OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE
This position is situated in the Artistic Programs Portfolio, within the department of Prints and Drawings. The collection of Australian prints, drawings, watercolours, artist books and illustrated books brings together works on paper by non-Indigenous artists that begins with pre-colonial contact in Australia.
Due to their immediacy and portability, drawings and watercolours provide the basis for the collection's most historically significant depictions of the ensuing colonisation of Australia during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The comprehensive holdings of twentieth and twenty-first century modern and contemporary works on paper aims to ensure that the collection is national in scope and that it reflects the cultural and political diversity of artists working in Australia today.
The Curatorial Assistant, Gordon Darling Graduate Intern, will be engaged primarily in the areas of cataloguing Australian prints and drawings and assisting the Curator, Australian Prints and Drawings and the Senior Curator, Prints and Drawings with:
collection development and care, including drafting acquisition paperwork
cataloguing prints and drawings, including recent acquisitions
provenance research
drafting labels for collection displays
co-ordinating the movement and digitisation of works of art
promoting the collection through social media and public programs
This professional development role is situated in the Artistic Programs Portfolio, within the department of
Prints and Drawings. It reports to the Senior Curator and is directly supervised by the Curator, Australian
Prints and Drawings.
It is a non-ongoing full-time position for 12 months that will commence from 27 January 2026.
The key duties of the position include:
WHAT WILL YOU DO?
In accordance with the APS 4 work level standards, you will have the following key responsibilities:
1. Under the supervision of the Curator, Australian Prints and Drawings, you will assist in the cataloguing of Australian prints and drawings and enter information into the National Gallery's database, including a focus project cataloguing the National Gallery's archive of drawings collected by Australian artist and educator Frances Derham.
2. Assist with the preparation of acquisition and deaccession submissions for the National Gallery's Council.
3. Assist with the preparation of scheduled collection changeovers and displays–including writing labels, preparing checklists and co-ordinating the movement of works of art for the purpose of exhibitions, digitisation and conservation.
4. Carry out provenance research into the collection of Australian prints and drawings and enter this information into the National Gallery's database.
5. Respond to public enquiries about works on paper in the Australian Art collection.
6. Manage the Prints + Printmaking mailbox and social media accounts.
7. Contribute to the National Gallery's Public Programs as required.
Eligibility
Qualifications, Certifications and Registrations:
Australian Citizenship
Police check
Notes
HOW TO APPLY
You should provide a tailored CV (maximum of three pages) along with a statement of no more than two pages that outlines your skills, capabilities and experience, against the 'Overview of the role' and 'Our ideal candidate' information above.
In your statement response you should keep in mind the capabilities and behaviours required to be
successful for this role, as identified in the 'Who are we looking for?' section.
Further, try not to duplicate information that can be found in your CV, but do highlight any specific examples or achievements that demonstrate your ability to perform the role.
CONTACT
Further information about the position may be obtained by contacting Dr Elisa deCourcy, Curator, Australian Prints and Drawings at
Getting to know the National Gallery of Australia
The National Gallery is one of Australia's leading visual arts institutions. The National Gallery is based in Canberra and is a vital part of the Australian cultural landscape. Our Purpose is to collect, preserve, promote and share the national collection of art. The Vision of the National Gallery is to be the international reference point for art in Australia, inspiring all people to explore, experience and learn. Our Values include Boldness, Integrity, Respect, and Excellence.