A small arts trust based in central Cambridge is looking for a voluntary curator and guardian for its property and collection. The guardian role benefits from affordable accommodation. One person or two depending on applicants.

The Keate Family Arts Trust holds a collection of C20 prints, ceramics, textiles and books. We are seeking a volunteer curator to catalogue and maintain the collection and a live-in guardian to safeguard the property and the collection. They would ideally be the same person but might not be; a couple could be accommodated, but not a family. 

The volunteer curator will work with non-resident trustees and manager to plan the development of the collection; they will be free to manage their own time and hours given to the project, though we suggest between four and six hours a week.

Although the Trust has existed since the 1980s, it has been inactive for much of that time. The collection, however, is intact and the present management are looking for ways to meet The Trusts aims of fostering an appreciation of the arts in a domestic setting. In the 1990s some extremely successful projects and exhibitions were managed by two post graduate students, one of whom lived in the house as a guardian. It is this fruitful partnership that we would like to emulate. 

Tasks could include research regarding the works, deciding with us on cataloguing software, data input, creating a customer interface for a proposed schools' loan scheme and inputting into grant applications. Computer literacy will be important. 

The opportunity would suit someone with a real interest in C20 works on paper as, hopefully, they will have the personal motivation to make things happen. In the past, a similar opportunity has worked with a post graduate arts student. We are not expecting any particular expertise as this is voluntary role, but an interest in the collection and a willingness to learn will be essential. We are not initially looking to exhibit the work, either in the property or by making loans to other institutions, but an enthusiasm to explore such options in time would be of interest to us. 

We might look to entering Cambridge Open Studios in July 2020 if the curator was keen to make this happen. Other events such as 'open mics' could happen fairly soon if there was the interest. Support would be available with this. 

The guardian role is a live-in position and will be subject to the payment of an affordable rent of £435/month plus metered gas, and electricity bills, these have averaged around £50/month in recent years. A license to occupy will be offered for up to a year. The rent suggested is commensurate with 'a room in a shared house' in the area, although in our case the guardian would have use of the whole property, sharing it with the trustees, management and visitors at agreed times, and of course the curator should they not be the same person. 

We would like to meet prospective curators and guardians during Sunday 29th September. We would hope the license to occupy might start 13th October 2019. We can also supply a testimonial from the previous curator / property guardian to all shortlisted candidates.