Research associate (co-curator)

The Übersee-Museum Bremen is planning a permanent exhibition with the working title “Fire & Ice” in cooperation with Indigenous People from the (Sub-) Arctic and Australia to be opened in fall 2027. The focus will be on the Arctic, Subarctic, Antarctic and Australia, which are connected by the Pacific – the current geostrategic hotspots of climate change, where many of the tipping points of the Earth system are located, where people are both affected and responsible, and where the future of humanity will be decisively (co-)decided. The exhibition shows the interactions between climate and earth and the dynamics with which humans, animals and plants adapt to the challenges of life with extremes such as cold or heat. The two extremes – fire and ice – in the respective natural habitats are played out with important, in some cases very early parts of the museum’s collection, as well as large-scale stagings, impressive installations and fascinating documentaries. Visual art, music, film and poetry take the dramatic changes as their theme. Modern contemporary works by Inuit and Aboriginal artists, for example, are to be presented in order to show people’s engagement with the changing world and to express indigenous concepts.

You would like to learn more about the Übersee-Museum? See https://www.uebersee-museum.de/en/our-mission-statement/

Starting at January 1, 2025, until April 30, 2026, with the possibility of prolongation until December 31, 2027 (depending on funding), for 30 hours per week, we are looking for a

Research associate (co-curator)

(Cultural anthropologist, art historian, or similar specialized in Indigenous art)

We offer / benefits:

• to co-curate a highly innovative exhibition
• to co-develop the exhibition with a participatory approach to engage artists in the Circum-Pacific Region
• to work in an interdisciplinary, highly motivated team
• a salary which is sufficient to make a living as a family in Bremen
• employees of the Übersee-Museum are applicable for a German Public Health Insurance, which will be financially supported by the museum
• 30 vacation days per year
• assistance in finding accommodation
• Bremen has an international school

Your tasks:

• Collaboration on the concept development of the new permanent exhibition Fire & Ice
• Administrative and organisational tasks as well as involvement in project coordination for the exhibition
• Collaboration in the areas of education, learning and public engagement and press + public relations work as part of the project

What is required?

• Preferable with Indigenous roots in the Circum-Pacific region
• a university degree (master) in cultural anthropology, art history or similar (specialization in Indigenous art)
• practical and digital experience in museum work
• applicants should be able to engage in interdisciplinary and cross-regional work
• we expect competent structured and well-organized work, the ability to perform goal-oriented teamwork, and a high level of motivation
• candidates are not required to have German language skills

Additional information for applicants:

Severely handicapped applicants will be given preference in case of basically equal academic and personal qualification. Applications by women are particularly welcome.

Please send you application by email to Prof. Dr. Wiebke Ahrndt, director of the Übersee-Museum Bremen: w.ahrndt@uebersee-museum.de.

Deadline for applications is 12.09.2024.

The interviews are scheduled for 26.09.2024 (German Time) and will take place via Zoom.