OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Background

Within the framework of UNESCO’s ongoing support to the safeguarding and protection of cultural heritage in Ukraine, in particular, the project titled “Promotion of collections of Ukrainian women artists, including Maria Prymachenko, and the development of a museum dedicated to recognizing the historical role played by Ukrainian female artists”, funded by the US, the Individual consultant shall assist UNESCO in undertaking a thorough assessment and delivering a comprehensive mapping and documentation of collections from female artists in Ukraine, organized over two main steps, namely a preliminary mapping and an in-depth analysis. Such assessment will contribute to informing the project actions, with a view to enhancing the protection and promotion of Ukrainian artistic heritage by celebrating women’s contribution to the arts and promoting gender equality in war and crisis settings through artistic expression.

Work assignment

In that framework, under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Culture, the general supervision of the Director of the Culture and Emergencies Entity, the direct supervision of the Associate Project Officer of the Museums Programme, the individual consultant shall:

1. In consultation with UNESCO and the team of experts, conduct a detailed mapping and documentation of the works by female contemporary artists including Maria Prymachenko in Ukraine. To this end:

1. In consultation with UNESCO, suggest criteria to be added to the existing methodology prepared to identifying museums and documenting collections of Ukrainian female contemporary artists present in Ukraine;
2. Based on the defined methodological approach, undertake desk research and provide a situational analysis of the distribution of these collections. The desk research should follow the methodology and criteria provided: The report shall further propose recommendations for the ways forward in terms of physical assessment of the identified collections.

2. Participate in the preparation and presentation of the preliminary results of the desk study during the round table discussion on the project, organized by UNESCO in the end of January 2025 in Lviv, Ukraine.

3. Based on the preliminary results of the report, engage with other UNESCO experts to undertake the detailed documentation of the collections of works by female contemporary artists including Maria Prymachenko. This assessment shall include:

1. Onsite assessment (as feasible) of museums and their identified collections, through engaging with museum staff, curators, local experts, and cultural authorities to gather information and verify findings.
2. Develop a comprehensive database or digital archive of identified collections, ensuring that all data is accurately recorded and organized.
3. Participate in coordination meetings with the experts team as well as UNESCO and work collaboratively with the team to gather detailed information about the collections of female artists in identified museums, including artist biographies, artwork descriptions, techniques used, historical significance, and any existing research or exhibition history.
4. Where possible, gather high-resolution images of the artworks, ensuring proper permissions and copyrights are obtained. This includes photographing works, obtaining digital copies, or sourcing images from the museums. Consult with the Legal expert of the Project to ensure proper transfer of rights and usability of the digital data on artists obtained in the course of the research and exploratory work.
5. Reach out to art historians, cultural heritage experts, and gender studies scholars to enrich the documentation with additional insights and perspectives on the contributions of female artists in Ukraine.

4. In consultation and collaboration with UNESCO team, other experts and the dedicated Communication consultant of the Project, prepare and deliver textual and visual materials for further dissemination and promotion work, including presentations to UNESCO, project stakeholders, and other relevant parties, summarizing the findings, methodologies, etc.

TIMETABLE AND DELIVERABLESBottom of Form

The contractor will submit the following deliverables, for validation by UNESCO, within the expected duration of the contract, as indicated below:

1. Desk research on the collection of Ukrainian female Contemporary artists in Ukraine.

2. An elaborated list of female contemporary artists to be featured through the project.

3. Workplan listing museums that need to be assessed in person and the scheduled itineraries.

4. Detailed assessment report on the mapping of the collections of works by female contemporary artists

Work Location – Home based with assessment missions in Ukraine

Expected duration – 3 to 6 months

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

–

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree) in disciplines in the field of culture, art history, curation, arts programming, communication or archival work.

Work Experience

• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience acquired in the field of culture.

Skills and Competencies

• Deep understanding of the contemporary Ukrainian artistic heritage.
• Strong drafting skills in English.
• Strong ability to collect, synthesize and analyse information from various sources and formulate research documents.
• Ability to interact efficiently with a wide range of partners and stakeholders within and outside the Organization.
• Ability to work both independently and in a multicultural and multilingual environment.

Languages

• Excellent knowledge of (written and spoken) English and Ukrainian.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Work experience

• Expert knowledge of UNESCO Culture Conventions and its Programmes.
• Experience in research projects that involve working with state and private bodies, including museums and their funds, private and public galleries and exhibition centres in Ukraine.
• Experience in working with foreign museums, galleries and collections containing Ukrainian art.

Education

• PhD in the relevant field.