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About Spalding Gentlemen’s Society

Spalding Gentlemen’s Society (SGS) was founded in 1710 by Maurice Johnson ‘The Antiquary’ whose initial vision was to support learning and education of his local community. SGS is Britain’s oldest provincial learned society and second-oldest museum, making it of clear national, if not international, heritage significance.

The founding ethos of the Society was ‘Pro Bono Publico’ or ‘for the public good’ and 300 years after the Society was founded, the meaning of this phrase is once again at the very heart of the vision of the project being put forward today.

Today, SGS operates as a public-facing museum and educational charity supported by a membership of more than 360 individuals from around the world (membership being open to anyone over the age of 18). The Society is driven by a team of more than 75 regular volunteers, facilitated by a part-time Head of Collections & Operations and a full-time Collections & Facilities Officer.

Work with Us

SGS Reimagined – Curatorial Associate 

Location: Spalding, Lincolnshire
Terms: 100 days over the period 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027
Remuneration: £15,000 

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About the Role 

The Curatorial Associate is a key member of the team delivering the Art Fund supported ‘SGS Reimagined’ project. It is generously funded by Art Fund (as part of the ‘SGS Reimagined’ grant) and the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership NPO (as part of SGS’s Heritage Associates Programme).  

Over the course of 12 months, the Curatorial Associate will collaborate with SGS staff and volunteers in the development and delivery of SGS’s first large-scale re-curation in more than a century.  

The Curatorial Associate will join the team in a freelance capacity, for an average of approximately 2 days per week for one year. They will work closely with the SGS Head of Collections & Operations, Collections & Facilities Officer, Project Conservator and Hon. Curator to finalise gallery plans, select objects for display, research and write interpretation, and deliver the reinstallation of the collections in spring 2027. The Curatorial Associate will mentor and be supported by a team of volunteer Collections Champions with knowledge of the SGS collections and experience working with them in a variety of capacities. The project will also be joined by a group of Young Curators from local schools, who will participate in workshops and decision-making related to object and story selection for the newly curated galleries. 

The Curatorial Associate will be mentored by the SGS Head of Collections & Operations and join the early-career SGS Collections & Facilities Officer and Project Conservator for peer mentoring. The Curatorial Associate will also join SGS’s network of Heritage Associates, early-career heritage professionals who have worked with SGS since 2024 and who are now in GLAM roles throughout the UK. 

The role would suit someone with previous curatorial experience who is seeking to develop their career and professional skills, and who is hoping to gain experience of leading teams and managing discrete projects (with support and direction).

NB. The successful candidate will be required to work on-site in Spalding on a weekly basis for the duration of the project. 

Responsibilities 

The Curatorial Associate will: 

  • Contribute to the final design process for the SGS galleries 
  • Engage in object selection and research, and interpretation design 
  • Support Hon. Curator and Head of Collections & Research who are acting as lead curators for particular galleries 
  • Support the Collections & Facilities Officer where necessary to facilitate successful exhibition planning 
  • Act as lead curator for one gallery (if desired) 
  • Work with, mentor and support SGS Collections Champions and Young Curators as needed, including planning and delivering a small number (approx. 2) of workshop sessions 
  • Assist with the installation of the exhibits in spring 2027 
  • Engage with all members of the project team, and the public, with professionalism and according to best practice 
  • Commit to their own professional development and reflective practice throughout the ‘SGS Reimagined’ project, including through mentoring and active participation on project reflection and evaluation 

Click here to see the full Role Description. 

Remuneration 

The fee for this role is £15,000 for 100 days of work on the project, on a freelance basis.  

SGS will provide overnight accommodation (a private room in a shared house) for the successful candidate should they wish to stay overnight in Spalding between on-site working days and/or during busy project periods.   

To Apply 

We welcome enquiries from potential applicants who would like to discuss the role prior to making an application. For an informal conversation, please contact: Dustin Frazier Wood on Dustin.FrazierWood@sgsoc.org 

To apply, please submit via email:

  1. A covering letter of not more than 2 pages, setting out:
    • How you match the requirements as set out in the Person Specification above 
    • Your motivation for applying 
    • What you hope to gain or learn from the role 
  1. A CV that includes details of 2 references, at least one of whom should be able to comment on your knowledge and/or experience relevant to the role

The deadline for receipt of applications is Friday, 20th February at 12pm (noon). 

Interviews are provisionally scheduled for w/c March 9th. 

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Spalding Gentlemen’s Society – New Beginnings

SGS is seeking proposals for the provision of a range of consultancy support services for the Spalding Gentlemen’s Society New Beginnings / Phase 2 project.