Reframe the Gallery Experience. Lead the Conversation.
Are you passionate about bringing art history to life beyond traditional lectures?
Muse - Art & Talk is looking for knowledgeable, engaging art historians, researchers, and cultural mediators to lead our unique two-part experiences in Zürich and Basel.
At Muse, we bridge the gap between academic expertise and public participation. We replace passive, one-way gallery speeches with dynamic thematic tours that transition into structured, lively group discussions over coffee or wine.
If you love sharing your research, fostering curious dialogue, and connecting with an engaged community of art enthusiasts, we would love to collaborate with you.
Sample Tour Concepts & Collection Themes
To give you an idea of our mediation framework, here are examples of prospective tour themes built around Switzerland's leading permanent collections:
1. Kunsthaus Zürich — Modernism, Crisis & Renewal
- Focus: Tracing emotional expression, existential shifts, and structural innovation from Ferdinand Hodler and Edvard Munch to Alberto Giacometti.
- Café Discussion: How do artists process personal and societal trauma through form, and how do those themes resonate today?
2. Landesmuseum Zürich — Swiss Identity & Visual Mythmaking
- Focus: Deconstructing national narratives, historical craftsmanship, and political visual symbols through Swiss cultural artifacts.
- Café Discussion: What defines "national identity" in a globalized cultural landscape, and how do modern museums shape collective memory?
3. Museum Rietberg — Cross-Cultural Dialogues & Provenance
- Focus: Exploring non-European artistic traditions, sacred iconography, and the aesthetics of international collection histories.
- Café Discussion: How can cultural mediators present non-Western art forms respectfully while opening honest conversations about heritage and provenance?
Have Your Own Concept?
We welcome custom tour proposals! If you have a specialized research focus or thematic angle tied to a Swiss permanent collection or temporary exhibition, we want to hear it.
Who We Are Looking For
The Role
We are seeking enthusiastic Art Historians, PhD Candidates, or Advanced Master's Students to lead engaging guided tours and help facilitate post-tour discussions.
Responsibilities
- Co-Design Tour Itineraries: Collaborate closely with the Muse team to decide on tour concepts, narrative angles, key artworks, and post-tour discussion topics.
- Deliver Guided Tours: Lead insightful, 60-to-90-minute tours for small, engaged groups (10–15 participants).
- Facilitate Dialogue: Co-host the 30-to-45-minute post-tour reflection in a relaxed setting, encouraging open, collaborative exchange among attendees.
- Modern Research Workflow: The use of AI tools (for research, structuring scripts, drafting discussion prompts, or synthesizing contextual background) is fully encouraged to streamline your preparation time, provided historical facts and analysis are verified.
What We Are Looking For
- Enrolled in an MA or PhD program in Art History (or holding a degree in Art History / Curatorial Studies / Art Mediation).
- Strong public speaking skills with the ability to read the room, foster dialogue, and handle diverse questions dynamically.
- Comfort with a collaborative approach to event planning and content design.
- Passion for community-building and interactive art engagement.
- Fluency in German and / or English (multilingual capability is a plus).
What We Offer
- Competitive remuneration per event (inclusive of preparation time).
- Flexible, event-based scheduling adapted to exhibition calendars.
- An innovative platform to share your research, practice art mediation, and connect with an active cultural community.
How to Apply
Please send a short CV and a brief paragraph introducing yourself and your preferred area of art historical focus to: contact@muse-arttalk.ch