Kaiwhakarākei (Te Pātaka Toi) - Curator

Job Description:

• Have you got 3+ years' experience in gallery work and/or the museum environment?
• Do you hold a postgraduate degree in art history, curatorial/museum studies, or fine/visual arts?
• Are you interested in the visual arts and have the ability to think creatively, with eagerness to work in a university environment?

Kōrero mō te tūranga – About the role

Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington is currently recruiting for a Kaiwhakarākei (Te Pātaka Toi) - Curator to join the Te Pātaka Toi Adam Art Gallery team on a permanent, part-time (0.5 FTE) basis.

The role involves working alongside the Manutaki - Director in the preparation and realisation of the exhibition programme, and includes responsibility for public programming. We are a small and close-knit team dedicated to delivering a thought-provoking, research-driven and contextually relevant programme. We are looking for someone who is excited by the possibilities of exhibition-making and audience engagement, knowledgeable about contemporary art and its histories, and who is eager to work in a university environment.

Key responsibilities:

• Contributing to an exhibition programme that maintains critical connections to our art histories, with contemporary relevance and lasting significance.
• Developing a public programme which deepens and extends the impact of the Gallery's exhibition programme and its core ideas.
• Working in close dialogue with the Manutaki - Director, including supporting projects through research, editorial assistance and on practical aspects of the gallery’s operation.

Ō pūmanawa - About you

You will have a strong track record as a curator, writer, and a confident communicator. You will have an understanding of, and commitment to, the role of public programming in deepening and expanding the impact of exhibitions and their ideas. You will be a knowledgeable, enthusiastic advocate for the arts and art histories with the skills and empathy to work with artists, curators, critics, scholars, students, and the media.

Key requirements:

• Postgraduate degree in art history, curatorial/museum studies or fine/visual arts or relevant equivalent.
• 3+ years' experience in gallery work and/or the museum environment.
• Excellent knowledge of art and its histories, including Aotearoa New Zealand art history.
• Demonstrated interest in the visual arts and ability to think creatively.
• Proven ability to research and write, using a range of analytical and interpretative tools, and to prepare texts using appropriate language for different contexts: press releases, wall texts, labels, proposals, exhibition catalogues, etc.
• Strength in communication, including skills in oral presentations of various kinds, to various audiences including peers, students, supporters, and the public.

Role Description: Click here to see further information, including salary details.

If this link is not available, click 'apply' to view this on the University careers page.

Close date for vacancy: 12 June 2026.

Contact details for vacancy: If you have any questions regarding this role please get in touch with Abby Cunnane (abby.cunnane@vuw.ac.nz).

How to apply: Please ensure you are applying for this role directly on our careers page and not via email. Candidates must submit supporting documents along with their resume, such as a cover letter.

We can only consider applicants who are citizens or residents of New Zealand or Australia or on a current working visa. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and we may progress with suitable applicants prior to the application closing date. Applications from recruitment agencies are not accepted.