The Städelschule in Frankfurt am Main was established in 1817. The school features an international team of acclaimed faculty, and offers degrees in Fine Arts and Curatorial Studies, attracting a diverse student body. The Städelschule’s exhibition space, Portikus, was founded in 1987 and functions as a contemporary center of art alongside its educational and pedagogical role within the school. Portikus Kunsthalle has been known as an influential center for exhibiting, publishing, and discussing emerging and established contemporary artistic practices from around the world.

For Portikus, Städelschule seeks a

Curator (d/f/m) full time
for a 3-year full-time (40 h/week) contract (extendable), grouping according to EG 13 TV-Hessen beginning on November 1, 2025.

The curator is tasked with developing and implementing an innovative and critically relevant exhibition program in dialogue with the school’s rector, who is also Director of Portikus. The curator will work closely with a talented team and invited artists on exhibitions, new commissions, catalogues and editions. Supported by Städelschule faculty and administration and aided by an active and dedicated Friends Association, the curator engages with diverse local, regional and international audiences and Städelschule’s student community. An ideal candidate is dynamic and has a strong artistic network, with excellent communication skills and has a proven record in fundraising and maintaining excellent working relationships with artists, sponsors, patrons, and colleagues from institutions within Europe, the North America, as well as further afield.

Responsibilities:

• Initiate, organize and execute exhibition programs that include solo- and group exhibitions, as well as commissioning artists to produce new works.
• Supervise exhibition production with the production team, Head of Installation and the student installation team.
• Develop and execute exhibition budgets and annual fundraising strategy together with Portikus’ team and Director.
• Plan and manage the institutional budget and oversee expenditure and budget reports
• Actively engage and develop regular mentoring and pedagogical activities with curatorial studies and fine arts students at Städelschule for the mediation of the exhibitions.
• Develop and produce public and community outreach in liaison with Städelschule
• Represent Portikus & Städelschule at international events & conferences
• Build fruitful relationships with funding bodies and sponsors from the private and public sector.

Qualifications:

• A minimum of a master’s degree in art history, Museum Studies, Curatorial Studies or a related field and/or equivalent demonstrated professional experience
• A minimum of five years of curatorial experience and organizing exhibitions in an art museum, gallery, or equivalent organization
• Outstanding experience in conceiving, developing, fundraising for, and overseeing complex exhibition projects and managing new commissions (incl. contracts and budgets)
• A track record of teaching, mediation and mentoring experience within the art and academic context
• Demonstrate the ability to work closely and productively with artists and exhibition teams (technical team, curatorial team) within budgetary and time constraints
• Significant experience in managing budgets, overseeing institutional operations and Administration
• Full proficiency in German (native or C1/C2) and English is a prerequisite. Excellent written, spoken, and interpersonal communication skills in both languages.
• The ability to serve as a public-facing ambassador of Portikus and Städelschule.
• Evidence of a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access in curatorial practice, programming, and audience engagement.
• A commitment to be based full-time in Frankfurt

Offer:

• Diverse, interesting and international working environment with contact to a broad network of artists, curators and other professionals from various disciplines
• Salary in pay group E13 (if the requirements are met) according to the collective agreement of the state of Hesse
• Employment relationship in the public sector, limited to 3 years with the possibility of extension to up to 2 years.
• Flexible working hours outside of core working hours
• Employer subsidy for the Deutschlandticket
• Social benefits in accordance with public service regulations
• Further education and training opportunities

Applicants must submit the following documents:

• Letter of motivation outlining interest and principal vision
• Current curriculum vitae
• A portfolio of exhibitions realized within the past five years and samples of 2 published essays
• 3 letters of recommendation including contact reference of one or more former employers

Please submit your application until May 31, 2025 here. (in a single PDF file, not exceeding 10 MB)

Interviews of applications are scheduled in person in Frankfurt for beginning/mid July.

If you have any questions about the process, please contact the HR department at personal@staedelschule.de

The Städelschule aims to increase the proportion of women in artistic and academic staff and in management positions and strongly encourages applications from qualified women, who will be given preferential consideration if they have the same qualifications until they reach a 50% quota in the respective staff category. Likewise, the Städelschule is committed to anti-discriminatory measures in its personnel policy and to increasing diversity among its staff. Furthermore, the Städelschule strives to create application and working conditions that are as barrier-free as possible. In this context, the Städelschule actively supports applications from people with disabilities.

Applicants are not entitled to reimbursement of travel and accommodation expenses incurred as part of the admission process. By submitting your application, you agree that your data will be stored and processed electronically for the purpose of the selection process and deleted after the legal retention period has expired.

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