Vacant job

The Swedish Arts Council is looking for a curator

The Swedish Arts Council is seeking a curator with several years of experience working with permanent art projects in public spaces.

About the Swedish Arts Council

The Swedish Arts Council produces permanent and temporary art projects in public environments and engages artists in urban development projects, while disseminating knowledge and experiences both in Sweden and abroad, promoting the development and dissemination of contemporary art. The Swedish Arts Council has a collection of approximately 100,000 artworks placed in government agencies across the country and has created about 2,000 permanent works in public spaces since 1937.

The Swedish Arts Council collaborates with state property management authorities and companies for the commissioning and production of permanent and temporary artistic expressions for state operations. Additionally, the Swedish Arts Council collaborates with municipalities, regions, and civil society to develop public art and designed living environments throughout the country in other public contexts than the state.

We are a small authority with many ambitious employees who are passionate about art. Our office is located in new beautiful premises centrally in Stockholm on Skeppsholmen. We actively work on the work environment and leadership characterized by inclusion.

Job Responsibilities

As a curator, you will be part of the Swedish Arts Council's art unit and work with curating and project management of public artworks across the country based on a broad understanding of what public art can be. As a curator, you will also work to drive and develop the application of the one percent rule in collaboration with state property owners and companies, as well as with municipalities and civil society. Your responsibilities will include creating frameworks and driving collaboration with a broad group of clients, which means developing and drafting collaboration agreements, writing project plans, art programs, procurement documents, conducting evaluations, etc. Other tasks include representing the Swedish Arts Council in various public contexts nationally and sometimes internationally, as well as actively participating in the knowledge development of art in public spaces. The position will involve travel within Sweden and, in some cases, abroad. The work is carried out in close collaboration with others in the art unit, external curators, and other units within the Swedish Arts Council. The curator reports to the head of the art unit.

We are looking for someone with at least five years of professional experience in curatorial (art project management) work with permanent art in public spaces. You are proactive, independent, and responsible, while also being humble and good at collaborating with various partners, where problem-solving may sometimes require dialogue. You are structured, pedagogical, and have good administrative skills, as well as being fluent in both Swedish and English.

As an employee of the Swedish Arts Council, you will participate in a collegial environment that promotes and supports equality, diversity, and inclusion. We place great importance on your personal qualities and the abilities needed to perform the job well and to represent the Swedish Arts Council in a way that benefits the entire organization.

Qualifications Required

• Relevant higher education or equivalent qualified work experience in similar tasks.
• At least five years of experience in curating (art project management) of permanent art projects.
• Experience in curatorial (art project management) work that has led to permanent public art projects with high artistic, technical, and site-specific quality.
• Several years of experience from municipal operations with public art.
• Good knowledge of Swedish and international contemporary art and art in public spaces.
• Good knowledge of architecture, planning, and building processes.
• Good knowledge of and experience in the policy area of designed living environments.
• Good knowledge of and experience in the regulations for public procurement of permanent artistic expressions.

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience working within the state or public sector.
• Experience working on complex collaborative projects in cooperation with, for example, state and private property owners, municipalities, regions, civil society organizations, or other cultural actors.
• Have an extensive professional network.
• Experience in business development within the arts and culture sector.
• Experience in mediation and public engagement with various audience groups.

Employment Conditions

The position is a permanent full-time employment. Start date: March 31 or as agreed. Please state salary expectations.

Salary Type

Fixed monthly salary.

Six months probationary period.

Trust-based working hours.

The working hours are mainly located at the Swedish Arts Council.

Remote work from abroad is not possible.

Weekend and evening work may occur.

Application

Application in PDF format containing:

• CV in PDF format attached to the email (max 3 A4 pages)
• Cover letter with salary expectations in PDF format attached to the email (max 1 A4 page)
• Portfolio in PDF format attached to the email (max 6 A4 pages). The portfolio should include examples of permanent public art projects (max six) presented with images including information about year, artist(s), client, budget, and where the applicant had curatorial (art project management) responsibility.
• Reference: Diary number: Ddnr/2.2.1/2024:272
• The application must be received by us no later than 2025-02-06 via email to: [email protected]

General Information

• Copies of certificates and diplomas will be provided only after a possible interview.
• All applications will become public documents.
• Preliminary interview dates: February 13 in the afternoon and February 19. Note! These dates may change.
• The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the application is complete according to the advertisement; incomplete applications will not be considered. Neither will submitted material beyond what is mentioned in the advertisement.
• The Swedish Arts Council aims to utilize the qualities that a balanced gender distribution and ethnic and cultural diversity bring to the organization, and we welcome applicants who contribute to this.

Contact Person for Questions Questions about the position will be answered by Lotta Mossum, head of the art unit: email [email protected], tel. 08-440 12 96.

Union Representatives SACO: Jessica Diviani, [email protected]. ST: Klara Wahlström, [email protected]