For the Study of Historic Houses and Collections

THE ATTINGHAM TRUST

FOR THE STUDY OF HISTORIC HOUSES AND COLLECTIONS

Vacancy for the Director of the Attingham Summer School, 2012

Founded in 1952, The Attingham Summer School for the Study of Historic Houses and Collections has enjoyed outstanding success and is highly regarded by museums, universities and historic preservation societies throughout the world for the quality of its programmes.

Each July the Summer School runs for 18 days in three different locations in the UK, allowing unrivalled opportunities to examine the architectural and social history of approximately 25 country houses with their gardens and landscape settings, to study the historic interiors and collections of fine and decorative art that survive in such properties, and to stimulate debate on all matters that relate to the care, presentation and conservation of such buildings and artefacts. Lecturers and tutors of the highest reputation join the course to develop understanding of all these subjects.

48 members from all over the world attend the residential course, many of them supported by scholarships funded by The Attingham Trust, The American Friends of Attingham and other institutions and foundations. In recent years scholars have come from the USA, UK, Sweden, Denmark, The Netherlands, Belgium, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Croatia, Estonia, Russia, Turkey, Cuba, India, Australia and New Zealand. Their professional backgrounds range from curatorship and conservation to teaching, research, fundraising, marketing and audience development in the heritage sectors.

For the 2012 Summer School, The Attingham Trust is seeking a Director to succeed Lisa White, MA, FSA, who has held the post since 2004. The Director is responsible for planning and delivering the course, supported by an Assistant Director and an Administrator and involves: devising the entire programme, selecting properties to be studied, taking the leading role in teaching on the course, engaging relevant tutors and lecturers to bring additional expertise, devising and preparing all relevant supporting academic material, providing academic leadership and assisting the scholars in gaining maximum benefit from the course.

In order to achieve this, the Director works closely throughout the year with the Assistant Director, the Course Administrator and other officers of The Attingham Trust including the Chairman, Director of Studies, Treasurer and Secretary.

The Director works with the Director of Studies and Scholarship Committees in London and New York in the marketing of the course and selection of candidates for the Summer School.

The Director reports to the Chairman, Council and Executive Committee of the Attingham Trust, and attends regular meetings of the Council and Executive Committee.

The Director consults with the Directors of other courses run by the Attingham Trust (Study Programmes and Royal Collections) and members of the Attingham Council, to ensure the delivery of programmes at the highest level.

The Director works throughout the year to research and assess potential properties, lecturers, tutors and documentary material to include in the Summer School. Including full attendance throughout the Summer School in July each year, the time required for the post averages about 2 – 2.5 days per week. Days worked during the year, excepting the Summer School and attendance at meetings of the Attingham Trust, can be flexible.

The Director will be a recognised authority in the history of British Country Houses. Ideally, he/she should have an established free-lance portfolio with a good background in the history of art and architecture and relevant experience in teaching at post-graduate level. Some knowledge of modern languages is helpful but not essential. Ability to work with IT equipment including Powerpoint is highly desirable. It is essential to be able to drive.Above all, the Director will need stamina, efficiency and a sense of humour in carrying out what is a very rewarding task.

The Attingham Trust is a registered educational charitable trust. The Director of the Summer School will be employed on a consultancy basis. The current annual fee is £11,000 plus expenses but there will be a slight increase in 2012.

The closing date for applications is 14th March 2011. To be considered for interview please e-mail a CV to the Trust Secretary, Miss Rebecca Parker, ho will acknowledge receipt and interviews will be arranged in due course.

The successful candidate will be expected to spend a number of days attending the 2011 Summer School which will be held from 1st – 19th July in Sussex, Derbyshire and Shropshire, and the appointment will be for three years to take effect from 1st September 2011.

The Attingham Trust, a Registered Educational Charitable Trust No 262819