At a Glance
- Tasks: Gain hands-on experience as an artist-curator and develop your own project.
- Company: Join Eastside Projects, a vibrant artist-run space in Birmingham.
- Benefits: Earn a competitive wage while working on exciting art projects.
- Other info: Flexible hours, dedicated research time, and a supportive team environment.
- Why this job: Make your mark in the art world and support diverse communities.
- Qualifications: Must be 18+, with event organising experience; no degree required.
The predicted salary is between 13.45 - 13.45 £ per hour.
Eastside Projects is an artist‑run space and free public gallery in the Digbeth area of Birmingham, England. Founded in 2008, it operates as a not‑for‑profit company limited by guarantee and is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. The space has hosted work by artists such as Liam Gillick, Sonia Boyce, Dan Graham and Bill Drummond, and has built a reputation as a centre for experimental contemporary art and public art commissions.
Eastside Projects is seeking someone to join its team for 18 months to learn how to be an artist‑curator through hands‑on experience. During the traineeship, the successful applicant will work directly with the current team, contribute to Eastside Projects’ ongoing programme, and develop their own artist‑curated project with a production budget and dedicated paid time.
The Role Overview
- Position Type: 0.9 FTE — 30 hours per week, usually across four days, including some weekend and evening work, plus 3.75 hours per week of dedicated research time for the trainee’s own project
- Contract Type: Fixed term, 18 months
- Salary: Real Living Wage — £13.45 per hour (£23,605 per annum)
- Working Hours: 30 hours per week across four days, including some weekend and evening work
- Start Date: Tuesday, 3 November 2026
Position & Tasks
- Artist‑Curating & Own Practice: develop your own artist‑curated project as part of the Eastside Projects programme, supported by Gavin, Ruth and the rest of the team, with a production budget and half a day per week of paid time
- Supporting Communities: help devise, plan and deliver hands‑on sessions and community workshops; respond creatively to ideas, artworks, exhibitions and projects
- Supporting Artists: work directly with commissioned artists; build relationships, communicate clearly, solve problems, anticipate issues and meet deadlines in a responsive, process‑led environment
- Supporting Eastside Projects: carry out administrative and operational tasks; follow processes and instructions; prioritise tasks to complete them on time
- Supporting Events: help set up projectors, AV and sound equipment; document events using photography, film and/or audio; consider how events and public programming can expand exhibitions and open out ideas for audiences
- Supporting Projects: install exhibitions and artworks; work beyond the gallery with different communities, sites and contexts; work collaboratively as part of a team
- Sending Messages: create content for websites, e‑flyers, social media (particularly Instagram) and other platforms; use WordPress; write confidently for different audiences
Qualifications & Eligibility
- Must be 18 years old or older
- Must be based in the UK with the right to work for the full 18 months of the contract
- Must have at least one year's experience organising events outside educational structures (e.g., small‑scale exhibitions, art projects or community events)
- No degree in Art required, but comparable experience and knowledge is needed (e.g., through apprenticeship, work experience or developing one’s own projects)
- Cannot be combined with education – applicants currently studying at any level, full‑time or part‑time, should not apply
- Particularly keen to support people who are currently under‑represented in the visual arts, including people with Global Ethnic Majority heritage, those who have faced socio‑economic barriers and people with disabilities
- Dedicated research time of 3.75 hours per week to develop the trainee’s own project
- Production budget and half a day per week of paid time to realise an independent artist‑curated project during the traineeship
Application Procedure
Email the completed application form with “Artist Curator Traineeship” in the subject line. No application fee.
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 21 August 2026
- Interviews: 11 September 2026
Location
Digbeth, Birmingham, United Kingdom
Artist Curator Traineeship in Birmingham 2026 employer: Artinfoland
The South London Gallery is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity for emerging curators to gain invaluable experience in a vibrant contemporary art setting. With a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, the fellowship provides structured professional development, mentorship, and access to influential networks, all within a supportive and collaborative work culture that prioritises community engagement and artistic innovation.
