Visual Arts Officer & Collections Co-ordinator
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
This fixed-term role has been created to support rb&hArts in two key areas:
* Collections Management - The postholder will coordinate and manage the hospital's visual arts collection, ensuring accurate documentation, research, conservation, and labelling of artworks.
* Visual Arts Programme - Supporting the Visual Arts Manager with temporary exhibitions and new commissions, enhancing the arts programme across two hospital sites.
This role requires a proactive and organised individual with experience in collections management and a passion for arts in healthcare settings.
Hybrid working is permitted, but you need to be on site at least two days per week at our office at Royal Brompton Hospital, Sydney Street, London SW3. Regular travel to Harefield Hospital is also required.
Main duties of the job
The main duty of this job is to help us devise a new collections management system (CMS), and to update and maintain records. In addition, you will support the visual arts programme as a whole.
Visual Arts Collection Management (main role)
* Maintain and update the collections management system (CMS) for over 1200 artworks.
* Research and document existing and newly acquired works.
* Develop risk assessment procedures and conservation plans.
* Standardise and produce artwork labels, ensuring accessibility and engagement.
* Establish sustainability measures, including training the team in CMS usage.
* Provide regular reports to the Head of Arts and stakeholders.
* Assist the Visual Arts Manager to run the Visual Arts programme, including: the exhibition programme, one-off commissions, and patient/ staff engagement activities.
* Work closely with the Visual Arts Manager and wider rb&hArts team.
* Support volunteers and work placement students.
* Manage email correspondence, take meeting notes, and track project timelines.
* Collaborate on online content about the collection.
* Contribute to research and evaluation strategies for future projects.
About us
rb&hArts runs an award winning, innovative arts programme at Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals, including live performances, participatory workshops, exhibitions, and multi-disciplinary artists' commissions. We manage a collection of over 1,200 artworks and engage over 5000 people a year.
By joining our team, you will be part of a creative health programme embedded within a specialist clinical care group, working collaboratively with artists, healthcare professionals, and patients to create meaningful cultural experiences by, with, and for our communities.
This role is for four days per week over 11 months. We are happy to talk with you about flexible working hours and arrangements at interview. The role can be hybrid (minimum 2dpw in the office) or based at our office in Royal Brompton Hospital. Some travel to Harefield Hospital is also required.
Job responsibilities
The Collection
* CMS - update the collections records onto a content management system, either by updating the current system (Access) or advising on the creation of a new system. The system should provide systematic records of the collection on display, in storage, and for new acquisitions.
* Research where necessary, carry out independent research on works in the collection in order to develop and maintain accurate records.
* Risk Assessments and Conservation devise a risk assessment process and carry out risk assessments for the work in the collection. Create conservation plans for the collection.
* Labelling create labels for work on display and in storage, standardising the labels across the hospital and including links for evaluation and feedback.
* Sustainability create systems for the ongoing maintenance of the collection, including delivering training in the CMS to other members of the team.
* Reporting provide regular reports and updates on the Collection to the Head of Arts and wider stakeholders.
The Visual Arts Programme
* Exhibitions support the Visual Arts manager to research, curate, and hang exhibitions at two temporary exhibitions spaces (one at Royal Brompton Hospital, one at Harefield Hospital)
* Commissions support the Visual Arts manager to develop new commissions including recruiting artists via open calls, supporting artists to realise their ideas, and tracking project timelines.
* Patient and Staff Engagement carry out patient and staff engagement via workshops, focus groups, and questionnaires, in order to inform creative projects.
* Evaluation evaluate the visual arts programme using questionnaires, interviews, and other methods as appropriate.
The Team
* Support the Visual Arts manager with liaising with the Head of Arts and rest of the team on Visual Arts projects.
* Work with volunteers and work placement students where appropriate.
* Contribute to the rb&hArts team as a whole, including attending team meetings, taking part in interdisciplinary projects, identifying funding opportunities, and representing the team to staff, patients, and other stakeholders.
Administration, Research, Evaluation & Communications
* Monitor the visual arts email inbox, take notes in meetings, track project timelines, and deputise for the Visual Arts Manager as appropriate.
* Work with the Arts Assistant to develop online content about the collection, accessible to hospital audiences and stakeholders.
* Work with the Head of Arts to develop an evaluation strategy for the Visual Arts Programme.
* Work with other members of the team to devise and implement a research plan for a future rehang of the collection and/ or research to develop new visual arts projects.
Person Specification
Education
* A degree in: Museum Studies /Curating /Art History/Arts Education/Conservation or equivalent arts/heritage experience
* Evidence of continuous professional development
Experience
* Background in collections/museum management systems/arts administration
* Experience of working with a range of organisations and stakeholders
* Experience of using a collection management system
* Experience of monitoring and evaluation to demonstrate the impact of art projects
* Experience managing open calls
* Experience talking to and managing artists
* Experience managing exhibitions/curating
* Experience working with the general public
Skills
* Practical skills in handling, hanging and labelling visual artwork
* Strong project planning and organisational skills, including good attention to detail
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills
* Ability to work independently and as part of a team
* Expertise in MS Office, especially Word and Excel
* Ability to be friendly and professional in hospital settings
* Ability to translate 'art speak' to a non-artworld audience
Knowledge
* Knowledge of best practice in collection management -including conservation, collection management systems and day to day management
* Understanding of and interest in wider national conversations about arts and health, heritage and collection management
* Understanding of and a commitment to equal opportunities and diversity
* Knowledge of/ interest in creative health
* Knowledge of health and safety, infection control and data protection policies
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
£35,964 to £43,780 a yearinc HCA pro rata
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