Project Conservator (Paper and Photography) - David Bowie Centre

The Role The V&A is a family of museums dedicated to the power of creativity. Our mission is to champion design and creativity in all its forms, advance cultural knowledge, and inspire makers, creators and innovators everywhere. We share a 5,000-year-old story of creativity through exhibitions, events, educational programmes, digital experiences, conservation, research, and an ever-evolving national collection of over 2.8m objects spanning every creative discipline.

The V&A is acquiring the David Bowie Archive. Comprising c. 80,000 items spanning the entirety of Bowie’s career, the archive is an important portrait of one of the most innovative and influential artists of our time. It includes costume, staging models and other performance artefacts, photography, fan art, musical instruments, personal notes, sketches and designs, make-up charts, song lyrics and sheet music, unrealised project documentation, writings and press coverage. Rich and varied, it demonstrates Bowie’s thought processes, the genesis and development of individual albums, the evolution of his own image, his collaborations with musicians, photographers, fashion designers and other practitioners, and much more.

As a Project Conservator you will work within a multi-disciplinary team to deliver this unique project in time for the opening of the V&A’s new David Bowie Centre for the Study of Performing Arts in 2025. Fixed term contract for 12 months.

The V&A The V&A is the world’s leading museum of art and design, housing a permanent collection of over 2.8 million objects, books and archives that span over 5,000 years of human creativity. The museum holds many of the UK's national collections and houses some of the greatest resources for the study of architecture, furniture, fashion, textiles, photography, sculpture, painting, jewellery, glass, ceramics, book arts, Asian art and design, theatre and performance.

Our mission is to be recognised as the world's leading museum of art, design and performance, and to enrich people's lives by promoting research, knowledge and enjoyment of the designed world to the widest possible audience. We strive to make the V&A matter to more people and in that context we work to the following six strategic objectives: To create a world class visitor and learning experience across all V&A sites and collections. Focus and deepen the relevance of our collections to the UK creative and knowledge economy. Expand the V&A's international reach, reputation and impact. To operate with financial and organisational initiative and efficiency. Showcase the best of digital design and deliver an outstanding digital experience. Diversify and increase private and commercial funding sources.

The Benefits Generous pension scheme 29 days plus bank holidays Flexible working Tickets to V&A exhibitions Subsidised staff canteen 25% discount in V&A shops Give as you earn scheme Bicycle loan Interest-free season ticket Interest-free rental deposit loan Free safety checks and small repairs to your bike with Doctor Bike Wide range of training and professional development opportunities Employee Assistance Programme Staff diversity networks

ED&I at The V&A At the V&A, we are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) for all and strive to go above and beyond public duty placed upon us by the Equality Act 2010. As such, we are delighted to share that we are a Disability Confident Employer Level 2. The V&A makes the following commitments to all applications: The Guaranteed Interview Scheme – Interviewing applicants with a disability who successfully evidence the essential criteria on a person specification and consider them on their abilities; Providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Making reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process so disabled job applicants have the best opportunity to demonstrate that they can do the job. Supporting employees and adjustments during employment.