Curator (NS60 Exhibition) – 2 Year Contract

The Curator (NS60 Exhibition) will be engaged on a two-year contract to support the research, content development, curation, and delivery of the NS60 exhibition project.

Working closely with the project team, exhibition consultants, designers, and stakeholders, the jobholder will be responsible for developing exhibition narratives and content, conducting historical research, coordinating stakeholder inputs, and supporting the timely delivery of exhibition milestones. The role is project-specific and funded under the NS60 project budget.

Key Responsibilities

Research and Content Development

• Conduct research on NS, Singapore’s defence history, and related themes to support exhibition development.

• Identify, evaluate, and synthesise historical sources, archival materials, oral histories, and artefacts relevant to the exhibition.

• Develop exhibition narratives, storylines, key messages, and interpretive frameworks aligned with project objectives.

• Draft and review exhibition content, including gallery texts, captions, multimedia scripts, and supporting materials.

• Ensure content is historically accurate, audience-focused, and aligned with institutional standards.

Exhibition Curation and Development

• Support the conceptualisation and curation of the NS60 exhibition from content development through implementation.

• Work with designers, media developers, and consultants to translate curatorial narratives into engaging visitor experiences.

• Participate in content reviews, design workshops, and exhibition planning sessions.

• Assist in the identification and selection of artefacts, images, archival materials, and multimedia content for display.

• Ensure curatorial intent is maintained throughout the exhibition development process.

Collections and Content Development

• Work closely with the Collections team to identify, assess, and develop artefact holdings in support of exhibitions and institutional priorities.

• Assess gaps in collections and support acquisition, documentation, and provenance research efforts.

• Liaise with MINDEF/SAF units and other stakeholders for access to archival materials, artefacts, and permissions.

• Uphold museum standards and best practices in collections management and display.

Project Management

• Support the planning, coordination, and execution of project activities to ensure the timely delivery of exhibition milestones.

• Monitor project schedules and follow up on content, design, and production deliverables.

• Coordinate meetings, reviews, approvals, and project documentation.

• Prepare project updates, reports, presentation materials, and briefing papers as required

Stakeholder Management

• Liaise with internal stakeholders, including representatives from MINDEF, SAF, and Defence Collective Singapore.

• Coordinate with external stakeholders, including consultants, researchers, content contributors, veterans, and community partners.

• Facilitate the review and clearance of exhibition content and supporting materials.

• Manage stakeholder feedback and ensure alignment with project requirements and timelines.

Challenges

The role requires balancing historical rigour, stakeholder expectations, and project timelines within a high-profile commemorative exhibition. The jobholder must be able to work independently, manage multiple workstreams concurrently, and coordinate effectively across a diverse range of stakeholders.

Educational Requirements: A good honours degree History, Museum Studies, Humanities, Social Sciences, or a related discipline.

Experience: At least 3 years of relevant experience in museums, heritage institutions, research organisations, exhibition development, or related fields. Demonstrated experience managing exhibition or content development projects involving multiple stakeholders.

Core Competencies and Qualities:

• Strong historical research and analytical skills.

• Excellent writing and content development abilities.

• Good project management and organisational skills.

• Ability to manage multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

• Detail-oriented, resourceful, and able to work independently.

• Interest in Singapore’s NS, defence, and nation-building history