ZWOLLE.- Museum de Fundatie, one of the Netherlands' leading art museums, has announced a search for a curator of contemporary art to help shape its exhibitions, research, and public programming. The full-time position, based across the museum's locations in Zwolle and Heino, offers an opportunity to work with a collection spanning more than five centuries while introducing new international perspectives and engaging diverse audiences.

The museum is seeking an experienced curator with an inquiring mind, broad art-historical knowledge, and a strong understanding of contemporary artistic practices beyond Europe and the United States. The successful candidate will help develop exhibitions and publications, strengthen relationships with artists and researchers, and explore new ways of connecting the institution's collection with contemporary cultural debates.

With more than 16,000 objects dating from the late Middle Ages to the present, Museum de Fundatie maintains a collection that encompasses a wide range of artistic traditions, periods, and geographic regions. The museum considers this diversity an important foundation for research and exhibition-making, while recognizing the need to reassess how collections are interpreted and presented to changing audiences.

Through its two locations, Museum de Fundatie in Zwolle and Kasteel het Nijenhuis in Heino, the institution organizes exhibitions, educational initiatives, research projects, and public programmes designed to encourage encounters between art, artists, and visitors.

The recruitment forms part of the museum's wider interest in reconsidering the role of art institutions in contemporary society. Among the questions guiding its approach are who museums serve and how art can be experienced and understood in different ways.

The new curator will be expected to approach these questions through research, experimentation, and collaboration. The position calls for someone capable of identifying overlooked narratives, developing fresh interpretations of the collection, and translating scholarly research into accessible exhibitions and presentations.

Museum de Fundatie is particularly interested in candidates who understand developments in both the Dutch and international art worlds and can bring knowledge of artistic traditions and practices outside the established European and American frameworks.

Applicants must hold at least a master's degree in art history and have a minimum of three years of relevant professional experience in curatorial work or a comparable position within the museum or arts sector. Demonstrable experience in art-historical research, exhibition development, and publications is required.

The museum is also looking for strong organizational and communication skills, including the ability to manage projects within established schedules and budgets. Collaboration will be central to the role, with the curator expected to work closely with colleagues, artists, researchers, and external partners while also initiating independent projects.

Candidates must have an excellent command of written and spoken English and at least basic Dutch-language skills, together with a willingness to improve their proficiency in Dutch.

The position is for 36 hours per week and comes with an initial one-year contract, with the possibility of extension and permanent employment. Salary will be determined according to scale 11 of the Dutch museum collective labour agreement, depending on the candidate's qualifications and experience.

Museum de Fundatie emphasizes its commitment to creating an inclusive environment and encourages applications from candidates of all backgrounds, ages, genders, religions, and abilities.

Interested applicants should submit a CV and motivation letter in PDF format by November 29, 2026, addressed to Beatrice von Bormann, managing director, at [email protected].

Interviews are scheduled for December 11 and 17, 2026.