Curatorial Program Lead Full Time NEW

About the Job
We are seeking a thoughtful, highly organized Curatorial Program Lead to design, coordinate, and deliver a dynamic curatorial program across exhibitions, public programs, publications, and related cultural initiatives. The successful candidate will lead research, concept development, and program delivery for projects that bring together artists, audiences, partner institutions, and communications teams to create engaging, rigorous, and accessible experiences. This is a hands-on role working closely with curators, artists, producers, designers, researchers, and external partners to build intellectually rich and visually compelling programs.

Responsibilities

Lead research and concept development for exhibitions, public programs, and curatorial initiatives.

Identify, commission, and cultivate relationships with artists, curators, researchers, cultural partners, and institutions.

Produce curatorial texts, labels, wall copy, press materials, and catalogue essays that communicate complex topics clearly.

Develop project timelines, production briefs, and coordinate fabrication, installation, and deinstallation with technical teams and vendors.

Manage project budgets, schedules, and supplier / contractor relationships.

Organize accompanying public programs such as talks, panel discussions, workshops, artist residencies, and educational materials.

Liaise with institutional partners to ensure accurate, ethical, and thoughtful presentation of curatorial research and creative work; arrange access to archives, studios, prototypes, or other resources as required.

Oversee documentation, photography, and archival records for each project or exhibition.

Support fundraising and grant applications by preparing research summaries and proposals.

Monitor audience feedback and program impact; refine interpretive strategies to increase accessibility and engagement.

Qualifications

Minimum BA/MA in Curatorial Studies, Art History, Cultural Studies, Museum Studies, Fine Arts, or a related field; PhD or equivalent research experience preferred.

At least 3–5 years curatorial or research experience in a gallery, museum, lab partnership program, or equivalent cultural / academic setting.

Demonstrable interest in and familiarity with contemporary curatorial practice and program development; deep technical expertise is not required, but proven ability to learn and collaborate with artists and institutions is essential.

Strong research, writing, and editorial skills — able to produce clear, engaging interpretive texts and funding materials.

Project management experience: budgets, timelines, supplier coordination, and logistics.

Excellent interpersonal skills and experience building cross-disciplinary collaborations between artists, scientists, and institutions.

Experience programming public talks, workshops, or education activities.

Commitment to accessible presentation and ethical engagement with cultural content.

Portfolio or track record of curated exhibitions or projects (links or PDF).

Fluency in English; additional languages an asset.

What We Offer

The opportunity to shape a high-visibility, interdisciplinary curatorial program.

A collaborative team of designers, producers, researchers, and communications specialists.

Competitive compensation and project-related resources (production budget, research funds).

Support for travel and research visits to partner institutions.

Professional development and publication opportunities.

How to Apply
Please submit the following to farhang@parsikia.ir with subject line “Curatorial Program Lead”:

1. CV (max 2 pages)

2. Cover letter (1 page) describing relevant experience and why you’re excited about curatorial program leadership

3. Curatorial portfolio or links to 3 relevant projects (PDF or URL)

4. Two references (name, role, contact)

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview and asked to present a brief curatorial concept (written + 5-slide summary). We welcome applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds and encourage cross-disciplinary practitioners to apply.