Historic Royal Palaces hiring ‘inclusivity curator’ to ‘bring inclusive perspectives’ across sites

The charity that manages the Tower of London is hiring a ‘inclusivity curator’ to talk of history ‘with sensitivity and confidence’.

Historic Royal Palaces, a charity whose network includes the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, the Banqueting House in Whitehall, Kensington Palace and Kew Palace, said the new hire will teach history more sensitively and bring ‘inclusive perspectives’ across the site.

One of the first tasks will be to create internal publications and workshops for staff about people of colour connected to the historic sites, according to The Daily Telegraph.

The workshops will ‘equip colleagues with the sensitivity and confidence to talk about these histories’, bosses hope.

HRP had to secure a £40m emergency loan from the government during the pandemic as tourism evaporated. 

A general view of Kensington Palace. One of the first tasks will be to create internal publications and workshops for staff about people of colour connected to the historic sites

The job description reads: ‘At Historic Royal Palaces, we are committed to an inclusive approach in all our work at HRP, from storytelling to our audience to the workforce culture we operate in, however, we’re aware that this is an ongoing journey for our organisation.

‘The six palaces in our care have borne witness to significant moments in our national history – moments that continue to shape the world around us today – but were also the backdrop for everyday lives, in all their richness and complexity.

‘We want everyone to be able to find meaning and relevance in their stories.

‘We are seeking a new Curator for Inclusive History to bring inclusive perspectives into all our research, concentrating in particular on the stories of people of colour at court who had been excluded from traditional narratives.’

The position will pay £40,537, two years after the royal palaces lost 85% of their income due to the pandemic.

The sites were providing less than half the income they had before Covid-19, with the palaces loosing £96million after three months with no tourists.

The Monday-Friday job will be partly from home and partly based on site at Hampton Court Palace.

White Tower is the centerpiece of the Tower of London complex. The position will pay £40,537, two years after the royal palaces lost 85% of their income due to the pandemic

Kew Palace in Kew Gardens, London. The sites were providing less than half the income they had before Covid-19, with the palaces loosing £96million after three months with no tourists

A successful candidate will have post-graduate experience and experience in the cultural sector, whereas having successfully applied for research funding in the past is listed as advantageous but not essential.

‘Equally importantly, you will love history, storytelling and communicating your enthusiasm for the subject to a wide range of audiences,’ the job description adds.

Candidates from any background may apply, the listing says.