Arts culture heritage jobs

We are seeking a highly motivated, creative and strategically minded individual with a strong track record of developing and delivering successful projects who can identify new opportunities, build and maintain strong relationships, uphold established ways of working, and bring fresh ideas and energy to our creative programme.

The Projects and Community Engagement Lead will lead on the development and delivery of new creative, community and participatory projects; and will play a pivotal role in strengthening the organisation's engagement with its volunteers and audiences in communities across Dorset.

Working within a small team can at times be highly pressurised, so we require someone who can adjust quickly and contribute positively to a supportive and collaborative working culture. This role requires a flexible and adaptive approach to support our volunteer promoters and venues in delivering high-quality cultural experiences to their communities, ensuring our events meet their needs and interests; and to support the Executive Director in delivering the core performance programme with our volunteer promoters.

Play to the Crowd (incorporating Theatre Royal Winchester, Hat Fair and Playmakers) is looking for a Fundraising Manager. 

Hours/contract: Permanent, full time, 36 hours per week (job share or part-time hours will be considered for the right candidate)

Salary: £34,413 rising to £38,934 depending on length of service depending on length of service

Base: Theatre Royal Winchester / Hybrid

We’re looking for a confident and enthusiastic fundraiser with a track record of delivering and leading major donor fundraising, membership schemes, corporate partnerships as well as securing significant funds from Trusts and Foundations.

The Fundraising Manager is responsible for implementing the charity’s fundraising strategy to increase our fundraised income to support all areas of our activity. This will be achieved by connecting donors and supporters to our mission to delight and unite communities through the power of live performance and participation. 

The charity has ambitious plans for the future. We will continue to invest in the beautiful Theatre Royal Winchester. With the absence of Arts Council England National Portfolio funding, we will be transitioning to a new structure and funding model for future Hat Fair festivals. Through our engagement projects we will continue to have impact on our local community both in central Winchester and the wider district.

The Fundraising Manager role will be vital in: 

• Helping to develop a sustainable fundraising model to secure future Hat Fair festivals
• Securing funding from Trusts and Foundations for community projects, core revenue to support our artistic and creative ambitions, and capital works
• Cultivating and securing large gifts from Major Donors
• Growing our membership base – our members are loyal and key advocates of the charity and audiences for our events
• Managing the relationships and developing our Corporate Partnerships

Interested? If you would like to find out more details about this role please visit our website where you can find the Job Description and Person Specification. Our website also contains our application form.

Application deadline: 10am Wed 20 May 2026
Interviews: Wed 27 May 2026

Previous applicants need not apply.

Play to the Crowd is an equal opportunities employer, welcoming applications from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, cultures and experiences and is also open to job share proposals.

The core responsibilities of this role include the overall management and administration of the project, coordination of freelance staff, and overseeing all monitoring and evaluation activities to ensure the project remains on track to meet agreed-upon outcomes.
Crucially, the project manager will engage young volunteers, ensuring they are supported in developing the skills and confidence to take a meaningful role in collating oral histories and shaping an exciting programme of public exhibitions and events during the launch in July 2027.

For full details including key responsibilitie and person specification, please see the recruitment pack.

Youth Theatre Leader- Hull

• Lead a well-established weekly youth theatre programme for young people aged 11–19 in Hull
• Plan and deliver engaging workshops covering acting, devising, scriptwriting, movement, and performance skills
• Inspire confidence, creativity, and teamwork while supporting young people from diverse backgrounds
• Direct and develop youth theatre performances and contribute to outreach in local schools
• Work collaboratively with the team and visiting practitioners to shape high-quality creative experiences
• Play a key role in a growing charity dedicated to widening access to the performing arts

Duration & hours: Part time freelance contract, 5.5 hours commitment per week, workshops Mondays 3.30pm – 6pm school term time only, from 6th July 2026 to 12th July 2027 (with the possibility of extension)

The National Youth Arts Trust is a small performing arts charity that exists to widen access to the performing arts for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds - through giving bursaries for music, dance, and drama lessons, running youth theatre projects, and taking children to the theatre, often for the first time.

We are looking for an experienced youth theatre leader to join our team and help run our established youth theatre company in Hull each Monday after school at Liberty Academy.

About the Mercury

The Mercury creates and shares stories that are exhilarating, revelatory and relevant. Through the reinvention of classic texts and the creation of bold, new writing, we believe that the transformative power of theatre can enrich the lives of our community.

