Curator: Parliamentary Art Collection

Job summary

What you’ll be doing

Are you passionate about art, history and storytelling and excited by the idea of caring for one of the UK’s most unique and nationally significant art collections? As Curator for the Parliamentary Art Collection, you’ll work at the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, helping to shape how Parliament’s visual history is researched, displayed and shared with the diverse audiences who engage with it each year.

Job description

You’ll lead specialist research, oversee displays, guide the development of the collection and manage new commissions from contemporary artists. From cataloguing improvements to planning exhibitions and advising Members, this role offers remarkable variety. You’ll collaborate with colleagues across Heritage Collections and engage with external curators, artists, academics and stakeholders to support projects that preserve and interpret are unique collection of artworks.

This is an exceptional opportunity to bring academic art‑historical expertise into a real‑world environment where your work directly shapes public understanding of Parliament’s heritage.

Person specification

What we’re looking for

We’re seeking someone who brings strong curatorial experience alongside a desire to keep developing and exploring new ways of interpreting collections. You’ll thrive if you bring:

Deep expertise in art history and curatorial practice

Experience working with public art collections, conducting high‑level research and delivering engaging displays or exhibitions.

Strong knowledge of collections management and British art (19th–20th century)

Understanding of collections documentation, cataloguing standards and the historical contexts relevant to Parliament.

Excellent communication and interpretive skills

Ability to write for varied audiences and present confidently about artwork and collections.

Ability to advocate for the collection

Skilled at representing the value of collections to stakeholders at different levels and contributing to departmental projects.

Collaborative, people‑focused working style

Strong interpersonal and project‑management skills, with the ability to work sensitively and effectively with Members, colleagues, artists and contractors.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £43,614, House of Commons contributes £12,634 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

In addition to your salary, we offer an attractive package of benefits, including:

• Generous annual leave starting at 30 days and increasing to 35 after one year.
• Enrolment in the excellent Civil Service pension scheme, with an average employer contribution of around 27%.
• Flexible working options that help you balance personal and professional commitments, including enhanced parental leave, caring leave and alternative working patterns.

You’ll also work across one of the UK’s most architecturally and historically rich estates, contributing to the stewardship of collections of national and international importance.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Next Steps and Additional Information

• CV & Supporting Statement – If you would like to apply for this role, please submit your CV and covering letter with a 500 word limit.

More information on the application process can be found here: Application process - UK Parliament

Applicants must ensure that anything submitted must be factually accurate. Plagiarism ‘can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.’ Whilst candidates can make use of AI, they must do it truthfully. Where possible experience stated within the supporting statement should also be visible in the cv part of the application. Whilst we accept candidates may use AI tools within job applications, statements, and CVs; submissions must be truthful and relevant to experience.

More information on the role and the full criteria can be found in the Job Description.

Please note that most job offers will be made at the minimum of the salary range, other than in exceptional circumstances.

Please ensure that you anonymise your application by removing any identifiable factors from your CV or Supporting Statement.

We may close the vacancy prior to the closing date stated due to a high volume of applications.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Recruitment team
• Email : recruitment@parliament.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@parliament.uk