FREELANCE BRIEF - Collect Content Officer

Tickets are now on sale for Collect 2026. Crafts Council is seeking expressions of interest from freelance communications and content professionals with a minimum of 2 years' experience to support the delivery of Collect, the art fair for contemporary craft and collectible design.

About Collect:

• 24 – 28 February 2027
• Somerset House, London, UK

Collect is the art fair for contemporary craft and collectible design, presented by Crafts Council and taking place annually at Somerset House, London. Proudly positioned at the forefront of the contemporary craft movement since 2004, Collect brings together collectors, patrons, curators, art advisors and interior designers, featuring international and British galleries showing museum-quality works in curated presentations. Through the Collect Open initiative, the fair provides a platform for experimental installations by individual artists and collectives. Each edition of Collect showcases the work of over 400 exceptional living contemporary artists and designers, made from a range of materials with rich narratives.

About the Brief:

Working closely with the Collect team, the postholder will lead the coordination of the fair's content, ensuring exhibitor and marketing assets are received, processed, and delivered accurately across relevant platforms. They will prepare compelling and accurate first drafts of press releases, working from agreed key messages and revising copy in response to feedback from the Collect team and appointed PR agency. They will support the production of key fair materials, including the catalogue, website and on-site signage. They will also support the coordination of the talks programme and ensure required assets and information are received. The role requires excellent organisation, communication, and attention to detail, as well as the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and build effective working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.

Role Objectives:

• Oversee the content for the fair; receiving and processing assets from exhibitors, marketing partners and sponsors.
• Prepare and revise first drafts of press releases, incorporating stakeholder feedback and delivering agreed copy to deadline.
• Work closely with the wider team on the production of assets including the fair’s catalogue, website pages and on-site signage.
• Support the coordination of the fair’s talks programme, as directed by the Director.
• Work closely with the wider team to establish priorities and key timeframes, ensure deadlines are met and tasks delivered to a high standard.

Main Duties:

• Work closely with the team to collate and organise required assets to deliver the fair catalogue, talks programme and on-site signage.
• Lead on researching and drafting press releases, using agreed key messages and accurate information supplied by exhibitors and the Collect team.
• Liaise closely with the marketing, PR and design teams, ensuring they are kept up to date on new content received and changes to artist and exhibitor records.
• Ensure artist list records are kept up to date and changes are reflected across relevant assets/relevant team members are notified.
• Manage photos and videos on Dropbox, ensuring they are correctly and consistently labelled and filed.
• Liaise with marketing partners to receive required content to fulfil deliverables.
• Liaise with exhibitors to receive content (images and copy) and obtain sign off for their catalogue pages.
• Work closely with the Senior Fair Manager (or their parental leave cover) to collate content for the on-site talks and map leaflet.
• Coordinate talks programme; receive final copy and crediting information, assist with scheduling of rehearsals, provide content for the production of slides, greet speakers on site at the fair.
• File and label photo and video content captured during the fair, ensuring correct credits are logged.

General:

Integral part of team attending team meetings, updating on progress of various tasks, highlighting upcoming deadlines, and helping to ensure project milestones remain on track. A strong commitment to accessibility and social justice, ensuring that we are adhering to best practice. Ensure that you comply with all health and safety regulations and safe working practice as required by current legislation and the company’s health and safety policy and practices. Understand the importance of equity and inclusion in the workplace.

Location: Crafts Council Office and Gallery is based in Islington, London, with some hybrid/home working.

Fees: Freelance & Project-based Contract. The above is an entire project fee and the freelancer will be required to effectively manage their time to deliver the scope of work. The role offers some flexibility in terms of the number of days/hours worked, providing that prescribed deadlines are met. The amount of time the candidate is required to allocate will start at a few days a month in September, increasing to full time towards February (the month of the fair), including some evening and weekend working.

Support for you: Please email [emailprotected] if you have any questions, to request information in an alternative format or for any support needed. We will happily arrange for an informal conversation prior to submitting an expression of interest if that is helpful. We are committed to supporting you with your access and support needs during this process and to ensuring any reasonable adjustments are met now and during any work with us.

Other: An enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check is required for any role working directly with children, young people and/or vulnerable adults. This check will ordinarily be conducted once an offer of work has been made and prior to commencement of relevant roles. Checks will be repeated every two years as required. To deliver this brief, you must be eligible to work in the UK.