The Mercury is a significant regional developer of new talent, working with a range of partners across the arts, education and creative industries to deliver a studio programme and a learning, participation and professional development programme aimed at nurturing the next generation of theatre makers.

Everything we do is driven by our values of quality, innovation, diversity, and connection.

About your new role

Are you a commercially minded fundraiser, passionate about garnering support for a cause you love? Come and join #TeamMercury as our new Head of Development and Partnerships.

We are looking for someone with a strong track record in identifying and securing funding, building commercial partnerships, and nurturing meaningful strategic relationships that drive sustainable growth.

You will lead on securing income from Trusts and Foundations, statutort funders, lottery sources, individuals, corporate partnerships, membership schemes and commercial coproduction investments.

The successful candidate is creative, highly collaborative and forward-thinking. You will bring experience across a range of fundraising approaches and the ability to make the most of a mix of commercial streams. We would love to hear from you!

To find out more, download the candidate pack.

Applications close at 10am on Monday 18 May 2026. First round of interviews will take place on Wednesday, 27 May 2026.

About the Mercury

The Mercury creates and shares stories that are exhilarating, revelatory and relevant. Through the reinvention of classic texts and the creation of bold, new writing, we believe that the transformative power of theatre can enrich the lives of our community.

The Mercury is a significant regional developer of new talent, working with a range of partners across the arts, education and creative industries to deliver a studio programme and a learning, participation and professional development programme aimed at nurturing the next generation of theatre makers.

Everything we do is driven by our values of quality, innovation, diversity, and connection.

About your new role

Are you passionate about data and how it can inform decision-making? We’re looking for an Audience and Insights Manager, who loves connecting people with a range of shows and activities that will enrich their lives.

This new role will be instrumental in ensuring our audiences are placed at the centre of our planning, by using their information effectively to share with them the Mercury’s vision, communicate our work, and promote our organisational values. 

You will help develop a 3-year audience development strategy; create, manage and deliver audience engagement campaigns; analyse data and recommend segmentation and audience profiles; help the team interpreting post-show data to inform future campaigns; help in the creation of a community ambassadors scheme, and much more.

If you are creative in your approach to build, engage and retain audiences, we want to hear from you!

To find out more, download the candidate pack.

Applications close at 10:00am on Tuesday 19 May 2026. Interviews will take place on Tuesday 2 June 2026.

Location: Somerset Heritage Centre, Brunel Way, Norton Fitzwarren, Taunton, TA2 6SF
Salary: £39,909
Hours: 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday (occasional evening and weekend work)
Contract: One year fixed-term contract

About the role

South West Heritage Trust is seeking an experienced and motivated Fundraising Manager to help strengthen our long-term financial sustainability and grow our charity fundraising activity. This is an exciting opportunity to join the Trust at a key point in its development and to shape our approach to fundraising as our first dedicated fundraising professional.

Working closely with colleagues across the organisation, the Fundraising Manager will identify and secure funding from trusts and foundations, develop opportunities for individual giving and legacy support, and establish effective systems and processes to support successful charity fundraising. The role will build a strong pipeline of funding opportunities to support exhibitions, learning programmes, collections work and the Trust’s wider strategic priorities.

This post sits within the Central Services team and reports to the Head of Development and Partnerships.

The South West Heritage Trust is a charity which delivers a broad range of heritage services across Somerset and Devon. We are a growing organisation, founded on services that were previously delivered by Somerset and Devon County Councils. With a turnover exceeding £5 million, we manage and run three museums (including the Museum of Somerset), two Archives and Local Studies services and look after the historic environment in Somerset.

We are committed to building an organisation as diverse as the communities we serve. Your application for this role will be welcomed whatever your background and regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, and marriage or civil partnership.

If you would like to have an informal discussion or experience any difficulties with the recruitment process, please contact Ann Bradford HR and Governance Manager. 

Closing date: 9am Monday 1st June 2026
Interview date: Monday 8th June 2026

We’re looking for someone passionate about community engagement to help build and strengthen relationships across Medway and Swale. In this role, you’ll connect with local audiences, carry out research to reach new communities, and collaborate with our team to deliver an inclusive and inspiring cultural programme.

Key Info:

● Full-time, 5 days per week (37.5 hours), and due to the nature of this programme, some weekend and evening work will be required
● Hybrid working with a minimum of 2 days per week in the Chatham-based Ideas Test office and regular travel to events/meetings at other locations.
● Salary: £28,000
● Holidays: 25 days holiday per year plus bank holidays.

