Organizer Information
Southwark Park Galleries is a UK-based interdisciplinary arts organisation operating across two exhibition venues and a community garden in Southwark Park, London. As a long-established cultural institution founded in 1984, it functions as a hybrid platform for Contemporary Art, experimental Exhibition practices, and community-driven public programming.
The organisation is registered as a charity (Bermondsey Artists’ Group, No. 1073851) and operates as an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. Its mission is to connect art and nature through socially engaged cultural programming, supporting artists at critical stages of their practice while fostering inclusive public participation.
Positioned in Southeast London, Southwark Park Galleries plays a dual role: an experimental site for ambitious artistic production and a civic cultural space embedded within its local community, while maintaining international relevance through partnerships and curatorial exchange.
Title & Description
Deputy Director (Maternity Cover) – Southwark Park Galleries, London
This is a senior full-time Job opportunity for an experienced cultural leader to join Southwark Park Galleries in London as Deputy Director on a 12-month fixed-term contract. The role supports the Director and Board of Trustees in delivering the organisation’s strategic, artistic, and operational vision.
The position is central to the leadership of a small but high-impact arts organisation working across Curatorial programming, Exhibition development, public engagement, fundraising, and organisational governance. The Deputy Director will play a key role in shaping the gallery’s artistic direction, managing institutional partnerships, and ensuring delivery of a diverse programme of exhibitions, performances, and public events.
This role combines strategic leadership with hands-on cultural production, requiring expertise in Art Management, project delivery, and sector-wide relationship building across local, national, and international contexts.
The Role Overview
- Position Type: Full-time employment
- Contract Type: Fixed-term (12 months, maternity cover)
- Working Hours: 40 hours per week (9 am–5 pm, with occasional evenings and weekends)
- Location: Southwark Park Galleries, SE16 2UA, London, United Kingdom
- Reporting To: Director
- Line Management: Gallery Manager and Programme/Audience Coordinators
- Salary: £41,217 per annum + pension contribution
- Application Deadline: 18 June 2026 (midnight)
- Start Date: September 2026
- Interview Dates: 30 June 2026 (first round), possible second round 7 July 2026
This is a senior leadership role within a publicly funded cultural organisation operating at the intersection of artistic programming and charitable governance.
Position & Tasks
The Deputy Director will be responsible for a wide range of strategic and operational duties, including:
- Supporting organisational leadership alongside the Director and Board of Trustees
- Representing the institution in meetings, partnerships, and public-facing events
- Leading Exhibition and programme development across contemporary and interdisciplinary practices
- Managing the production of exhibitions, events, performances, and public engagement activities
- Overseeing budgets, financial reporting, and programme-based income management
- Coordinating fundraising strategies, including grant writing and donor relations
- Managing institutional partnerships with artists, curators, funders, and cultural organisations
- Supporting press, communications, and PR strategies for institutional visibility
- Contributing to organisational governance, HR processes, and team management
- Ensuring compliance with policies related to equity, diversity, inclusion, and sustainability
This role requires strong leadership in both creative and administrative domains, bridging Curatorial vision with organisational delivery.
Categories
- Curatorial
- Art Management
- Exhibition
- Public Art
- Performance
- Interdisciplinary Arts
- Cultural Administration
- Fundraising / Fund
- Symposium / Event Production
- Art Writing / Programming
Eligibility
- International applicants (must have the right to work in the United Kingdom)
- Experienced cultural professionals with senior-level leadership experience
- Candidates with strong knowledge of Contemporary Art and interdisciplinary programming
- Professionals with proven experience in exhibition-making, institutional management, or curatorial leadership
- Applicants with fundraising, budgeting, and financial management experience
- Individuals with strong communication and team leadership skills
- Candidates capable of working flexible hours, including evenings and weekends
The organisation strongly encourages applications from underrepresented groups, including neurodiverse, disabled, and global majority candidates, as part of its commitment to equity and inclusion.
Program Benefits
- Salary of £41,217 per annum plus pension contribution
- 12-month fixed-term senior leadership contract
- Paid annual leave (28 days excluding public holidays)
- Opportunity to work within a respected UK National Portfolio Organisation
- Leadership role in a highly visible Exhibition and public programming environment
- Direct involvement in international partnerships and artist development
- Access to institutional resources, curatorial networks, and funding ecosystems
- Hybrid working flexibility and structured time-off-in-lieu system
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Cover Letter (max 2 A4 pages)
- CV including two referees
- Completed Equality & Diversity Monitoring Questionnaire
All documents must be submitted as separate PDFs via email to the organisation’s recruitment contact. File naming must follow strict anonymised guidelines for the monitoring form.
How to Apply?
Applications must be sent to: admin@southwarkparkgalleries.org
Subject Line: Deputy Director (Maternity Cover) Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 18 June 2026
- Shortlisting Notification: By 29 June 2026
- Interviews: 30 June 2026
- Second Interview (if required): 7 July 2026
- Start Date: 7 September 2026
- Handover Period: August 2026 (2–3 sessions)
Location
London, United Kingdom
Additional Details
This role is embedded in a long-standing UK cultural institution with strong commitments to socially engaged practice, environmental awareness, and inclusive programming. The Deputy Director will play a key role in sustaining and evolving a multidisciplinary programme that integrates Exhibition, performance, and community engagement.
The position requires both strategic oversight and operational execution, particularly in areas of governance, financial sustainability, and institutional partnerships. It is suited to candidates comfortable working in small-team environments with high levels of responsibility and cross-functional leadership.
A strong emphasis is placed on equality, diversity, inclusion, and environmental sustainability across all aspects of institutional practice.