Curator of Dance
This is a Permanent, Part Time vacancy that will close in {x} days at {xx:xx} BST.
The Role
We have an exciting opportunity for a permanent Curator of Dance (0.8 FTE). You will form part of the ten-strong curatorial team responsible for the care, research, display and interpretation of the Theatre and Performance Collections, and will contribute to the wider curatorial work of 36 curators in the Department of Performance, Furniture, Textiles and Fashion. The role combines object-focused collections work with participation in exhibitions, gallery displays and public programmes, and offers a significant opportunity to develop specialist knowledge of one of the world’s leading dance collections.
The V&A holds the UK’s most extensive collections relating to theatre and performance, within which dance forms a significant and internationally important component. Acquired over more than a century, the collections encompass a wide range of material including costume, designs, photographs, company archives and personal papers, alongside extensive reference files. They document the history and practice of dance from the eighteenth century to the present day, and include material relating to major figures such as Anna Pavlova, Tamara Karsavina, Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn, as well as leading designers. More recent and contemporary practice is represented through material connected to companies and artists such as Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, Phoenix Dance Company, Michael Clark Company, Adzido Pan African Dance Ensemble, Akram Khan Company, Siobhan Davies Dance and Akademi.
The Curator of Dance role is rooted in direct engagement with the collection. A significant proportion of your work will involve object-based activity, including cataloguing, collections research and contributing to the development and care of the collections. Alongside this, the role will involve project work such as contributing to displays and the V&A’s annual Performance Festival. You will work closely with curatorial colleagues and the Theatre & Performance Archivist to ensure that both object and archive collections relating to dance are appropriately developed, interpreted and made accessible.
We are seeking someone with a strong interest in contemporary dance and the material culture of performance, alongside a broad curiosity about the history of dance in the UK. We welcome applicants from a wide range of backgrounds, including dance practice, performance, journalism, design, academia and related fields. The successful candidate will demonstrate enthusiasm for working with collections and physical objects, a commitment to developing knowledge, and the ability to communicate ideas clearly to a range of audiences.
You will represent the museum through research, collaboration and engagement with the performing arts sector, and will contribute to the wider work of the V&A, including collections development, programming and partnership activity. As part of the Department of Performance, Furniture, Textiles and Fashion, you will support a collaborative and inclusive working environment, share knowledge and expertise, and contribute to the ongoing development of the museum’s work in theatre and performance.
We would like the successful candidate to join us from Autumn 2026.
The V&A
The V&A is the world’s leading museum of art and design, housing a permanent collection of over 2.8 million objects, books and archives that span over 5,000 years of human creativity. The museum holds many of the UK's national collections and houses some of the greatest resources for the study of architecture, furniture, fashion, textiles, photography, sculpture, painting, jewellery, glass, ceramics, book arts, Asian art and design, theatre and performance.
Our mission is to be recognised as the world's leading museum of art, design and performance, and to enrich people's lives by promoting research, knowledge and enjoyment of the designed world to the widest possible audience. We strive to make the V&A matter to more people and in that context we work to the following six strategic objectives:
- To create a world class visitor and learning experience across all V&A sites and collections.
- Focus and deepen the relevance of our collections to the UK creative and knowledge economy.
- Expand the V&A's international reach, reputation and impact.
- To operate with financial and organisational initiative and efficiency.
- Showcase the best of digital design and deliver an outstanding digital experience.
- Diversify and increase private and commercial funding sources.
The Benefits
Benefits
Generous pension scheme
29 days plus bank holidays
Flexible working
Tickets to V&A exhibitions
Subsidised staff canteen
25% discount in V&A shops
Give as you earn scheme
Bicycle loan
ED&I at The V&A
At the V&A, we are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) for all and strive to go above and beyond public duty placed upon us by the Equality Act 2010. As such, we are delighted to share that we are a Disability Confident Employer Level 2. The V&A makes the following commitments to all applications:
- The Disability Confident Employer scheme offers guaranteed interviews – Interviewing applicants with a disability who successfully evidence the essential criteria on a person specification and consider them on their abilities;
- Providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process.
- Making reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process so disabled job applicants have the best opportunity to demonstrate that they can do the job.
- Supporting employees and adjustments during employment.
In some circumstances, such as when we receive a high volume of applications that meet the minimum criteria, we may not be able to guarantee an interview under the scheme. In these cases, we will interview only the highest-scoring applicants, from both people with disabilities and people without a disability.
Job Descriptions are currently uploaded as PDF's, if for any reason you require the documents in Word Format, please email careers@vam.ac.uk with your request.
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