Overview
Role Summary
Project Curator: Bayeux Tapestry Exhibition
Britain Europe and Prehistory
41 hours per week (including one hour paid lunch break)
Fixed-term until September 2027
£30,775 per annum
Application deadline: 12pm (midday) on 14 November 2025
About the role
We are seeking a passionate and knowledgeable Project Curator to join the Curatorial Team supporting the development and delivery of the Bayeux Tapestry Exhibition, a landmark event showcasing one of the world’s most iconic medieval artefacts. This role offers a unique opportunity to support the interpretation and presentation of the Tapestry’s rich narrative of the events leading to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 to a wide audience. You will work collaboratively across curatorial, exhibitions, learning, and conservation teams to help shape an engaging and accessible visitor experience.
Key areas of responsibility
- To work as a core member of the Project Team, assisting the Project Manager, Lead Curators and other members of the Project Team in delivery of the exhibition. Liaising with key internal stakeholders in other departments, including Exhibitions, Design and Interpretation, Learning and Programmes, Loans, Collections Care, Marketing, Communications, Development, Operations, and BM Company.
- To manage and file project documentation and correspondence. To obtain necessary information on loans (dimensions, special condition requirements, credit lines and copyright) through liaising with lenders and International and Departmental loans officers.
- To compile and manage a digital database with object list and images and provide regular object list updates to the Project Team. To track and monitor the movement of BM objects for the exhibition between departments (such as conservation and photography).
- To assist the Lead Curators with background research, picture research and picture acquisition for the exhibition and publication, and to coordinate new photography and manage photographic orders. To assist with obtaining copyright and rights of reproduction for images and other assets used in the exhibition, publication, website, and all related printed materials.
- To support the Lead Curators in working with internal and external stakeholders in the development and delivery of the exhibition public program, including tours and talks, as appropriate, and other related activities as required.
About you
The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented and collaborative professional with strong organisational and communication skills. They are confident managing project documentation, liaising with a wide range of stakeholders, and supporting exhibition delivery under pressure. With a background in history, archaeology or art history, they bring research expertise and a proactive approach to helping deliver the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition.
About the British Museum
Founded in 1753, the British Museum’s remarkable collection spans over two million years of human history and culture. The Museum is a leading visitor attraction, and its world-famous collection includes the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies, the Sutton-Hoo finds, and the Lewis Chessmen. The Museum also holds an extensive collection of prints and drawings spanning 600 years, including works by the greatest graphic artists such as Dürer, Michelangelo and Rembrandt.
The Museum offers a competitive benefits package including:
- Generous annual leave allowance of 25 days (rising to 30 days after long service) plus 2.5 privilege days, in addition to bank holidays
- Membership of the civil service pension scheme (find out here exactly what benefits a civil service pension provides).
- Free entry to a wide range of museums and exhibitions all over the world
- Participation in private and public Museum activities, including talks by leading curators from around the world and behind-the-scenes opportunities to learn how museums care for and manage their extraordinary collections
- Interest-free travel, bicycle and rental deposit loans
- Wide range of training and professional and personal development opportunities
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Subsidised staff canteen and discounts on gift shop purchases
Additional details
For more information about this role, please see the job description.
The interviews are expected to take place the week of 24 November 2025
For this role, shortlisted candidates will be required to give a short presentation. Details will be shared if you are invited to interview.
If you have any additional needs that we should be aware of to support you with your application, please provide details to bmrecruit@britishmuseum.org.
The British Museum is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all employees and job applicants. We aim to create a working environment in which all individuals can make best use of their skills, free from unlawful discrimination or harassment. We value the benefits that a diverse workforce brings to a museum which represents world culture. The Museum is committed to ensuring that no job applicant suffers unlawful discrimination because of any protected characteristics. Our recruitment procedures aim to ensure that individuals are treated in line with their relevant knowledge, skills and experience.
We have a legal responsibility to ensure that employees have the right to work in the UK. If you currently do not hold the right to work in the UK, we can only sponsor a limited number of roles that meet eligibility criteria. To offer a sponsorship, the job role you apply needs to be in the list of eligible occupations: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skilled-worker-visa-eligible-occupations. Additionally (with some limited exceptions), the role will need to meet the minimum salary threshold of £41,700 or the going rate for the job, whichever is the highest. You can find more information here: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/your-job
We offer flexible working that allows our employees to work remotely in a way that suits them and the organisation. We welcome questions and conversations at interview stage about how flexible working could work for you. We would typically see this role as working on site regularly.
The Museum also adheres to the HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) for pre-employment screening of Civil Servants.
