Keeper of Art & Place

Company: Gainsborough’s House Location: Sudbury, Salary: c£25,000 per annum Reports to: Director Hours: 35 hours per week, occasional weekends Holiday: 22 days, public holidays Contract: 2 years fixed term, in the first instance

We currently have an exciting opportunity for a Keeper of Art & Place to join the team at Gainsborough’s House to assist the Director in developing Gainsborough’s House as the centre for art and art history in Suffolk. The Keeper of Art & Place will co-ordinate visual art projects between museums and galleries in Suffolk.

Gainsborough’s House explores the life and art of . One of the greatest artists of his age, he is renowned throughout the world for his portrait and landscape paintings. The house, ‘a most excellent Brick Mansion,’ was bought by John Gainsborough, the artist’s father, in May 1722. Thomas Gainsborough (1727-88) was born in Sudbury and was baptized there at the Independent Meeting-House in Friars Street on 14 May 1727. He lived here until around 1740 when, as a young teenager, he was sent to to pursue a career as an artist. He returned to Sudbury in the spring of 1749 until 1752 when he painted his celebrated Mr and Mrs Andrews. He never lost the influence of his native town and county. ‘Nature was his teacher, and the woods of Suffolk his academy,’ noted an obituary after his death in 1788.

In 1958 Gainsborough’s House Society was formed to purchase the house and establish it as a centre for Thomas Gainsborough. The Museum opened to the public in 1961 and has remained open for over 50 years. The House is working towards major development in its aim to bring Thomas Gainsborough to life for a new generation of visitors.

REVIVING AN ARTIST’S BIRTHPLACE: A NATIONAL CENTRE FOR GAINSBOROUGH ‘Reviving an Artist’s Birthplace: A National Centre for Gainsborough’ will enable Gainsborough’s House to engage and inspire a larger and more diverse range of visitors, secure the future of this nationally significant heritage and spearhead the regeneration of a market town. It will safeguard Gainsborough’s Grade I childhood home and garden; interpret and improve access to the most comprehensive collection of his art, display more works in a new showcase gallery; and explore his life in the special atmosphere of his home. Drawing on the history of Gainsborough’s weaving family, we will tell for the first time the story of wool and silk weaving in Sudbury. By creating significant exhibition spaces and increasing the heritage offer, the project will attract more visitors, create financial resilience and promote the exploration of the surrounding landscape so inspirational to Gainsborough and Constable, whose family collection we will display.

This post is generously funded by the John Ellerman Foundation

We are looking for a candidate with an excellent knowledge and passion for visual art with a strong understanding of Thomas Gainsborough and , seeking a curatorial position at this exciting moment in the history of Gainsborough’s House. With a flexible approach to work you will ideally have knowledge of working with collections and experience of working in partnership with institutions. Good time management and the ability to prioritise your workload is an essential requirement.

GAINSBOROUGH’S HOUSE MUSEUM AND GALLERY

JOB DESCRIPTION and PERSON SPECIFICATION

Job title: Keeper of Art & Place Reports to: Director of Gainsborough’s House Responsible for: Volunteers Contract Type: 2 years fixed term contract Hours: 35 hours per week and occasional weekends Salary: c£25,000 per annum

MISSION STATEMENT To promote the wider knowledge, appreciation and enjoyment of the art of Thomas Gainsborough within the context of the eighteenth century and the inspiration of the Suffolk landscape and to preserve and enhance Gainsborough’s House and its collections for the benefit of present and future generations

Job Purpose: To assist the Director in developing Gainsborough’s House as the centre for art and art history in Suffolk. To look into the feasibility of landscape and local content for the capital project. Liaise with local and regional heritage sites. To work with museums and galleries with art collections and exhibition programmes in Suffolk and develop the art initiative of ‘Great Art in Suffolk Museums’. Contribute to the success of Gainsborough’s House as a dynamic venue for Thomas Gainsborough in Suffolk.

Main Duties and Activities

Art Hub • Establishment of an art trail of Gainsborough in London • Mentor and help heritage sites with art collections

Gainsborough’s House and a sense of place • Develop cultural tourism through visual art for Gainsborough’s House, Sudbury and Suffolk

Reviving an Artist’s Birthplace • Research and prepare for a silk gallery in the refurbished museum • Explore some of the content of a landscape gallery for a capital project • Contribute to the acquisitions of items for the refurbished museum

Collections Management • Digitize all relevant works in the collection • Archive Suffolk material and library in the collection. Organize and make accessible. • Liaise with conservators on the conservation of the collection

Exhibitions and Display • Assist with all aspects of the administration of the exhibition programme of 3 exhibitions and 2 changing displays per year, including transport, insurance and loan arrangements. • Assist with the installation of all exhibitions at the Museum, including packing and framing up and oversee volunteer assistants. • Prepare the collection for the museum’s temporary closure in 2019 for refurbishment • Carry out research for the exhibition programme as directed by the Director • To create the brochure ‘Gainsborough’s London’ • Oversee the relevant production of printed material, such as wall texts and labels, posters, Private View cards, trails, leaflets and press releases. • Assist the Director or outside exhibition curator with research if required. • Assist with the hanging and installation of the permanent collection at Gainsborough’s House, including paintings, drawings and furniture.

Research and Publications • Assist the Director in the preparation of publications • Carry out research directed by the Director

Events and Volunteers • Give talks and tours • Assist and contribute to the events programme • Contribute to the training of volunteers, especially in collections’ care

Other • Act as a key-holder and Duty Manager on selected weekends • Support and work with Director as required in relation to strategic and operational priorities and improving systems and procedures • Manage collections volunteers • Attend relevant training courses and participate in staff development initiatives to improve knowledge and working practice • Any other reasonable tasks that might be required

PERSON SPECIFICATION FOR KEEPER OF ART & PLACE GAINSBOROUGH’S HOUSE A creative person with a strong passion and knowledge for visual art, Attributes Gainsborough and landscape Experience in a museum, gallery or heritage site Demonstrable experience of curatorial work Demonstrable experience of working in and creating partnerships Experience of using a range of tools and practical skills are highly desirable, as is the ability to carry out the lifting of heavy objects on occasions. An understanding of conservation issues Skills & Experience Exceptional written and verbal communication skills IT Skills including museum databases Demonstrable experience of working effectively as part of a team Proven ability to think and act strategically and to develop and implement practical and effective procedures Experience of working with and managing volunteers Full clean driving license and use of car Knowledge & A degree and post-graduate in art history and or museum studies Qualifications Interest and knowledge of 18th Century art, design and history Excellent interpersonal skills in dealing with people at all levels Ability to lead initiatives and bring people together A creative thinker Strong organisation and planning skills Highly proactive and self motivated Personal Attributes Adaptable and flexible Strong decision making and problem solving skills Ability to work under pressure A belief in the need to make arts and heritage accessible to all Be prepared to work evenings and occasional weekends when required

Applicants should send their CV and application form with a cover letter to Mark Bills, Director of Gainsborough’s House, Gainsborough’s House, 46 Gainsborough Street, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2EU or by email to [email protected] to be received by 12 noon Friday 17 August 2018.

This post is generously funded by the John Ellerman Foundation