Senior Curator, Prints & Drawings

The Artistic Programs Portfolio is responsible for the care, loan and presentation of the National collection 
along with the initiation, development and delivery of the exhibition, touring, publishing and commissioning 
program at the Gallery. The Australian Art Department is responsible for researching and delivering loan 
exhibitions, commissioning projects for the contemporary program, as well as researching, building, 
interpreting, and publishing on the National Gallery’s collection and preparing collection displays.

Prints & Drawings is a stand-alone collection, which reflects the importance that printmaking and drawing have 
played in the history of visual culture across the globe. The collection of Australian prints, drawings and 
illustrated books includes 41,700 prints and 25,700 drawings. It includes key holdings from the 18th and 19th
centuries as well as in-depth representation of modern art informed by a wide range of local and international 
movements. The contemporary collection is national in scope and reflects the cultural diversity of Australian 
art and artists today. The collection of International prints, drawings and illustrated books numbers over 36,000
works and includes deep holdings of French modern art, Russian and Western European avant-garde art, and 
European and North American Pop and Conceptual art. The collection includes the Kenneth E. Tyler Collection 
and Archive of prints and printmaking, which charts a history of post war American printmaking through the 
work of master printer Ken Tyler.

Reporting to the Head Curator, International Art, this position is responsible for leading the Prints & Drawings 
Department in the development, display, research, interpretation, and promotion of the National Gallery’s 
extensive collection of Australian and International prints, drawings and illustrated books to strengthen and 
encourage new ways of understanding and connecting with art and artists. The Department of Prints & 
Drawings seeks to make available, through display and publication, the collection to the broadest number of 
people, and expanding access to the collection is paramount.

This position undertakes research and writes publications that enhance the reputation of the National Gallery 
and its collection. The position is responsible for developing and presenting exhibitions, both onsite and 
touring, and projects that forge new perspectives and elevate new research to position the National Gallery as 
a place of scholarship and curatorial excellence. The position oversees the development and refinement of the 
collection of prints and drawings, through identifying outstanding acquisitions and supporting the ongoing 
deaccessioning program. The Senior Curator works collaboratively with peers and colleagues through national 
and international networks to foster relationships with artists and grow the value of the collection ensuring the 
greatest possible reach and impact. 

An order of merit may be established from this selection process and may be used to fill future identical 
vacancies over the next 12 months. Selection may be based on application and referee reports only.

If you do not wish to be added to an order of merit, please notify us in your application.

This position reports to the Head of International Art and is responsible for leading the Prints and Drawings 
Department in the development, promotion and maintenance of the Prints and Drawings Collection. This 
position of Senior Curator, Prints and Drawings is an ongoing full-time role.

In accordance with the APS Executive Level 1 work level standards, you will:

• Serve as the National Gallery’s expert adviser on Australian and International prints and drawings and represent the National Gallery both nationally and internationally, including managing internal and external relationships with community, specialist networks, government, and other stakeholders, working to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.
• Working closely with the Deputy Director Artistic Programs, Head Curator International Art and Head Curator Australian Art, play a leading role in developing the National Gallery’s exhibition, loans, publishing, acquisition and deaccessioning programs.
• Curate imaginative and distinctive exhibitions and displays for a diverse audience, including working closely with artists and other key stakeholders on the development of specific exhibitions, collection displays, commissions and publications.
• Ensure that First Nations voices, principles and perspectives are embedded throughout the National Gallery’s curatorial work.  
• Manage the professional development and individual performance of a specialised curatorial team and provide regular feedback to team members. Develop and model a culture of continuous improvement, including building commitment to shared goals.

To be eligible for this role you must:

• be an Australian citizen
• satisfactorily complete a police check
• hold tertiary qualifications in visual art, education and/ or Museum studies or relevant experience.

HOW TO APPLY

You should provide a tailored CV (maximum of three pages) along with a statement of no more than two pages that outlines your skills, capabilities and experience, against the ‘Our ideal candidate’ information above.

In your statement response you should keep in mind the capabilities and behaviours required to be successful for this role, as identified in the ‘Who are we looking for?’ section.

Try not to duplicate information that can be found in your CV but do highlight any specific examples or achievements that demonstrate your ability to perform the role.

As part of your application process, we ask that you also complete the personal particulars form as well.

To apply for this role please forward your application to ***********@nga.gov.au.

The National Gallery is one of Australia’s leading visual arts institutions. The National Gallery is based in Canberra and is a vital part of the Australian cultural landscape. Our Purpose is to collect, preserve, promote and share the national collection of art. The Vision of the National Gallery is to be the international reference point for art in Australia, inspiring all people to explore, experience and learn. Our Values include Boldness, Integrity, Respect, and Excellence.