Textile Exhibition Curation

From tweed and wool through to cotton and jute, the textile industries have been a major part of Scotland’s history, but their development also tells a history of industrialisation, empire and shifting priorities.

About the Exhibition

Although working with the record of the built environment, it will explore the broader stories of social change that the industries fed into and were shaped by. It should include honest references to empire and colonialism as an important factor in the textile industries.

Initial themes to be explored include:
• Industry
• Identity
• Empire
• Revival

Historic Environment Scotland recognise that there is a huge amount to potentially cover and there isn’t an expectation that the exhibition will be a complete survey of textile history, but that it will highlight how central textiles have been to Scotland’s story and its identity.

They are looking for a freelance curator whose experience of curating exhibitions for a heritage audience, can help us to explore these ideas in an engaging and visually stimulating exhibition. The curator will develop the curatorial and interpretation aspects of this exhibition.

This includes:
•Researching and developing the exhibition content to tell a coherent story
•Identifying visual content
•Writing interpretation in an accessible and engaging way

To work with our historic spaces, HES exhibitions don’t use original material, but instead replicate works from their archives on a backlit fabric panel system, allowing them to work flexibly in unconventional spaces. Each exhibition consists of 20 large panels with optional smaller panels for additional interpretation.

This should be completed by 20th July 2027, but HES are flexible as to when the work is carried out, a schedule of check ins should be agreed at the start of the project.
A budget of £18,000 is available for the development and curation of this project. This budget or brief does not include the design and print of the exhibition. We welcome collaborative working, but any intention to outsource or include elements developed by AI should be discussed prior to responding.

To apply
Please confirm you are able to work to the deadline above
Please provide:
- Examples of your previous work in developing and curating temporary heritage exhibitions. Experience and knowledge of working on heritage projects involving either textile or imperial heritage would be considered beneficial
- An example of a piece of exhibition interpretation you have written
- Your fee and day rate