We're Hiring: Curatorial Fellowship (Ceramics)

We are recruiting for a Curatorial Fellowship (Ceramics) at The Burton at Bideford. Application deadline: 10am, Wednesday 9 September 2026. See the full recruitment pack here.

Thanks to the generous support of The Headley Trust, we are delighted to establish this new Curatorial Fellowship in Ceramics — the first of two Fellowships for early-career curators that will be delivered over the next three years. This represents an investment both in our collections and the people who will shape their future, creating new opportunities for research, interpretation and public engagement.

This Fellowship is far more than a fixed-term curatorial post. It has been designed to combine meaningful responsibility with genuine professional development at a time when specialist curatorial roles are increasingly rare. During their time with us, the Fellow will lead our 2027 Ceramics Artist in Residence programme, contribute to the redisplay of our ceramics gallery, co-curate a new display exploring ceramics and transatlantic trade in Bideford, undertake original research and produce a small publication about our ceramics collections

Job Details

Job Title: Curatorial Fellow (Ceramics)
Contract: Full-time (37.5 hours per week) or part-time options considered
Duration: 12-month fixed-term Fellowship (or up to 18-months part-time, subject to a three-month probationary period)
Salary: £30,000 per annum (pro rata if part-time)
Hours: The Burton works on a seven-day rota and hours can be worked flexibly over the full week depending on operational need. Some weekend and evening work will be required on a rota basis.
Location: The Burton at Bideford, EX39 2QQ. Occasional flexible/home-working is offered but the majority of the working week will be at The Burton.
Responsible to: Exhibitions & Collections Manager
Working closely with: Director, Curatorial Coordinator

The Fellowship includes dedicated mentoring from the Director and Exhibitions & Collections Manager; a £1,500 research, travel and mentoring budget; and a £2,500 budget to support the production of a public-facing Fellowship outcome. 

If required, a small relocation allowance is offered to support the Fellow to move to the area.

Person Specification

This Fellowship has been designed for an early-career curator who is ready to take the next step in their career, deepen their curatorial practice and develop expertise in ceramics. You may already have experience in a museum, gallery, archive or other cultural organisation, or have developed relevant skills through other routes. We are looking for someone who is excited to lead projects, contribute new ideas and make a meaningful contribution as part of our small, ambitious team.

You don't need to meet every aspect of the person specification, but we are excited to hear from candidates who can demonstrate many of the following skills, experience and qualities:

• A demonstrable interest in ceramics, craft or material culture, and a commitment to 
  developing curatorial expertise in this area.
• An understanding of museum, gallery or cultural sector practice, gained through paid, voluntary or freelance experience.
• The ability to undertake independent research and communicate it effectively through writing, exhibitions, talks, digital content or other public outputs.
• Confidence working with museum collections, objects or archival material, or the aptitude to develop this aspect of your practice.
• The ability to lead projects, manage your own workload and work independently while contributing positively to a collaborative team.
• Strong organisational skills, attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• An interest in inclusive curatorial practice and broadening public engagement with collections.
• Experience contributing to exhibitions, public programmes, learning activities or collections projects.
• The ability to build positive working relationships with artists, makers, researchers, volunteers and community partners.
• Familiarity with collections management systems, cataloguing or documentation processes, or the ability to develop these skills quickly.

We are looking for someone who is:

• Curious and motivated by collections, research and contemporary practice.
• Confident taking ownership of projects while working collaboratively.
• Adaptable and happy to balance research with practical delivery.
• Excited to work in a small organisation where everyone gets stuck in.
• Motivated by the opportunity to make a lasting contribution to The Burton's collections.

Key Dates

If you have any questions while making your application, require this information in a different format or would like to have an informal discussion about the role please get in touch with Jo Jones, Company Secretary: secretary@theburton.org.

Application deadline: 10am, Wednesday 9 September
Interviews: Wednesday 23 September

How to Apply

Please download the full Recruitment Pack and Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form.

The Burton at Bideford is an equal opportunities and Disability Confident employer who understands the benefits of diversity so that everyone – irrespective of individual identities, background, or any personal characteristics – receives fair and equal treatment in a safe, welcoming, and enjoyable environment. 

To apply for the position, please email secretary@theburton.org with the following documents:

• An up to date CV
• A cover letter no longer than two A4 pages telling us why you are interested in this role and what you can bring to it
• A completed Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form

If you would prefer, your cover letter can be delivered in video or audio format – no longer than 5 minutes.

Image credit: Marianne De Trey from The Christine Halstead Collection