Job title: Writer and Researcher, Editorial
Location: White Cube Bermondsey, London
Reporting to: Head of Editorial/Senior Director, Editorial
Working hours: Monday to Friday, 10.00am to 6.00pm (additional hours as required)
A core member of White Cube’s Editorial team, the Writer and Researcher will support day-to-day running by producing public-facing and client-facing written material, contributing to the gallery’s global exhibition and art fair programmes. This dynamic role will extend to text commissioning, literature and image research, as well as supporting on editorial projects undertaken by the gallery. Involving close collaboration with the Editorial and Artist Liaison teams, as well as the Publication leads, the Writer and Researcher will work to uphold the gallery’s standard of excellence in world-class scholarship, research and writing.
Job Requirements:
- Master’s degree in the humanities, or equivalent work experience.
- Minimum two years of experience within a leading gallery.
- Strong interest in Modern and Contemporary Art.
- Exceptional research and fact-checking skills, including experience working with primary and secondary source materials.
- Proven writing and presentation skills, with the ability to synthesise complex research into clear, compelling texts aligned with the gallery’s house style and tone of voice, that are fit for purpose.
- Highly organised and detail-oriented, with a demonstrated ability to project manage, working to tight deadlines while upholding a standard of excellence.
- Ability to work independently and with confidential information.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively across multiple teams and time zones.
- Proficiency in additional languages and an understanding of image permissions is a plus.
Job Responsibilities
Writing and Research
- Write exhibition texts for the gallery’s programme, liaising with the Artist and relevant stakeholders to ensure the text is accurate and reflects the intentions – artistic, curatorial or otherwise – of the exhibition.
- Write biographies for new and represented artists, undertaking research and/or having artist conversations as necessary to ensure the text is informative and an accurate representation of the artist’s practice.
- Write accurate and persuasive précis copy for individual, artworks that effectively communicates their relevance, historical and market significance.
- Conduct, transcribe and edit artist interviews for internal use and publication.
- Conduct in-depth exhibition history, and literature research for historic artworks using any and all available resources.
- Support the Editorial team in commissioning, editing and signing off texts written by a third party, in a timely manner.
- Research and propose suitable writers for text commissioning and publication projects.
- Create research folios with selected text and imagery for use by external scholars and freelance writers.
General
- Manage projects as an Editorial lead, working with the Artist teams, Image Researcher and Designer to ensure research excellence, clarity, consistency and aesthetic impact across collateral materials.
- Edit and proofread Artwork captions in accordance with the White Cube style guide – querying and clarifying with the Artist or Artist Liaison as necessary – before they are entered into White Cube’s database.
- Contribute to the White Cube style guide alongside the Senior Writer and Researcher.
- Manage imagery related to special projects and publications, alongside the Image Researcher
- Work as part of the Editorial team to ensure a consistent approach to commissioning, editing and writing, liaising with Secondary teams as appropriate to ensure Editorial follows approved research methodologies for primary historic literature.
- Maintain accurate and comprehensive record keeping for all work undertaken, archiving research materials and updating worksheets where necessary.
- Help to maintain and expand the gallery’s research library and digital research resources alongside the White Cube Archivist, developing an understanding of text copyright and permissions.
- Edit and proofread Sales collateral, following White Cube’s house style.
- Proofread publications for print, feeding back amendments using Editorial’s preferred mark-up system.
- Set up and process supplier invoices with Accounts, ensuring payments are made in a timely manner, and keeping a clear record of spend to date.
To apply for this role, please complete the application form and submit a copy of your CV and a cover letter. This role will close on Monday 17th August at 10:00 am, and we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications.
