Working in an art gallery: Assistant Curator

Category: Working in an art gallery — Published: 5 May

Hear from our Assistant Curator, Hannah, about her day-to-day and advice for those looking to get into curation.

Part of our Working in an art gallery series of interviews with Whitechapel Gallery staff members — offering insight into the kind of roles available in gallery settings.

Zineb Sedira: Dreams Have No Titles, 15 February–12 May 2024, Whitechapel Gallery, London. Photo: Damian Griffiths

How would you describe your job?

As Assistant Curator, I work on exhibitions from start to finish, supporting all stages of the project. The first stage of the process is determining the type of exhibition (solo show, group show, commission) and developing its concept/narrative; through research and discussion with artists and collections, we narrow the content of the exhibition and select works. In tandem with this, we are always thinking about how the artwork will look in the gallery space, planning the exhibition layout and considering the visitor’s experience.

A key part of my role is writing texts for within the gallery space, considering how to introduce audiences to an artist’s practice and the historical context in which it was made. Often, I also assist with the production of an exhibition catalogue, which will house more in-depth writings related to the exhibition.

I also work on the logistical aspects of the exhibition preparation, coordinating the transport and insurance of artworks, working closely with artwork lenders to get their artworks to us safely. I work with our Technical Manager and team of Technicians to ensure the artworks are installed in a way that all parties (lenders, artists, curators) are happy with and will be most impactful for visitors. Once the exhibition is open, I am also often involved in tours for groups and associated public programmes.

What are some of the skills or interests which might be important to someone doing your job?

To work as an Assistant Curator you should have a keen interest in discovering and researching artists (whether historical or contemporary) and delving into their work. Research skills are important for this, but you should also enjoy working with people as a lot of the role is about meeting and collaborating with others (be they artists, writers, designers).

The role would be great for someone with a keen visual sense, interested in bringing material together in a visually pleasing way. When working in a public gallery like Whitechapel, this should be paired with a passion for inspiring audiences, and the ability to convey information to a wide range of people. Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, are helpful in this sense.

A large part of the role is logistical so being organised and detail-orientated is really beneficial. And as the role is varied, you need to be able to plan your time, prioritise tasks, and problem-solve, to be able to keep the project on track.

Sonia Boyce: An Awkward Relation, 2 Oct 2024 – 12 Jan 2025, Whitechapel Gallery, London. Photo: Above Ground Studio

What do you most enjoy about your role or working in the arts more generally?

I really enjoy working with living artists, getting to know them and their practices first-hand, and working really closely on envisioning and realising their exhibition. It’s particularly enjoyable working with them to select artworks and consider how best to display them in the gallery space.

I also love the install process of an exhibition — it’s really fun working as a team over an intensive few weeks to make something out of nothing. You start with an empty gallery space, and then it’s like you’ve made a whole new world! And when the exhibition opens to the public, it’s really rewarding to see them engaging with the show.

What’s the biggest challenge of your job?

The biggest challenge of the role is juggling different priorities. This is the case for your individual role; balancing your time whilst working on multiple exhibitions at once and between the various different tasks you have to do, often with competing deadlines.

Additionally, you are responsible for juggling different opinions whilst trying to make the exhibition as strong and engaging as possible and balance the needs of the various stakeholders (artists, lenders, etc.). It’s important to stay calm and think through the options clearly so ensure the clarity of the exhibition.

Any advice you’d give to someone looking to work in a similar role to yours?

If you’re looking to work in a curatorial role, some experience in an exhibition context would be really helpful. This could be assisting with an exhibition within your community, with a local arts charity, or educational group. Other suggestions for experience you could get would be writing about art (it doesn’t have to be published – could be for a website/blog), reading about particular artists you like, visiting exhibitions as much as possible. Talking about art with your peers and thinking critically about what you do and don’t like is good practice for curatorial conversations.

A lot of the role is project management though, so you can get experience in a non-arts context. Learning to schedule a project or manage a budget are really beneficial skills.

Want to find out more? Read the rest of our series of our Working in an art gallery series.