Curator of Islamic Art and Culture - Relocate to Saudi Arabia, Permanent Expat Relocation Package

About the role

The position requires full relocation to Saudi Arabia. It is a permanent full-time Expat position with an attractive relocation package.

Responsibilities

• Manage the research, curation, content development, interpretation, and delivery of permanent, temporary, inaugural, and traveling Islamic art exhibitions from concept through implementation.
• Develop compelling exhibition narratives that connect historical Islamic collections with contemporary artistic and cultural practices.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams across Ithra to plan, develop, and deliver exhibition projects, conferences, and cultural programs.
• Manage the development of content, educational vision, interpretation, and programmatic plans for dedicated Islamic civilization galleries and interactive museum spaces.
• Oversee the growth, preservation, documentation, and stewardship of permanent and temporary Islamic art collections, including securing and managing significant long-term loans and historical installations.
• Assess Islamic art objects and historical architectural elements to support collection management, conservation planning, exhibition development, and interpretation.
• Establish, develop, and maintain collaborative partnerships with local and international museums, galleries, cultural institutions, researchers, and subject matter experts.
• Conduct scholarly research and develop publications, books, exhibition catalogues, and interpretive content related to Islamic art, aesthetics, visual culture, and traditional crafts.
• Develop and facilitate educational programs, community workshops, symposia, conferences, open lectures, and public engagement initiatives that promote the preservation and revival of traditional Islamic arts and crafts.
• Conduct audience research to understand visitor needs and develop exhibitions that are accessible, engaging, and relevant to diverse local and international audiences.
• Manage contracts and coordinate the work of external designers, artisans, consultants, and service providers to develop exhibition components and interactive displays.
• Provide curatorial expertise and guidance to multidisciplinary project teams while managing project budgets, schedules, resources, and stakeholder engagement.
• Represent Ithra at regional and international conferences, professional forums, networking events, and cultural engagements to strengthen institutional partnerships and promote Islamic art and culture.

Requirements

• Hold a Bachelor’s degree in Islamic Art, Art History, Museum Studies, or a related discipline from a recognized and approved program. A Master’s degree or PhD is preferred.
• Have 10–15 years of experience in Islamic art curation, museum management, cultural heritage, or museum exhibitions, including at least 5 years managing major museum exhibitions, gallery development, collection management, or curatorial programs.
• Have demonstrated expertise in Islamic art, Islamic history, visual culture, and cultural heritage.
• Have experience curating Islamic art collections, developing exhibitions, and managing museum collections within a major museum or cultural institution.
• Have experience establishing partnerships and collaborating with local and international museums, galleries, cultural institutions, and subject matter experts.
• Have a strong record of scholarly research, publications, books, or exhibition catalogues related to Islamic art.
• Have experience managing multidisciplinary teams, project budgets, contracts, and external service providers.
• Possess strong communication, writing, presentation, and public speaking skills.
• Have the ability to engage diverse audiences through educational programming, audience research, and innovative museum experiences.
• Be willing to travel internationally for research, networking, institutional collaboration, and collection acquisition.
• Fluency in English is required. Proficiency in Arabic or another language relevant to the Islamic world is highly desirable.
• Formal training or certifications in Museology, Museum Studies, or Art Conservation are preferred.