As Audience Engagement Officer, your role will be to liaise, communicate and deepen relationships with our local communities. You will also carry out the necessary research and monitoring to reach our target audiences. You will work closely with the whole team, as we deliver a compelling, inclusive cultural programme for and with the people of Medway and Swale. We are seeking someone who shares our commitment to socially engaged practice and co-creation. Our work spans multiple art forms and ranges from small, intensive programmes to large-scale public works. We want to create authentic, impactful work with communities over the long term, experimenting and learning as we go. 

Key responsibilities:

• Working with Ideas Test Senior Producers to engage people in our neighbourhood programmes.

• Attend Ideas Test’s events: providing practical support to ensure a quality event, carrying out surveys and encouraging people to join the mailing list.

• Develop and maintain good relationships with community advocates and partners

• In collaboration with the Operations Manager and external evaluator, ensure that audience capture data and evaluation materials are collected and input.

• Maintain a social media presence with active engagement across a range of platforms.

• Ensure information about Ideas Test’s event is updated on the website and listed widely online and via newsletters. 

• Attend professional development training and other relevant opportunities

• Attend regular team meetings and contribute to the development and implementation of Ideas Test’s programme.

• Along with the rest of the team, help to develop, test, pilot and share learning across the programme partners and CPP peer learning networks and community networks (evaluation, audience data, models, case studies, toolkits and strategic documents)

• Be an enthusiastic advocate for the organisation and its work.

Essential:

• Excellent interpersonal skills

• The ability to communicate well across a variety of mediums

• The ability to work independently and with team members and partners

• Ability to work effectively under pressure, to multiple deadlines.

• Enthusiasm and commitment to inclusive and socially engaged arts practice

• Experience of using e-marketing / social media channels.

• Experience of managing and submitting online and offline event listings

• A high level of accuracy and attention to detail

• IT and digital skills

• Experience of working in similar or related environments

• Willingness to learn new skills and accept training.

• Prepared to work occasional unsociable hours (evening & weekend).

• Ability to travel across Medway and Swale

Desirable:

• Knowledge of analytic and insight tools to develop reach and engagement across digital platforms

• WordPress or similar content management systems to create, edit and maintain webpages

• Knowledge of Mailchimp, Canva, Adobe

• Knowledge and experience of CRM systems and databases

• Practical knowledge of data protection legislation

• Awareness of social inclusion strategies and issues

Applications must be received by the deadline of 12pm on Monday 18th May.  Interviews Monday 1st June. 

Head of Membership
Salary: £65,000 - £70,000 per annum
Hours: Full time
Contract: Permanent
Location: King’s Cross, London. Hybrid

Who are we?

Art Fund is the national fundraising charity for art. With over 148,000 members, we are leading the way in pioneering support for an inclusive and welcoming museum and gallery sector across the UK.

We work closely with a network of over 1000 museums and respond to their needs and aspirations. We're excited to see how they want to develop: to expand and diversify their collections and workforce, develop curatorial skills, make ambitious acquisitions, and create a welcoming, inclusive space for communities. With the support of over 148,000 members who buy a National Art Pass, patrons, and donors we can provide grants, encourage visiting and advocate for museums' essential role and value.

We have diversity, inclusion, and sustainability central to our thinking and the opportunity to be a force for good, galvanise support and help change things for the better inspires our team.

The role

We're looking for an exceptional Head of Membership to join our Audiences Directorate and take ownership of Art Fund's core membership portfolio at a pivotal moment in our growth. This is a leadership role that combines commercial weight (you'll own the membership budget, income targets, and product roadmap) with real creative purpose: shaping the propositions, pricing, and member experiences that bring art within reach of more people across the UK. You'll lead a talented team, own our CRM transformation programme, and shape the products and strategies that will grow our membership base - from retaining our loyal existing members to attracting a new generation. If you have a strong track record in membership, subscription, or loyalty programme leadership, a data-driven mindset, and a passion for what arts and culture can do for people, we'd love to hear from you.

Key Employee Benefits

• Generous Annual leave – 25 days annual leave and bank holidays, with additional non-contractual office closure dates at Christmas.
• Free National Art Pass (NAP) – for yourself and another person of your choice.
• Free Entry to Exhibitions
• Life Assurance – cover for up to three times your basic salary.
• Season Ticket Loan
• Pensions – Eligible employees are enrolled into the scheme with the exception of those who have contracts of three months or less. Art Fund contributes 8% of the basic annual salary during the first six months of employment or until probation is successfully completed, whichever is the later. At that point the contribution is increased to 10%.

