Fellowship duration: 6 April 2027 – 5 April 2029
Application Deadline: 25 October 2026
We are delighted to announce a global Open Call for the inaugural Asymmetry Assistant Curator Fellowship at Nottingham Contemporary. Beginning in April 2027, this two-year fellowship offers an early-career curator the opportunity to develop practical curatorial experience within one of Europe’s leading contemporary art institutions. Together, Asymmetry and Nottingham Contemporary have conceived the fellowship as a meaningful pathway into curatorial practice, combining hands-on institutional experience with space for independent research, experimentation and public engagement.
About the fellowship
Geared towards an early-career practitioner who, to any extent, identifies with Chinese or Sinophone cultures or backgrounds, the fellowship offers an immersive introduction to contemporary curatorial practice. Embedded within Nottingham Contemporary's curatorial team, the fellow will contribute to exhibitions, artist commissions, live programmes, research, writing, and institutional development, gaining experience across every stage of a project – from research and conception through production, public presentation and evaluation. Working alongside colleagues across the organisation, from learning, marketing, and development to visitor services, they will develop a broad understanding of how exhibitions and programmes are realised collaboratively within a leading public contemporary art institution.
A distinctive aspect of the fellowship is the opportunity to help shape new strands of Nottingham Contemporary's live programme. Alongside contributing to the institution's existing programme, the fellow will be encouraged to introduce new research, questions and curatorial approaches while developing independent exhibition-based and discursive projects in dialogue with artists, audiences and the wider curatorial and engagement team.
Alongside their placement at Nottingham Contemporary, the fellow will become part of Asymmetry's wider community of curators, scholars, artists, writers, researchers and cultural practitioners. Joining a close-knit cohort of fellows and scholars, they will participate in an ongoing programme of research, conversation and peer exchange across Asymmetry's international network of partner museums and universities.
Throughout the fellowship, the fellow will also be encouraged to develop and present their own research through Asymmetry's programmes. Through research presentations, exhibitions, discursive projects, publishing, and collaborative initiatives, they will have the opportunity to test ideas publicly while contributing to Asymmetry's wider programme of critical inquiry, research, writing, and exchange.
The fellowship builds on Asymmetry's wider programme of long-term institutional collaborations with museums and universities, including Tate Modern, Chisenhale Gallery, SculptureCenter, The Courtauld Institute of Art, and Goldsmiths, University of London, creating a connected framework through which fellows develop their practice across different institutional contexts.
Together, Asymmetry and Nottingham Contemporary seek to cultivate dynamic new curatorial voices and contribute to a more representative, internationally connected and intellectually ambitious future for contemporary art.
About Nottingham Contemporary
Nottingham Contemporary is a leading centre of contemporary art in Europe, and among the largest spaces of its kind in the UK. With a reputation for ambitious and risk taking exhibitions and live programme and an innovative and impactful engagement programme rooted in the city, we have welcomed more than 2.5 million visitors since our opening in 2009. Our international exhibitions spark important conversations about culture and society, often highlighting overlooked figures, histories, geographies and art practices. We support artists at all stages of their careers, from first institutional solo exhibitions to thematic group exhibitions and surveys of renowned figures. Commissioning new work from artists forms a key strand of our curatorial mission, supporting artists to explore new directions in their practice and realise ambitious work.
Fellow description
Open to an early-career curator with knowledge and experience of contemporary art, curatorial practices, and cultural ecosystems, candidates for the Assistant Curator Fellowship should possess:
• 1–3 years of curatorial experience and demonstrated commitment to developing knowledge of international contemporary art history
• Familiarity and interest in emerging artistic practices
• Degrees in Art History, Cultural Studies, or relevant fields with emphasis on contemporary art, or equivalent work experience
• Experience working directly with living artists, commissioning new works, developing exhibitions and live programmes, and producing editorial content
• A desire to understand the particulars of curating in the British public institutional sector
• Interest and enthusiasm for collaborating with a hands-on team of colleagues, across a wide range of tasks and responsibilities
• Excellent interpersonal skills to effectively work across departments, artists, other art professionals, and Nottingham Contemporary constituents
• Excellent verbal communication and writing skills in English; knowledge of a second language is preferred
• Well organised with an eye for detail
We recognise that a successful candidate will meet many of the requirements listed but may not meet 100% of the qualifications. If the majority of this description matches your professional experience, we encourage you to apply for the fellowship.
Fellowship timeline
• 25 October 2026: Open Call application deadline
• November 2026: Interviews for shortlisted candidates (via Zoom)
• December 2026: Selection and announcement of fellowship recipient
• April 2027 to April 2029: Fellowship duration
Guidelines
• Salary and benefits
The Fellowship offers an annual salary of £27,556 (plus pension and National Insurance contributions), annual leave in line with the organisation's leave policy in addition to UK bank holidays, and a package of support that includes visa and legal fee assistance where required, as well as a travel and relocation allowance.
• Application language
All application materials must be submitted in English.
• Accessibility and inclusion
We welcome applications from all eligible candidates and are committed to ensuring that our recruitment process is equitable, inclusive, and accessible. If you require any support during the application or interview process, please let us know by emailing fellowship@asymmetryart.org. We are happy to make reasonable adjustments.
If you require further information about Nottingham Contemporary's access and facilities, please visit nottinghamcontemporary.org/visit/access-and-facilities or email recruitment@nottinghamcontemporary.org.