Über uns
The Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen was founded in 1961 and has since evolved into one of the most important museums in Europe. It houses a unique collection of paintings from the historical avant-gardes of the twentieth century and key works of contemporary art. At its two venues in Düsseldorf, K20 and K21, the museum presents ambitious temporary and permanent exhibitions and conceives and organizes innovative educational formats on socially relevant topics. The Kunstsammlung NRW is a museum in transition, addressing the issues of diversity, digitalization, and sustainability in its program and as an institution, and actively reaching out to new visitor groups.
We are seeking the following person to join our team as of 1 March 2026 and as of 1 July 2026 (two positions) for a role lasting two years:
CURATORIAL TRAINEE (m/f/d) in the Curatorial Department
With a weekly working time of 39.83 hours.
Key components of the research internship
As an intern, you will actively participate in the tasks of the curatorial department. By gaining practical experience and the necessary specialist knowledge, the internship will prepare you for a career in a museum or similar institution. The traineeship involves working on the conception and organization of exhibitions, including the preparation of publications. We empower our trainees to independently address content-related and organizational issues relating to exhibitions and events. Through the performance program Encounters, trainees are able to organize independent projects. We welcome and encourage exchange among volunteers and active participation in current museum and research discourse. During your training, you will also gain insight into all departments and areas of the museum.
Our requirements
• Completed university degree in art history, curatorial studies, or a comparable field (master's degree, magister). Doctorate or PhD desirable, or equivalent experience.
• Comprehensive knowledge of 20th-century and contemporary art
• Ability to work independently, thoroughly, and in a goal-oriented manner
• Good time management skills for organizing your own work
• Communication skills and thrives working in a team
• Interest in engaging intellectually with the diverse challenges of our time, such as globalization, climate change, digitalization, migration, and social inequality, during the internship and providing appropriate input
• Very good written and spoken German and English skills, other foreign languages desirable
• Confident use of common MS Office applications, knowledge of Museum Plus and/or project management tools such as Tape or Teams is an advantage
• Practical and relevant initial experience in museum or exhibition operations, preferably with an international focus
• Applicants from abroad are welcome
We offer you
•A varied full-time volunteer position (39:50 hours) limited to 2 years in one of Europe's most prestigious cultural institutions
• A salary in accordance with TV-L at 50% of E13, level 1 during the first year, E13, level 2 during the second year
• An attractive training position in the center of Düsseldorf
• Flexible working hours and the option of mobile working
• Committed colleagues and individual training and development opportunities
Applications from people with a personal or family history of migration, especially people of color, are expressly welcome.
We are looking forward to a motivated colleague who would like to support us in the continuous development of our institution and contribute their own ideas. If you believe that you could excel in this role but are unsure whether you would fulfill our requirement criteria, we still encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates. Please send your detailed application documents in electronic form in German or English via our application portal by 22 December, 2025 to Nadine Cura, Human Resources, Stiftung Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen. Please note that successful candidates will be invited for interviews by the second week of January, with job interviews taking place 19-23 January 2026.