Closing deadline: 23.59pm on 31 May 2026

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

We are committed to building our team and trustees from the broad range of backgrounds and experiences across the UK, valuing difference and diversity, and building a workplace based on shared values of equality and mutual respect.

We have ambitious plans for the future and will be holding ourselves to account and putting our principles into action, as we all work together to help bring about positive change and a fairer future for everyone. We therefore want to encourage applications from all races, ages, religions and sexual orientations, as well as parents, veterans, people living with any kind of disabilities and any other groups that could bring diverse perspectives to our organisation.

Non-UK nationals will require current and valid permission to work in the UK.

Please note that any suspected use of AI in relation to answering sift questions will be marked down.

No agencies please.

Scottish Opera is Scotland’s national opera company and the country’s largest performing arts organisation. Founded in 1962 to make opera accessible to all, the company presents productions of international acclaim, from early works to world premieres. Performances are designed to be inclusive, with supertitles, audio-described and dementia-friendly shows, free and discounted tickets for under-26s, refugees, asylum seekers and schools, and touring productions reaching communities across Scotland.

The charity has developed their fundraising strategy and identified corporate partnerships as clear area of growth and potential. As a result they are bringing in this brand-new role to provide dedicated capacity and focus. The post holder will proactively develop the corporate pipeline, securing new partners and provide excellent account management to existing, valued partners.

It is an exciting time to join Scottish Opera. They have invested in the fundraising team, there is organisation-wide support for fundraising, and many opportunities to engage potential partners across their annual programme.

This role might be for you if have broader fundraising experience, and are looking to specialise in corporate fundraising, are an experienced corporate fundraiser looking to step up to a manager level role.

Working within an arts and culture charity would be helpful for the candidate to have but isn't essential.

Application notes 

Please download the Candidate Info Pack provided for further information about the role, timelines and next steps.

To progress your application, please contact THINK Recruitmen to organise an informal screening call. Please note, we cannot shortlist candidates who have not had a screening call so please allow enough time to have a call before the closing date.

Closing date for applications: Midnight Tuesday 19th May 

Interviews are planned for 27th and 28th May (Stage 1) and 2nd and 3rd June (Stage 2) 

In-House Legal Counsel
Location: King's Cross, London
Contract length:12 month FTC
Working hours: 3 days per week (of which one per week in the office)
Salary: Up to £73,000 pro rata

Who are we?

Art Fund is the national fundraising charity for art. With over 148,000 members, we are leading the way in pioneering support for an inclusive and welcoming museum and gallery sector across the UK.

We work closely with a network of over 1000 museums and respond to their needs and aspirations. We're excited to see how they want to develop: to expand and diversify their collections and workforce, develop curatorial skills, make ambitious acquisitions, and create a welcoming, inclusive space for communities. With the support of over 148,000 members who buy a National Art Pass, patrons, and donors we can provide grants, encourage visiting and advocate for museums' essential role and value.

We have diversity, inclusion, and sustainability central to our thinking and the opportunity to be a force for good, galvanise support and help change things for the better inspires our team.

The role

We are seeking a part-time in-house Legal Counsel who can support stakeholders across the organisation to ensure compliance with relevant legislation, regulatory guidance, and internal legal policies. This role sits at the heart of our organisation, advising on contractual terms with our suppliers, funders, members, grant recipients and partner museums and galleries.

With a membership of 148,000, ensuring the highest standard of compliance with data protection is critical to our organisation. The successful candidate will be confident advising on data protection law and providing training to colleagues.

You’ll be working in partnership with colleagues to find pragmatic solutions that minimise risk while helping to maximise opportunities, providing high-quality legal advice, liaising with external counsel where required and managing the associated budget.

The role requires a recognised UK legal qualification with ongoing registration as a solicitor with the SRA or equivalent, alongside solid post-qualification experience and the ability to work independently across a broad and varied remit.

Key Employee Benefits

• Generous Annual leave – 25 days annual leave and bank holidays, with additional non-contractual office closure dates at Christmas.
• Free National Art Pass (NAP) – for yourself and another person of your choice.
• Free Entry to Exhibitions
• Life Assurance – cover for up to three times your basic salary.
• Season Ticket Loan
• Pensions – Eligible employees are enrolled into the scheme with the exception of those who have contracts of three months or less. Art Fund contributes 8% of the basic annual salary during the first six months of employment or until probation is successfully completed, whichever is the later. At that point the contribution is increased to 10%.

