Contract conservator from a museum in the Middle East or North Africa

Outline

The Fitzwilliam Museum is seeking a contract conservator for a period of eight weeks, between May and June 2025, to work on an important collection of early 19th-century plaster casts from the Alhambra Palace in Granada. Generously funded by the Barakat Trust, this contract is open exclusively to conservators who are currently employed in a museum in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa). Please see below for a list of eligible countries. This opportunity is particularly suited to early-career conservators.

About The Fitzwilliam Museum

As the principal museum of the University of Cambridge and the largest cultural venue in the region, The Fitzwilliam Museum acts as a crucial bridge between the University, the City and the rest of the world, and has an international reputation for extraordinary research, world class exhibitions, award-winning public programmes and significant collections spanning many cultures and centuries. The Hamilton Kerr Institute (HKI) is one of the world's leading centres for teaching and research in conservation and heritage science. Visit our website to find out more about the Fitzwilliam Museum.

Budget and Timeline

The contract is for eight weeks, to be completed by the 30th June 2025. Accommodation in Cambridge will be provided, and the costs of travel and visa will be covered. A weekly rate of 450 GBP will be paid either:

• Directly to the conservator, if they are taking unpaid leave from their institution; 
• To the conservator’s institution, if the conservator continues to receive their salary during the contract.  

Criteria for Selection

The candidate will be selected based on their experience, working proficiency in English and holding a recognised qualification in conservation. Priority will be given to applicants who can demonstrate that they will be able to apply the knowledge gained through this contract upon returning to their home institutions.

It is the candidate’s responsibility to obtain the necessary ‘Standard Visitor Visa’ (you will be provided with a letter of invitation from the Fitzwilliam Museum) and offers are conditional until visas are secured. 

Scope of Work

The conservator will work with an accredited conservator, who will provide guidance on the treatment of plaster casts and support in accessing University resources. The conservator will be expected to participate in public demonstrations and events. In the weeks following the contract, they will lead on the publication of an article in Arabic in a suitable magazine (such as Jadaliyya) or blog, focusing on the conservation project and co-authored with the Fitzwilliam accredited conservator.

Professional Development 

The conservator will have access to laboratory space and materials within the University of Cambridge, amidst a vibrant museological and academic environment. They will be able to use Cambridge libraries in person during the contract and online for a 12-month period. 

How to apply

Proposals should consist of:

• a cover letter in English, not more than 1 page of A4, including:
  • how the contract will benefit the candidate’s professional development;
  • how the skills developed during the contract will be applied upon return to the candidate’s institution; 
  • anticipated travel costs;
• a portfolio of recent and relevant conservation work, in PDF form;
• a Curriculum Vitae in English;
• names and contact details of two referees, one of whom should be the candidate’s current line manager;
• a letter of support from the candidate’s institution, specifying whether the candidate would take unpaid leave or not. 

Applications should be sent by email with relevant attachments to Flavia Ravaioli (fr306@cam.ac.uk) by 10 pm GMT on Monday 2nd December 2024. Interviews will be held online on Monday 9th and Tuesday 10th December 2024. 

List of eligible countries: 

Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran*, Iraq*, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya*, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian Authority, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan*, Syria*, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen*.

*Countries marked with an asterisk are currently subject to UK financial sanctions. Please note that many banks and financial institutions in these countries are subject to sanctions and payments cannot be made via them. Offers can only be made where a permissible payment route has been identified.