Organizer Information
Grizedale Arts is a contemporary art commissioner and arts organisation based at the historic site of Lawson Park farm, high above the Coniston valley in the English Lake District, Cumbria. Lawson Park is a remote hillfarm dating from the 14th century, leased by Grizedale Arts from Forestry England, which the organisation transformed through a RIBA Award-winning refurbishment completed in 2009 into an artists' residency and office base. Grizedale Arts, led by director Adam Sutherland, works through a flexible, integrated model rather than a traditional artists'-residency format, commissioning artists to produce works, undertake research, or contribute technically and creatively to collaborative projects and exhibitions, both in the UK and internationally. The organisation also maintains a base at The Farmer's Arms and has been involved in the redevelopment of the Coniston Institute, a historic village hall originally rebuilt in the 1870s under the influence of John Ruskin as an early model of a community arts and education centre.
Title & Description
Assistant Curator Job Opportunity
Grizedale Arts is seeking a new member of staff to work across curatorial support and project production. The role will primarily contribute to the organisation's Ampersand Foundation Award projects, involving the research and development of commissioned works for the Lake District and contributing to a major survey show and publication on the lost histories of rural culture and their impact on non-rural cultural landscapes. The research has a strong focus on women protagonists and LGBTQ+ communities, particularly in the Lake District and Germany, and will feed into a publication and exhibition tracing the conjoined history from the Romantic movement through the Arts & Crafts movement to "useful art" and integrated practice. The role combines desk research with hands-on project production, including supported opportunities for national and international travel.
The Role Overview
- Position Type: Full-time (40 hrs/week) or part-time (32 hrs/week)
- Contract Type: Initially 18-month fixed term, PAYE
- Salary: £30k pro rata
- Reports To: GA Director Adam Sutherland and other project contributors
- Department / Programme: Ampersand Foundation Award projects (curatorial support and project production)
- Working Hours: 32 or 40 hours per week (candidate's choice)
- Start Date: As soon as possible
- Work Location: Based at GA's offices at The Farmer's Arms (LA12 8DT) and at the residency Lawson Park; not remote/online
Position & Tasks
- Support GA Director Adam Sutherland and other project contributors in research, preparation, delivery, production, installation, and maintenance of the varied commissioned projects
- Assist The Farmer's Arms Programme Manager to ensure commissions are represented and interpreted appropriately locally (talks programme, open days, etc.)
- Support the Programme Manager to ensure artworks and events are made as accessible as possible
- Support media and marketing communications, providing accurate and engaging content
- Act as a point of contact for artists, liaising regularly with arts institutions, funders, and other key stakeholders
- Assist with accommodation, travel arrangements, and hosting for visiting artists and project participants
- Convene, attend, and record meetings
- Organise and attend site visits and research trips
- Monitor and maintain budgets for projects efficiently, including obtaining estimates, processing invoices, maintaining digital and physical budget files, and providing updates to the Programme Manager
- Draft, file, and administer service contracts with artists, suppliers, contractors, participants, and sites
- Support with copy-editing and sign-off processes for artist information and project interpretation
- Provide up-to-date information, including research reports, budgets, or project proposals, to help colleagues identify funding streams and partnership opportunities
- Support the writing of project risk assessments where needed, and ensure health & safety and safeguarding procedures are implemented
Categories
- Curatorial Practice
- Arts Administration
- Exhibition Production
- Research
- Contemporary Art
- Rural Culture & Heritage
- Publication & Editorial
Eligibility
- Confident, highly-motivated individual with good problem-solving and people skills
- Respect for and interest in the ethos and achievements of Grizedale Arts
- Able to evidence research outcomes and/or knowledge of and interest in European rural contexts, cultural histories, and contemporary art practice
- Excellent written and verbal English language communication
- Good organisational skills
- Must have the right to work in the UK — the organisation cannot sponsor visas
- Must hold a current passport and be permitted to travel internationally (role includes travel to Germany and Japan)
- Preferred but not mandatory: proven exhibition/public art commission delivery experience
- Preferred but not mandatory: hands-on practice in art, making, or craft
- Preferred but not essential: driving licence and own transport (noted as a significant practical advantage given the rural location; applicants should reference this in their application)
Program Benefits
- Salary of £30k pro rata
- Opportunities for supported national and international travel, including to Germany and Japan
- Direct collaboration with GA Director Adam Sutherland and project contributors
- Not specified in the source: additional benefits such as pension, holiday allowance, or health coverage
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Single PDF document (up to 4 x A4 pages) containing both a letter of application and a CV
- Completion of a Diversity Questionnaire (requested after application submission)
- Applicants are asked to note in their application whether they hold a driving license/have their own transport
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 19 July 2026
- Interviews: Week of 27 July 2026, via Zoom or in person
Location
Cumbria, United Kingdom
Additional Details
- The role involves some international travel, including to Germany and Japan
- Applicants must have the right to work in the UK; the organisation cannot sponsor visas
- A driving license and ideally personal transport are considered a significant advantage in this rural area, though not essential
- Full project information is available via a separate link referenced in the original posting but not reproduced here