Graduate Trainee - Wellcome Collection Exhibitions

Wellcome Trust

Location London
Salary £26,000
Team Wellcome Collection Exhibitions
  • Closing: 5:00pm, 5th Jul 2019 BST

Job Description

Summary

We are excited to offer an opportunity for a recent graduate to gain experience in Wellcome Collection’s Exhibitions team. This is a two-year placement starting in September 2019.

Wellcome Collection aims to open up conversations that can challenge the way we all think and feel about health. Its exhibitions demonstrate this by their imaginative, multi-layered approach to exploring medicine, life, science and art. Inspired by the vast collection of objects assembled by Henry Wellcome, as well as the research funded by Wellcome and the expertise of its staff, we place strong emphasis on the insights gained from lived experience. While the shows address universal topics (such as sleep, dreams, play, pain, disease, music, consciousness, sex, and belief) we acknowledge the validity of each person’s perspective and seek ways to connect with knowledge that may be different from our own.

The Exhibitions Team develop projects internally and with external partners, researchers, curators and artists. In addition, we co-produce content with colleagues from Wellcome Collection’s Live Programmes, Digital, and Publications teams. As well as producing three or four temporary exhibitions each year we are responsible for the maintenance and development of the permanent exhibitions, a national and international touring programme and loans to external venues. In line with our commitment to access, diversity and inclusion, we are working to become a much more welcoming place for our staff and visitors.

Main responsibilities

This role will work across different areas of the Exhibitions teams. Key responsibilities under each area include:

Curatorial

  • Undertake original research to aid the development and delivery of future exhibitions and displays.

  • Liaise with artists, lenders, consultants and external contributors, as required on forthcoming exhibitions.

  • Compile, coordinate and share information such as object-lists, guest-lists for private views, exhibition files, and other relevant data.

  • Liaise with colleagues from Wellcome Collection teams including Live Programmes, Digital, Publications, Collections Development, Conservation, AV, Visitor Experience, and Marketing to ensure a smooth exchange of information.

  • Collate and edit exhibition texts, including information for labels and text panels, interpretation material for guides and website copy in line with our inclusive guidelines.

  • Assist with obtaining image permissions for press, publications and marketing purposes.

Project Management

  • Assist with preparing and updating exhibition schedules.

  • Track invoices, research and obtain quotes and purchase materials for specific exhibitions, in liaison with relevant budget holders.

  • Provide logistical help during exhibition builds, installations and take-downs.

  • Crosscheck object information with design drawings (case layouts and wall elevations).

Registrarial and Gallery Maintenance

  • Help research loans and prepare documentation, administer loan requests, issue contracts and ensure loan conditions are met, alongside the Registrar.

  • Input and maintain object information on the collections management database.

  • Assess object lists with the Registrar and Gallery Manager to plan for conservation and display requirements of specific loans.

  • Assist with arranging object transport, including updating shipping lists, liaising with transport agents and occasionally acting as a courier for loans out.

  • Compile object valuations for exhibition insurance purposes.

  • Conduct collections-based research on items in the permanent displays that may need to be removed or re-displayed for loan purposes, conservation needs or other reasons.

  • Assist with updating inventories of exhibitions furniture and frames.

Touring

  • Research and help secure venues for forthcoming tours in the UK and abroad.

  • Help develop new marketing material to promote the touring exhibitions portfolio in liaison with the Marketing team and in line with ambitions to grow and diversify audiences articulated through Wellcome Collection’s Audience Development Strategy.

  • Assist with developing reporting systems and evaluation tools to monitor Wellcome Collection’s touring audiences.

General

  • Provide administrative help including coordinating meetings and travel and taking and circulating minutes.

  • Assist with private views and represent Wellcome Collection at public events, meetings and networking on behalf of the organisation, including speaking at events where appropriate.

  • Attend exhibitions at other cultural events in order to identify and communicate examples of good practice.

You can view a word version of this job description here.

Person specification:

We are looking for candidates who:

  • are educated to degree level (or equivalent) with a 2.2 or above

  • have graduated from an undergraduate or Master's degree in 2018 or 2019

  • if you have a Master's, have a gap between undergraduate and Master's degree of no more than two years

  • a commitment to culture, arts and creativity

  • strong communication and negotiation skills

  • the ability to work with a range of different colleagues and clients

  • strong organisational skills

  • a quickness to learn

  • self-reliance and self-motivation

  • the ability to manage a large workload and effective time-management skills

  • the ability to be flexible and adaptable

  • a desire to develop a career in museums or galleries

  • a commitment to widening access to museums

  • we particularly welcome applications from those who are neurodiverse, d/Deaf or disabled as they are currently under-represented in our workforce.

In order to apply for this role please complete our online application form. If you require any support or have any questions please contact Natalie Hannan at n.hannan@wellcome.ac.uk.

Those who submit a strong application form will be invited to complete a short task and we will be holding an assessment centre as the final stage of the process towards the end of July.

More details about each stage will be provided in advance and we can discuss these over the phone for anyone who may require adjustments.

Diversity & Inclusion

Wellcome strives to create a fair and healthy environment where all of our colleagues feel valued and able to be their authentic selves at work. We aim to cultivate a culture of collaboration and respect, where our people are highly engaged and their individual contributions are celebrated. Our future success relies on enabling people to thrive.

We understand that our people have commitments and personal interests outside of work and we strive to build a flexible working environment, in which people can perform at their best.

Wellcome encourages and welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds. For disabled applicants, please contact us to let us know of any adjustments we can make to support you during the application process.

Our principles

Wellcome exists to improve health for everyone by helping great ideas to thrive. To make this happen, we need a working culture that brings out the best in all of us.

Our four principles – we make it count, we act boldly, we stretch ourselves, we pull together – set out how we aspire to do things and what we should expect of one another. If you like the sound of them, maybe you’d like to work with us.

Removing bias from the hiring process

Applications closed Fri 5th Jul 2019

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Removing bias from the hiring process

  • Your application will be anonymously reviewed by our hiring team to ensure fairness
  • You won't need a CV to apply to this job

Applications closed Fri 5th Jul 2019