The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art collection at the National Gallery of Australia comprises over 7,500 works of art and is the largest in the world. The Associate Curator, First Nations Provenance, funded by the Oranges and Sardines Foundation, is key in the ethical management of Australian First Nations works of art in the National Gallery's collection.
Building on existing research and documentation, you will focus on resolving matters on an established priority research list, as well as responding to emerging issues, consulting widely internally and with First Nations communities and other relevant external parties to resolve them in an ethical and culturally sensitive way.
Reporting to the Senior Curator, Provenance, the Associate Curator, First Nations Provenance, liaises with the First Nations curatorial team and works collaboratively with peers and colleagues and through national networks to engage with First Nations people around Australia.
This is a full-time, non-ongoing employment opportunity which may become ongoing.
This position will be filled using the Special Measure provision, which allows for the targeted recruitment of Indigenous Australians into the Australian Public Service. The vacancy is only open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. The filling of this employment opportunity is intended to constitute a special measure under section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975.
The key duties of the position include:
In accordance with the APS 5 work level standards, you will:
* build on existing research and documentation to investigate the provenance of works of art on a research priority list established by the National Gallery of Australia's First Nations Art Provenance Project;
* with consideration for appropriate standards for First Nations community engagement, as well as relevant Australian and international legislation and industry standards for both legal and ethical collecting, you will undertake consultation with artists, communities and knowledge-holders to determine a best-practice resolution to concerns regarding works of art in the collection;
* work collaboratively and positively with a network of stakeholders including artists, communities, researchers, collectors, dealers, auctions houses, research facilities and colleague institutions to facilitate best-practice resolutions;
* prepare reports on progress, outlining findings and recommendations and assist with drafting guidelines;
* collate object-specific results to provide the Gallery with a detailed record of the consultation and any action undertaken in response, including updates to the collection management system.
Eligibility
Citizenship – To be eligible for employment with the Gallery, you must be an Australian citizen.
Police Check – to be eligible for this role you must complete a police check.
This position will be filled using the Special Measure provision, which allows for the targeted recruitment of Indigenous Australians into the Australian Public Service. The vacancy is only open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. The filling of this employment opportunity is intended to constitute a special measure under section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION - Qualifications, Certifications and Registrations
Role specific mandatory qualifications /certification and/or registrations include:
* Relevant qualifications in art history with Australian First Nations art specialisation or equivalent relevant experience is essential.
* Specific qualifications or experience related to legal aspects of cultural heritage management and/or repatriation of cultural heritage objects or ancestors is desirable.
Notes
HOW TO APPLY
To apply for this role please go to the National Gallery's Careers portal.
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 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 information above. 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.
An order of merit or merit pool, may be established from this selection process and may be used to fill future identical vacancies over the next 18 months. Selection may be based on application and referee reports only. If you do not wish to be added to an order of merit, please notify us in your application.
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.