Exhibition Assistant

We are looking for people to join our fantastic team at Somerset House Trust. As the home of cultural innovators, the Trust connects creativity and the arts with the broader society. Somerset House pursues a ‘Step Inside, Think Outside’ spirit and is born from the creative community we nurture – the experience and perspectives we host across background, age, race, and stage, and the intersections and crossovers we encourage.

We are seeking an Exhibitions Assistant to support the team with the delivery of our exhibitions programme. Working closely with the Exhibition Managers, Curators and Technical Production team, this role will be responsible for a variety of administrative and organisational aspects of exhibition planning and delivery including scheduling, database entry and some aspects of courier and registrarial duties. As a part of the Exhibitions Team, you will contribute to the staging of our exhibition programme which covers major exhibitions, commissions and smaller projects and exhibitions as well as general departmental support.

The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced environment, enjoy creative problem-solving, and be a team player.

• Accurately inputting, monitoring, and updating information regarding artworks and key stakeholders into the relevant databases, spreadsheets, and bespoke applications.
• Liaising with lenders, artists, and others as required for loan paperwork, insurance valuations, display, packing requirements etc, as required by the Exhibitions Manager/Team.
• Gathering photographic and digital material, contacting agencies as necessary, and dealing with reproduction rights and copyright for in-gallery, publications and online usages.
• Collating worklist information for internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Working to schedules and assisting in the planning, installation and take down of exhibitions, organising specific tasks such as framing, condition checking, interpretation installation.
• Sourcing materials for installations, researching suppliers and obtaining quotes.
• Occasional courier and registrarial duties.
• Supporting the Exhibition Managers, Curators or other team members with other duties as required.

• Organising travel requirements including tickets, hotels and per diems and hospitality.
• General administrative duties including filing, scanning, photocopying, collating and sending mail, preparing materials for send-outs and other clerical duties.
• Organising meetings, booking meeting rooms, writing agendas and taking minutes.
• Assisting in the planning and delivery of private views and other events.
• Processing orders, receipts and invoices and supporting budget monitoring.
• Liaising with internal Somerset House teams, acquiring or circulating information.
• Undertaking administrative and other duties as required.

• Experience of exhibition organisation and delivery, including the care of and presentation of cultural objects and/or artworks.
• Experience of working on large creative projects as a member of the team.
• Experience of exhibitions or collections databases and record keeping.
• An understanding of picture research, copyright procedures and printing.
• Excellent organisation and administrative skills in an office environment.
• Helpful and positive solution-based attitude, ability to work within a team and across departments.
• Highly organised, ability to prioritise a varied workload and manage time and resources.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with a variety of stakeholders.
• Understanding of project management.
• Strong numeracy and IT skills, including working knowledge of MS Office applications and spreadsheets, image manipulation, and ability to learn new systems and software quickly.
• Ability to work under pressure, while retaining a rigorous attention to detail.
• Flexibility and adaptability to change.
• Knowledge and interest in contemporary art or cultural exhibitions.
• An understanding of and commitment to Somerset House’s work, vision, and values, including diversity and inclusion, and sustainability.

• Access to our external Employee Assistance Programme (CiC) for free 24/7 confidential advice and support, including up to 6 free counselling sessions per year where needed.
• Mental health support and guidance from our in-house trained Mental Health First Aiders.
• Hybrid working based on having 3 days in the office per week (pro rata if part-time).
• Contribution towards eye tests and glasses.
• Trust life insurance scheme.
• Enhanced annual leave – 25 days plus bank holidays (pro rata).
• Birthday leave – additional day leave.
• Celebration day – to celebrate anything of your choice.
• Sick leave – 20 days full pay, followed by 20 days half pay (pro rata & following 3 months service).
• Emergency dependent care – option to use 25% of paid sick leave for emergency care of a dependent (pro rata & following 3 months service).
• Enhanced maternity pay.
• Option for salary sacrifice.
• Interest-free loans.
• Season ticket loan.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Discounts, offers and free stuff including tickets to Somerset House events and entrance to other London Heritage sites, discounts in Somerset House cafes and restaurants, discounts with various high street retailers and restaurants, and discounts to local leisure centres.

Somerset House hosts the UK’s largest and most exciting creative community right in the heart of London, and are always looking for new talent to join our team. We welcome 3 million annual visitors to share our unique combination of cultural events, the creative industries and history. This mix informs and powers our programme and organisational culture, making us a singular, compelling and inclusive place to visit and work.

Somerset House is actively anti-racist, and we are working hard to ensure our people, our onsite community and our sector reflect, represent and include all of society. Somerset House Trust is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to championing equality, diversity, and inclusion in our workplace. We are committed to equal opportunity and encourage applications from all qualified individuals. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic background. Where candidates are equally qualified, we will seek to prioritise diversity to help us increase representation across the creative economy and the Trust.

We anonymise all job applications to help avoid discrimination in the initial screening stage of our recruitment process. This reinforces our commitment to focusing on the skills and qualifications of all applications from the start. We’re committed to creating an inclusive recruitment process. Please let us know if there’s anything we can do to help you perform at your best. We’re open to adjusting our process to accommodate your needs.

The Trust reserves the right to close a job before its application deadline. Please only apply if you have the right to work in the UK; the Trust cannot currently offer sponsorships.