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Curator, Platt Hall

Curator, Platt Hall

Advert closes on 20 Jun 2025

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Job ID:

5975

Grade 6 £32,115 - £35,235 (bar at £34,314) per annum pro rata

Permanent

Manchester Art Gallery, Mosley Street, Manchester, M2 3JL

About The Role

Working Hours: 21 Hours Per Week

Contract Type: Part-Time, Permanent

Closing Date: 20 June 2025

Closing time: 11.59pm

This role is subject to -

2 References - where possible we require 3 years' history.

DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) clearance - this post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (amended in 2013). Appointable candidates will be required to apply for an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Information provided by you or the DBS will be dealt with in a confidential manner and in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice which can be viewed here. We have a policy on the Employment of Ex-Offenders and it is available upon request.

We are seeking a creative and organised individual with a passion for bringing together communities, art and object collections, for the new role of Platt Hall Curator. Platt Hall is a creative neighbourhood space in an 18th century house in Platt Fields Park in south Manchester, part of Manchester City Galleries. Our beautiful building brings together heritage, creativity and culture, combining open storage of art and object collections with active engagement spaces and programmes. As part of the Platt Hall team, you will work with partners and residents to promote health and wellbeing, belonging and equality within our neighbourhood, and to build a sustainable future for this historic local landmark.

Your role as Platt Hall Curator will be to develop and deliver creative approaches to the use of collections within the programme. The collections here are varied and curious, ranging from dress and textiles to domestic and childhood objects, to archives relating to the history of the Hall. We also draw on Manchester City Galleries’ 50,000-strong art and design collections. You will test new approaches to working with collections and communities at Platt Hall, from the housing and display of objects throughout the building, to hands-on exploration in workshops and courses, to co-curation projects that expand understanding of the material in our care. You will work with colleagues across Manchester City Galleries including specialist subject curators, learning, conservation and collections management teams to ensure the safety of both objects and people within our programmes. See www.platthall.org for more information about Platt Hall, its programmes and collections.

Please note, this role is not based at Manchester Art Gallery.

If you would like further information about the role, we will be holding two information sharing sessions, one in-person at Platt Hall on Wednesday 11 June 5-6pm, and another online on Thursday 12 June 12.30-1.30pm. You only need attend one of these. Please contact Liz Mitchell on [email protected] for more details.

Interviews will be at Platt Hall on Tuesday 22 and/or Wednesday 23 July.

About the Candidate

We would love to hear from you if you: 

are passionate about the capacity of art and object collections to spark curiosity, creativity and connection.
have good general subject knowledge relevant to the scope of the Platt Hall collections.
have experience of, and are committed to, working creatively and collaboratively with communities, artists and collections.
have experience of working with collections and a good awareness of museum standards and procedures for collections management and care.
have excellent communication skills, are a good listener and have the capacity to understand and bring together multiple perspectives.
are sensitive to the cultural and socio-economic diversity of the wards around Platt Hall and committed to social equality in your working practice.
are a creative thinker who can find innovative and appropriate approaches to problem-solving, have good administrative and research skills, and be able to organise your own time efficiently.
can demonstrate an understanding of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion good practice, and barriers to engagement.

For general guidance on applying for jobs with Manchester City Galleries (Manchester Art Gallery and Platt Hall) see Jobs and Volunteering - Manchester Art Gallery

About Us

We’re the local council for one of the UK’s most vibrant and diverse cities.

Working for Manchester isn’t just a job – it’s an opportunity to contribute to a city that leads change and transforms lives. Whether it’s strengthening communities or driving innovation in public services, you’ll play a vital role in creating opportunities and shaping a brighter future for everyone.

Our Manchester is our vision for a fairer, greener, and healthier city – a vision shaped by the people of Manchester. It guides everything we do at the Council and is brought to life through the Our Manchester behaviours:

We take time to listen and understand
We work together and trust each other
We show that we value our differences and treat each other fairly
We ‘own it’ and we’re not afraid to try new things
We’re proud and passionate about Manchester

Benefits we offer

Generous holiday allowance - Enjoy up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays. Increasing to 31 days after five years of local government service. Want more leave? You can purchase up to two additional weeks.
A buzzing pension - You’ll be enrolled in the UK’s largest local government pension scheme, with plenty of options to top up your benefits. Includes life cover of three-times your salary as a lump sum.
Enhanced parental and carers leave - Take advantage of our enhanced family leave options, designed to provide ample time for you to bond with your new born or support your family during critical life events.
Brilliant perks - Access a range of discounts, from saving on the weekly shop to holidays and days out with MCR+. Plus discounts on phone contracts, cycle to work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests, and more.
Learn and grow - We are dedicated to nurturing talent and providing you with the tools to thrive. Take part in a diverse set of learning opportunities, from workshops and training sessions through to apprenticeships and qualifications. All this begins with our comprehensive onboarding process.
A Good Employment Charter member - We are committed to offering secure, flexible work and embedding fairness into everything we do. We review pay annually, recognize three trade unions, and are constantly working to offer the best possible health and wellbeing support throughout all stages of your working life.
Up to 3 days volunteering leave - Give back to the community with three days pro-rate of paid volunteering leave, in addition to existing benefits.

Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council

At Manchester City Council, we’re dedicated to creating a workplace that truly reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We actively welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities, Disabled people and young people.

Support During the Process

Interview Adjustments: Let us know if you need any adjustments to demonstrate your suitability during the interview.
Accessible Formats: Our ReciteMe tool can be accessed through the "Accessibility tools" button at the top of our careers page. This tool offers features like text-to-speech, translation into multiple languages, and adjustable text size and colour to make our site more accessible for everyone.

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme

We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the minimum shortlisting requirements for the role and identify with at least one of the criteria below:

Members of the Armed Forces members or veterans
Current or former care leavers
Have a disability or long-term condition

When You Join Us

We’re a Disability Confident Employer, offering:

A workplace adjustment hub which provides specialist support, advice and guidance to ensure you have the adjustments needed to thrive at work.
Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Mental Health Staff Network that provides a safe inclusive space to share experiences and opportunities to influence council practice.
A strong commitment to ensuring all information adheres to accessibility standards and that our workplaces are accessible and disability-friendly.

For more information about the role or any adjustments, email [email protected].

What we will need from you if you’re successful

In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. This is not a role we consider to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work options without the requirement for Manchester City Council sponsorship. 

Pre-Employment Checks

If you are successful in securing a position with us, the pre-employment checks required will depend on the role you’ve applied for. As a guide, these checks may include:

Proof of Right to Work: You’ll need to provide documentary evidence of your right to work in the UK. Please note, visa sponsorship is not guaranteed for this role.
References: We’ll require references from your current and previous employer(s).
Proof of Qualifications: Evidence of qualifications relevant to the role will be required.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check: A criminal record check may be necessary, depending on the role.
Proof of Manchester Residency: For some roles, you may need to demonstrate that you reside within the boundaries of Manchester City Council.
Police Vetting: Some roles may require police vetting to ensure suitability for accessing sensitive law enforcement systems or information.
Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) Clearance: BPSS clearance is primarily used for roles that involve access to government data, systems, or assets. It ensures that individuals meet basic security requirements and can be trusted with sensitive information
Driving Licence: If the role requires driving, we’ll need evidence of your valid driving licence.

These checks are an important part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our workforce and the community we serve.

Other relevant information

We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we’ll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role.

For more information about the role, please ensure that you read the role profile attached.

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