Curator: Sanlam Art Collection: Corporate Affairs and Sustainability

What will you do?

The Sanlam Art Collection consists of over 2200 artworks by South African artists dating from 1879 to the present. The collection is primarily housed at the Sanlam Head Office in Bellville.  Art works are exhibited in the two galleries; the Sanlam Art Gallery at the Sanlam Head Office in Bellville and in the Sanlam Art Lounge at 11 Alice Lane, Sandton as well as in company office environments in various locations in South Africa.

This role exists in the Corporate Affairs and Sustainability division within the Sanlam Group, reporting to the Chief Transformation Officer. To manage, preserve, and strategically grow the organisation’s corporate art collection, ensuring it aligns with the company’s brand, values, and cultural objectives. The curator will enhance employee and visitor experience through thoughtful curation, storytelling, and engagement initiatives.

What will make you successful in this role?

Collection Management

• • Maintain a comprehensive inventory and condition reports of all artworks
  • Oversee conservation, restoration, packaging, shipping, framing, loans and insurance of the collection
  • Manage acquisitions, loans, and deaccessions in line with corporate policies
  • Complete regular updates of insurance values and liaise with insurance providers

Curation and Interpretation

• • Curate exhibitions in the Sanlam Art Gallery and Sanlam Art Lounge, displays across corporate spaces (e.g., lobbies, boardrooms, campuses) and travelling exhibitions for suitable venues in South Africa
  • Develop interpretive materials (labels, catalogues, digital content) to contextualize the collection
  • Collaborate with internal stakeholders to align art displays with brand messaging and values

Stakeholder Engagement

• • Partner with various divisions within the Sanlam group and businesses to integrate art into employee experience, wellness programmes and stakeholder events
  • Organise tours, talks, and workshops to engage staff, visitors and various stakeholders
  • Liaise with local and international artists, galleries and cultural institutions for collaborations and commissions

Strategic Planning and Reporting

• • Develop and implement a long-term strategy for the Sanlam Art Collection, Sanlam Art Gallery and Sanlam Art Lounge
  • Prepare budgets, acquisitions proposals, and annual reports
  • Ensure compliance with legal, ethical, and cultural standard

Innovation and Digital

• • Explore digital platforms for virtual exhibitions and interactive experiences
  • Use data and feedback to evaluate impact and engagement

Qualification and Experience

• Postgraduate Qualification in Art History, Fine Arts, Curatorial Studies, Museum Studies, or a related field
• 5+ years of experience within curatorial environment, preferably in a museum, gallery, or within a corporate setting
• Experience managing large-scale collections and public facing exhibitions
• Experience with digital platforms to showcase collections
• Experience with public engagements including lectures to professional and lay interest groups and conference presentations

Compentencies

• Art History and Theory

• • Deep understanding of South African artistic movements, styles and cultural significance

• Collection Management

• • Experience in cataloguing, conservation, provenance research, evaluating and handling of artworks
  • Digital image management and manipulation

• Exhibition Design

• • Skills in conceptualising exhibition content, spatial planning, lighting. Installation of art works and audience engagement

• Legal and Ethical Standards

• • Familiar with copyright, acquisition procedures and cultural sensitivity which conform to international acceptable best practices as published by International Council of Museums (ICOM)

• Communication Skills

• • The ability to write, speak and engage audiences on a diversity of levels, and in executive engagement
  • Ability to represent the art collection in person on a diversity of media and related communications platforms

• Digital tools

• • Proficiency in managing collection databases, digital archiving, and virtual exhibition platforms
  • Post and engage on social media platforms

Knowledge and Skills

Personal Attributes

Build a successful career with us

We’re all about building strong, lasting relationships with our employees. We know that you have hopes for your future – your career, your personal development and of achieving great things. We pride ourselves in helping  our employees to realise their worth. Through its five business clusters – Sanlam Fintech, Sanlam Life and Savings, Sanlam Investment Group, Sanlam Allianz, Santam, as well as MiWay and the Group Office – the group provides many opportunities for growth and development.

Core Competencies

Turnaround time

The shortlisting process will only start once the application due date has been reached. The time taken to complete this process will depend on how far you progress and the availability of managers. 

The closing date for applications is 1 Febraury 2026.

Our commitment to transformation