Visual Arts Events & Relationships Manager in London

The Barbican is a multidisciplinary international arts centre in the City of London. Across its theatres, concert halls, cinemas, galleries, business venues, public and community spaces, the Barbican showcases the most exciting artists and performers from around the world, pushing traditional artistic boundaries and helping us understand our lives in new and unexpected ways. Each year, the Centre presents hundreds of different performances, events and exhibitions that entertain and inspire millions of people, create connections, provoke debate, and reflect the world we live in. Firmly rooted in its neighbourhood, the Barbican collaborates on projects with local communities, and supports young people and emerging talent to develop their artistic practice and access jobs in the creative industry. Barbican Visual Arts produces major exhibitions, solo artist commissions and a public events programme encompassing contemporary and modern art, fashion, design, architecture, performance, film, and photography. We also collaborate with international partners on an exhibition partnership programme. We are committed to delivering a diverse programme that is international, inclusive, and explores pivotal issues and themes of the day while rethinking a received art history.

The Visual Arts Events & Relationships Manager will be responsible for leading on the development and management of Visual Arts events including private views, receptions and dinners, as well as developing and supporting other internal and external Visual Arts events when required. Reporting to the Deputy Head of Visual Arts, they will work closely with the Head of Visual Arts and curators on event strategy and relationship management with key stakeholders, including facilitating VIP visits and acting as a point of contact for key patrons and friends.

• Lead on the development and management of Visual Arts opening events (special previews, private views and dinners)
• Plan and oversee event logistics in liaison with internal and external stakeholders to ensure safe and smooth delivery, including developing and maintaining event schedules and acting as key link with teams including Curatorial, Communications, Development, Centre Management, External Affairs and Front of House
• Develop, research and maintain mailing lists, make recommendations on guests/stakeholder groups, research key guest profiles, and ensure information relating to VIP guests is communicated
• Manage the invitation process for events, including creating electronic invitation campaigns and other event communications such as pre-visit information emails, and manage and report on RSVPs
• Use event management platform Zkipster, the Barbican Centre event/space booking system Artifax and the contacts management system Spektrix
• Manage event budgets, negotiate with suppliers/venues to obtain value for money, and report on outcomes
• Research venues for external events and build relationships with key contacts
• Support relationship management with key contacts including facilitating VIP visits and supporting key stakeholders as required

You will have:

• Extensive experience coordinating and managing private view and dinner events in the visual arts sector, ranging from small scale to complex
• Strong project management skills
• Experience of high-level relationship management (including artists, gallerists, lenders and funders)
• Experience supervising and coordinating event staff
• Experience researching and securing event venues and locations
• Proven experience managing contact databases and working with IT teams to identify technical solutions/improvements where needed
• Experience working with departmental budgets, raising purchase orders, managing invoice payments and expenses in line with Procurement rules and requirements
• Experience learning new systems and processes

• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• 24 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with service
• Access to City Corporation staff benefits and discounts
• Employee volunteering scheme (up to 2 days per year)
• A vibrant, creative, inclusive workplace at one of the world's leading arts centres

To apply, please click on 'Apply Now' or visit the City of London jobs page. Your supporting statement should be no more than 750 words and clearly demonstrate how you meet the criteria in the person specification, using specific examples. If you have any questions or issues with the application process, please contact the Barbican Careers team at careers@barbican.org.uk. Deadline for applications is 23:55 on Tuesday 14th April 2026. Interviews on 29 and 30 April 2026. Potential Start Date – 6th July 2026. Please note that we are unable to accept late applications. We regret that we are unable to provide feedback on your application.

The City of London Corporation wants to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to thrive in the work that we do. The City of London Corporation is currently undergoing a programme to ensure that our pay and reward practices are competitive and equitable across the whole organisation – and is committed to regularly benchmarking and reviewing pay against external sectors. As part of our commitment to increasing the diversity of staff within the Barbican we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from groups that are currently underrepresented, including people from the Global Majority and D/deaf and disabled people. We want to better reflect and understand the communities we exist to serve. We are members of the Disability Confident Scheme and guarantee to interview all disabled candidates who would like to be considered under this scheme and who meet the minimum essential criteria for the role. Please contact us if you require reasonable adjustments as part of the application process.