Closing deadline: 9am on 11 May 2026

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

We are committed to building our team and trustees from the broad range of backgrounds and experiences across the UK, valuing difference and diversity, and building a workplace based on shared values of equality and mutual respect.

We have ambitious plans for the future and will be holding ourselves to account and putting our principles into action, as we all work together to help bring about positive change and a fairer future for everyone. We therefore want to encourage applications from all races, ages, religions and sexual orientations, as well as parents, veterans, people living with any kind of disabilities and any other groups that could bring diverse perspectives to our organisation.

No agencies please.

Title: IT Assistant

Location: Northampton based - Hybrid at least 4 days in the office to begin with

Salary: £28,000

Contract Duration: 6 months with potential for extension

Overall job purpose

The IT Assistant will support the IT Manager in delivering comprehensive technical support that empowers the Trust’s mission across all departments. This role involves providing reliable technical assistance and vital maintenance of our IT systems and equipment. Acting as the friendly first point of contact for our dedicated staff, the successful candidate will proactively troubleshoot hardware, software, and network issues. By upholding strict security standards and GDPR compliance, you will safeguard the charity’s data and contribute to a secure, productive environment that allows our teams to thrive. 

Please download our recruitment pack for more information on this role. 

All successful applicants will be subject to a basic DBS, credit check, references and right to work checks.

We are a Disability Confident Committed Employer. Candidates who declare that they have a disability and who meet the essential criteria for the job will be offered an interview.

If you have any queries about this role, or if you have a disability and wish to request a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact us.

We are an inclusive employer and offer equal opportunities to all regardless of an individual’s age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

We are not a licensed sponsor at this time. Any offer of employment will be made subject to valid right to work in the UK being provided.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead one of the most distinctive and high-performing music, culture and arts organisations in England.

Newham Music is seeking an exceptional Chief Executive to lead the organisation through its next phase of development. The CEO will provide overall strategic, operational and cultural leadership, working closely with the Board of Trustees and senior team to ensure that Newham Music continues to deliver excellent work, strong partnerships, sound governance and long-term organisational resilience.

This is a substantial and visible leadership role. The successful candidate will need to lead confidently across strategy, people, finance, governance, safeguarding, partnerships and external representation. They will also need to combine public and cultural leadership with a clear understanding of organisational performance, financial discipline and delivery.

The incoming CEO will inherit an organisation with strong foundations, a respected reputation and significant reach across schools, communities and the wider cultural sector. They will also take on a live strategic brief. Key priorities will include sustaining trust and quality across the organisation, leading Newham Music’s positioning for the next Arts Council England investment cycle, strengthening long-term resilience, and developing a more diversified income base alongside public investment.

A central part of the role will be to lead Newham Music within a multi-income model. The successful candidate will need to show confidence in managing a mixed financial ecology that includes public grant funding, earned income, fundraising, sponsorship and wider partnership investment. They will be expected not only to protect existing income but to grow and diversify it.

This is a role for a leader who can think strategically, act decisively, build strong relationships and lead with credibility across multiple settings. The right candidate will understand how to balance ambition with judgement, public purpose with financial realism, and artistic and educational values with strong organisational performance.

We recognise that relatively few candidates will have direct senior experience of both the Music Hub model and the Arts Council England NPO framework. We do not require it. What we are looking for is the curiosity and capacity to understand both frameworks quickly, the leadership experience to operate confidently within them, and the credibility to represent Newham Music effectively to ACE, DfE, schools, funders and communities.

If you have senior leadership experience in the charity, arts or publicly funded sector, within a mission-led organisation with a mixed income model and strong governance requirements, you have the foundations for this role. We will provide full briefing on both investment frameworks as part of the recruitment process, and transition support is designed to ensure the incoming CEO is fully equipped from day one.

The Senior Fundraising Executive (Grants) leads on bid-writing and relationship building with grantmakers (Trusts/Foundations/Public). The candidate will be a key player in the Grants team alongside the Director of Development (Grants/Major Gifts) and Development Officer. Create has seen its fundraising increase significantly in recent years, as it fulfils its ambitious plans to double its reach by its 25th anniversary in 2028. The Grants team is responsible for securing over 50% of the charity’s income, managing an extensive portfolio of T/F/Public funders, approaching a well-researched pipeline of potential funders, and researching prospects. The successful candidate will share Create’s commitment to the transformative power of the creative arts within community settings, with exceptional written and verbal communication, research, organisational and IT skills, and meticulous attention to detail.