enthusiasm about collections from West, South and Southeast Asia
- Proven experience in paid or unpaid work in museums or a similar environment
- Excellent ICT skills in Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Benefits
- Annually alongside your salary of £31,929 – £34,549 (pro rata), National Museums Scotland contributes 28.97% of this towards you being a member of the Civil Service Pension Scheme
- A generous annual leave of 28.5 days – rising to 33.5 after 5 years, plus an additional 8 paid days public holidays. For part time staff annual leave and public holidays will be pro-rated to reflect your normal working hours.
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Free access to national (and international) museums and exhibitions
- Exclusive discounts on both local and national High Street and online retailers
- A range of wellbeing benefits including Employee Assistance Programme 24/7
- Flexible working options such as hybrid working, part time working, paid special leave, career breaks and unpaid leave
- Access to all the above and more from day one of employment
For more details, please see the dedicated benefits page on our careers portal.
Application details
The closing date for this role is 28/09/2025. The Selection Event is likely to take place week commencing 13/10/2025.
Please view our recruitment pack for this role (available on our careers website: careers.nms.ac.uk) for full details of the position that may help with your application.
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Assistant Curator Asia employer: National Museums Scotland
Contact Detail:
National Museums Scotland Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Curator Asia
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the collections at National Museums Scotland, especially those related to West, South, and Southeast Asia. Understanding the specific items and their cultural significance will help you engage in meaningful conversations during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the museum sector, particularly those who focus on Asian collections. Attend relevant events or webinars to connect with curators and gain insights into current trends and challenges in the field.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience with community engagement initiatives. Highlight any past projects where you've successfully involved diverse audiences, as this aligns with the role's emphasis on engaging communities with collections.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your ICT skills by being ready to discuss how you've used technology in previous roles. Whether it's managing documentation or enhancing visitor experiences, demonstrating your tech-savviness can set you apart from other candidates.
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Curator Asia
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Read the job description thoroughly to grasp the responsibilities and required skills for the Assistant Curator Asia position. Tailor your application to highlight how your experience aligns with their needs.
Showcase Relevant Experience: In your CV and cover letter, emphasise any relevant experience you have in museums or similar environments, particularly focusing on collections from West, South, and Southeast Asia. Use specific examples to demonstrate your expertise.
Highlight Communication Skills: Given the importance of communication in this role, ensure your application reflects your excellent written and verbal communication skills. Consider including examples of past projects where you successfully engaged diverse audiences.
Follow Application Guidelines: Make sure to follow any specific application guidelines provided in the recruitment pack. This includes formatting your documents correctly and ensuring all required information is included before submitting your application through our website.
How to prepare for a job interview at National Museums Scotland
✨Show Your Passion for Asian Cultures
Make sure to express your enthusiasm for West, South, and Southeast Asian collections during the interview. Share any relevant experiences or projects that highlight your interest in these cultures, as this role requires a genuine passion for the subject matter.
✨Demonstrate Your Curatorial Knowledge
Prepare to discuss your understanding of curatorial practices and how they apply to the collections at National Museums Scotland. Be ready to provide examples of how you've contributed to documentation programmes or improved collections care in previous roles.
✨Highlight Your Communication Skills
Since excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential for this position, practice articulating your thoughts clearly. Consider preparing a brief presentation on a specific collection or project to showcase your ability to engage diverse audiences.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Health & Safety Policies
Before the interview, review the health and safety policies of National Museums Scotland. Being knowledgeable about these guidelines will demonstrate your commitment to maintaining a safe and accessible environment for both staff and visitors.
