The Rick Mather David Scrase Foundation Internship in Western Art

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an early career art historian at the Ashmolean Museum. It is generously funded by the Rick Mather David Scrase Foundation, which strives to support recent graduates who are keen to pursue a career in museums. This internship will be based in the Department of Western Art, which is internationally renowned for our paintings, sculpture, works on paper and decorative arts from about the 1200s to the present day, shown across 23 galleries with the graphic arts kept in our welcoming Print Room. 

You will have recently graduated in History of Art or a similar subject, with an interest in works on paper. You will digitise part of the prints and drawings collection bequeathed by the great British antiquarian and museum curator Francis Douce (1757–1834) as well as participate in broader curatorial work across the department. Only limited parts of the Douce Collection have been digitised so far. You will work directly from the prints and drawings, involving lifting and moving of the boxes and you will play an invaluable part in making an important part of our collection accessible online.

This role involves lifting, carrying, and moving objects (with or without adaptations) which on occasion may be heavy.  All necessary health and safety training will be provided.

Curatorial training is a key part of this role, and you will collaborate with curators and colleagues in Western Art and across the Museum. Reporting to the Curator of Northern European Art, you will be a core member of a friendly team in a Museum that is committed to equality and values diversity. 

This is a full-time, fixed-term role, working 36.5 hours per week for 18 months.

What We Offer

As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees’ wellbeing and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:

•         An excellent contributory pension scheme

•         38 days annual leave

•         A comprehensive range of childcare services

•         Family leave schemes

•         Cycle loan scheme

•         Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans

The University also runs an enormous amount of social groups and sports clubs for those looking for more than just a great place to work.

The Ashmolean Museum is taking active steps to foster diversity and inclusion and help the museum become more representative of wider society. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds, especially people who identify with a Black, Asian or other minority ethnicity, who are currently underrepresented within the sector. 

The Chair of this recruitment panel will be An Van Camp, who can be contacted with enquiries relating to the role ([email protected]). General queries about the recruitment and application process should be directed to the Recruitment team within our Human Resources department ([email protected]). 

You will be required to upload your CV and Supporting Statement as part of your online application. Your supporting statement should list each of the essential and desirable selection criteria, as listed in the job description, and explain how you meet each one.

Only applications received online before 12:00 midday (GMT) on Wednesday 3rd January 2024 can be considered. Interviews are expected to take place on Tuesday 23 January 2023.

*An automatic annual increment each year will be paid up to (and not including) the discretionary range within the University of Oxford’s grade 3 salary scale.