Tate’s vision is to serve as artistically adventurous and culturally inclusive art museums for the UK and the world. We deliver this through activities in our four galleries across the UK (Tate Liverpool, Tate St Ives, Tate Britain and Tate Modern), our d igital platforms and collaborations with our national and international partners. At the heart of Tate is our collection of art, which includes the national collection of British art from the 16th century to the present day, and international modern and co ntemporary art from 1900 to the present day, spanning all continents. We seek to expand access to the collection and deepen understanding of art in all its diversity.
About the Role
This will be a 12 month internship sponsored b y the Pilgrim Trust. The focus will be on modern materials and kinetic works, focusing on one artwork to assess the condition and treat to make display ready. You will work alongside the conservation team to understand the wider team and department roles and be guided on the d ocumentation processes. You will also gain experience with installation of works and understand the principle of the acquisitions and loans teams.
Provide technical expertise for Sculptural artworks in Tate’s Collection and care
- Carry out condition checking and treatment proposals for works to make display ready
- Undertake structure and condition report, create artwork files, and install information
- Create installation guides with the Senior Technicians
- Create and update records for Tate’s collection management system (TMS) and Conservation Records
- Co-ordinate projects, liaising with your manager, Conservators, Conservation Technicians, Curators, Art Handling Technicians, Registrars and others as required
- Maintain an organised workplace including equipment maintenance as required Support for Tate programmes
- Assist the manager in delivering the programme on time and within budget
- Provide accurate time and cost estimates for your activities
- Devise maintenance schedules for works spaces; monitor and undertake maintenance duties.
- Support the wider Sculpture and I nstallation team as requested
- Support workplace activity and implement required Health and Safety measures Public and Professional Activities
- Keep up to date continuing on current thinking and best practise in own specialist field through professional development.
- Share knowledge and expertise with colleagues
About your team
Sculpture and Installation art covers single sculptures to full-room, multi-component artworks. They can be made of any material and combination of materials from metal to plastics, to flora and fauna. The artworks can be static or kinetic . The Sculpture and Installation Art conservation team is responsible for the preservation, acquisition, exhibition, display and loan of these artworks. We are a team of Conservators and Senior Conservation Technicians.
The team is part of the Conservation Department. The Conservation department provides specialist conservation services to support the programme across Tate and is one of four departments in the Collection Care division. Specialist areas in addition to Sculpture are : Paintings, Frames and Workshop, Time Based Media, Paper and Photographs, Conservation Science and Preventive Conservation. The department is led by the Head of Conservation - together, the department brings excellence and innovation to the care of Tate’ s Collection; preventing damage and deterioration and ensuring that the Collection is available for future generations to enjoy.
What you will gain
Motivated and skilled people are key to our continued success, and we want everyone at Tate to have the opportunity to develop and thrive. In this team, you will be encouraged to contribute your ideas, realise your potential, learn new skills and expand yo ur knowledge of the conservation of modern & contemporary artworks in particular.
About You
- Professional qualification in conservation (Sculpture or Objects Conservation) or equivalent experience within the heritage sector
- Experience in undertaking assessment, treatment and documentation of objects
- Demonstrable ability to conserve works
- Knowledge and understanding of the ethics and reasoning behind treatment choices
- Effective oral and written communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate to colleagues with or without a background in conservation
- Demonstrable organisational, time management and planning skills with the ability to prioritise workload to meet deadlines
- Ability to work effectively within a large and complex organisation, as part of a team or alone
- Good end software user IT skills including image processing and collection management database
- An understanding of the principles of equality and diversity in relation to conservation and the ability to apply these in practice at work
- Demonstrable knowledge of Health & Safety regulations and COSHH
Benefits
- Birthdays off
- 25 each year days leave per year, rising to 27 and our visitors, striving to (pro rata for part time colleagues)
- A pension scheme with generous employer contributions.
- Life Assurance and Income Protection for DC scheme members.
- Interest free Season Ticket Loan
- Cycle to Work scheme – enabling you to buy a bike in a tax efficient way, for travelling to and from work.
- Rental deposit scheme – an interest free advance to help towards the cost of a deposit for privately rented accommodation
- Subsidised staff catering arrangements and discounts in the Tate Restaurants and Cafes
- Access to Tate Benefits which offers access to discounts in high street stores
- Access to a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme to support you with any work, personal or family issues
- This includes telephone based support, as well as comprehensive online resources
- Free entry to paying exhibitions at Tate Galleries
- Opportunities for family and friends to visit the major exhibitions out of hours
- Discounts on items purchased in the Tate shops
- Free access to a number of other galleries and museums throughout the UK on production of a valid staff pass
- Free access to other galleries and museums Museums (ICOM) membership
How to Apply
Our opportunities are open for you to apply online.
Please visit: https://jobsearch.tate.org.uk/ to create an account by registering your details or, if you are an existing user, log into your account.
For all opportunities we ask candidates to complete an online application form for the vacancy they are interested in. If you need an application form in an alternative format please call us on 020 7887 4987. Once you have submitted your application you can keep track of its progress by logging into your account.
The closing date for the submission of completed application forms is 21 October 2026 midnight. Interviews will be held in November, with confirmed interview dates to be determined in due course. Where vacancies attract large volumes of applicants, w e reserve the right to close this vacancy early. Therefore, if you are interested, please try to by submit your application as early as possible.