Closing date for applications: 5pm Sunday 12 October 2025
| HOURS: | 15 hours per week Monday to Friday, including some evenings and weekends |
| CONTRACT TYPE: | 2.5 year fixed-term contract |
| SALARY GRADE: | SCP 6 £25,989 per annum (£10,536 pro rata) |
Penzance Council has an exciting opportunity for a part-time Curatorial Assistant to join our team at Penlee House Gallery & Museum.
Read the Curatorial Assistant Job Description and Person Specification here:
Download and complete the Application Form and Monitoring Form here:
About the role
Penlee House is part of the Going Places ‘Long Distance Connections’ partnership. Working with Museums Worcestershire and OnFife, two touring exhibitions will be produced utilising works from the collections of these three organisations. The first exhibition will focus on women artists and will be displayed at Penlee House from May–September 2026. The second exhibition will focus on childhood and will be displayed at Penlee House from May-September 2028.
As the Curatorial Assistant, you will work with the Curator supporting delivery of the curatorial aspects of the Going Places project, including assisting with the development and installation of the two exhibitions. You will also undertake a range of tasks relating to the wider Penlee House collection including collections documentation and care.
Your key duties across the role will include undertaking research, writing exhibition and object label text and exhibition preparation. You will also be assisting with condition checking, collections care, cleaning and monitoring, as well as collections documentation.
It is expected that this role will be carried out over two 7.5 hour working days, however the working structure can be negotiated if required to support the needs of the successful candidate.
Going Places, an Art Fund programme made possible with generous support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Julia Rausing Trust.
What we are looking for
The successful candidate will have proven experience of working or volunteering in a museum, art gallery or similar cultural institution with proven knowledge of collections documentation and collections care. They will have experience writing museum interpretation or comparable text, and experience using museum databases.
About Penlee House & Penzance Council
Penlee House is a much-loved gallery and museum in Penzance, owned and operated by Penzance Council. Originally built in 1865, Penlee House today is a first-class attraction in the heart of Penzance.
It specialises in exhibits focused on the area’s unique cultural heritage, with a particular focus on the artistic works of the Newlyn School and Lamorna Colony. It also provides a range of family activities, volunteering opportunities, and workshops for adults and children.
Penzance Council operates at the most local level of government with twenty Councillors elected for a term of four years. As well as Penzance, the Council also represents the distinct communities of Newlyn, Mousehole, Paul, Heamoor, Eastern Green and Gulval.
We provide a range of services to the local community and the large number of tourists who visit the town every year. Our mission is to make the community (of Penzance Council) a better place to live, work and grow.
What we can offer
We offer access to the Local Government pension scheme, a generous holiday entitlement, a comprehensive training framework, and free parking.
Who can apply?
Penzance Council is an Equal Opportunities employer and will not discriminate against any applicant on grounds of disability, race, religion or belief, gender, age or sexual orientation.
How to apply
Please download and complete the application form and monitoring form above, or by contacting: Penzance Council, Penlee Centre, Penlee Park, Penzance TR18 4HE
Tel: 01736 363405 | Email: [email protected]
Closing date for applications: 5pm Sunday 12 October 2025
Interviews will be held on: Friday 24 October 2025
More information
For an informal discussion about the role please contact Verity Anthony (Director) or Katie Herbert (Curator/Deputy Director) – Tel: 01736 363625 | Email: [email protected]
We employ a range of staff including:
Together the teams, led by the Town Clerk, are responsible for implementing the decisions made by Council to support and enhance the community by delivering our strategic aims.
The Council is an Equal Opportunities employer and is committed to developing its team through ongoing training and development.
Please note, application forms must be completed for all positions – we do not accept Curriculum Vitaes.
If you require any of the information on this page in a different format please contact us.
