Organizer Information
Somerset House Trust is a private company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 17 June 1997, and was established to advance public education through the provision of a centre for the arts, and to maintain the Somerset House buildings for the benefit of the local and international community as an example of English national heritage. Somerset House itself is London's working arts centre, built on historic foundations around one of the largest courtyards in Europe, and describes itself as home to the UK's largest and most exciting creative community. The building, designed by William Chambers in the 1770s and extended in the mid-19th century, was originally constructed for government offices and learned societies, including the Royal Academy of Arts, which occupied it until 1837; as civil servants gradually vacated the building from the 1990s onward, the courtyard wings were progressively opened to the public starting in 2000, with the government transferring the lease to the charitable Trust for a peppercorn rent. Since 1997, the Trust has gradually recovered all the spaces of Somerset House, covering over 6 acres and more than 590,000 square feet of Grade I listed heritage space. Today the Trust runs a year-round programme of exhibitions, installations, and commissions with contemporary artists, alongside its role as custodian of the historic site.
Title & Description
Exhibitions Manager
Somerset House Trust is seeking an Exhibitions Manager to join its Exhibitions team, leading the development and delivery of exhibitions, commissions, and installations within the Trust's exhibitions programme. The role is responsible for ensuring the content, interpretation, and design of allocated projects are developed to a high standard and reflect the mission of Somerset House and its audiences.
The position requires significant project management experience across loan exhibitions, touring exhibitions, and complex installations and commissions with contemporary artists. It calls for a flexible approach to work, strong relationship management skills, and the ability to respond intuitively to the changing needs of the programme, artists, curators, and Somerset House's internal departments. The Exhibitions Manager will work closely with curators (internal and external), artists, Technical Production Managers, and other internal teams across the full lifecycle of a project — from conception through to delivery and strike.
The Role Overview
- Position Type: Full-time
- Contract Type: Permanent
- Salary: £38,000–£42,000 per year
- Reports To: Senior Exhibitions Manager
- Department / Programme: Exhibitions
- Workplace Type: Hybrid — 3 days in the office per week (pro rata if part-time), dependent on the needs of the role
Position & Tasks
- Project manage allocated exhibitions, commissions and projects from conception to delivery and strike, working closely with curators (internal and external), artists, Technical Production Managers, and internal Somerset House teams, ensuring all stakeholders are involved and informed as necessary
- Lead on the negotiation of loan agreements and manage all conversations with lenders and artists around arrangements for transport, insurance and display
- Lead on the process for appointing and working with 2D and 3D designers on the detailed design and layout of exhibitions, working closely with Curators and Technical Production Managers
- Appoint transport agents and coordinate national and international shipping
- Manage complex budgets for assigned exhibition projects
- Draft and negotiate contracts for external contractors, designers, artists and lenders in consultation with the Head of Exhibition Management
- Lead on project meetings and their scheduling, ensuring all relevant stakeholders are kept informed and involved as necessary
- Devise and manage overall project schedules
- Manage all rights and reproduction requirements for exhibitions and projects
- Support the development and delivery of related programming and events (e.g. talks and online events)
- Provide information to assist with Press and Marketing campaigns, as well as the development of any associated retail and publication offer, ensuring all teams have the information and assets required in time for campaigns and publications
- Put relevant measures and systems in place to ensure the safety and security of artworks and objects in storage, in transit and on display
- Work with the Technical Production Managers to develop the build of an exhibition and the coordination of installations and deinstallations onsite
- Book conservators and arrange condition checking of loans
- Commission, proofread and edit interpretation and promotional text as required
- Lead on project evaluation and reporting, working with the Head of Exhibition Management
- Provide information where required in support of funding applications
- Line manage Exhibition Assistant(s), and occasionally manage work placements or other talent development schemes
- Any other duties in line with the responsibilities of the role
- Ensure the development and delivery processes of allocated projects promote equality, diversity and inclusion and prioritise increasing representation across all aspects of programming
- Ensure allocated projects conform to Somerset House Access policies
- Working with the Senior Exhibitions Manager, Head of Exhibitions Management and the Director of Exhibitions, contribute to the evaluation of exhibitions
Categories
- Curatorial Practice
- Exhibition Production
- Arts Administration
- Museum Studies
- Contemporary Art
- Installation
- Public Art & Outreach
- Cultural Programming
Eligibility
- Right to work in the UK required; the Trust cannot currently offer sponsorships
- Significant experience of managing and leading exhibition projects, exhibition tours and related programming
- Excellent project management and organisation skills, with good attention to detail and the ability to prioritise a busy workload and meet deadlines
- Experience of project managing complex installations, including audio-visual elements
- Experience working with and commissioning new work with a range of artists
- Experience negotiating agreements and drafting contracts with lenders, artists and designers
- Experience coordinating and managing shipping and insurance of exhibition items, and knowledge of British Government Indemnity requirements for loans and exhibition tours
- Practical experience of object handling
- Experience coordinating installations, de-installations and management of contractors onsite
- Experience of managing individual exhibition and exhibition touring budgets, with ability to highlight issues and propose solutions for discussion with senior managers
- Organised and coordinated tender processes and contractor appointments, including drafting and issuing contracts
- Ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with a diverse range of people, both within the organisation and externally
- Knowledge of picture research, copyright procedures and printing
- Knowledge and experience of working within CDM 2015 regulations
- Experience of working with 3D and 2D designers to develop and deliver projects in line with the RIBA stages
- Experience of producing exhibitions that are accessible to a broad range of visitors
- Ability to lead and be flexible and collaborative
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with a variety of stakeholders
- Strong numeracy and IT skills, including working knowledge of MS Office applications and spreadsheets, and ability to learn new systems and software quickly
- Line management experience
- A strong passion and knowledge of the visual arts, design, fashion, photography, or other forms of creative work in contemporary culture
- Ability and willingness for occasional travel and out-of-hours work in support of the programme and organisation
- An understanding of and commitment to Somerset House's work, vision, and values, including diversity and inclusion, and sustainability
Program Benefits
- Salary: £38,000–£42,000 per year
- Pension: 8% employer pension contributions, no employee contribution required (following 3 months of employment); option for salary sacrifice
- Annual leave: 25 days plus bank holidays (pro rata) — enhanced annual leave
- Birthday leave: additional day off
- Celebration day: one day to celebrate anything of the employee's choice
- Sick leave: 20 days full pay, followed by 20 days half pay (pro rata, following 3 months of service)
- Emergency dependent care: option to use 25% of paid sick leave for emergency care of a dependent (pro rata, following 3 months of service)
- Enhanced maternity pay
- Employee Assistance Programme (CiC): free 24/7 confidential advice and support, including up to 6 free counselling sessions per year where needed
- Mental health support and guidance from in-house trained Mental Health First Aiders
- Hybrid working: 3 days in the office per week (pro rata if part-time), dependent on the needs of the role
- Contribution towards eye tests and glasses
- Trust life insurance scheme
- Winter flu vaccination vouchers
- Season ticket loan
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Discounts and free 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
- Discounts to local leisure centres
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 13 September 2026
Location
London, United Kingdom
Additional Details
- Somerset House Trust states it is actively anti-racist and is an equal opportunities employer committed to championing equality, diversity, and inclusion; it does not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic background
- Where candidates are equally qualified, the Trust states it will seek to prioritise diversity to increase representation across the creative economy and the Trust
- All job applications are anonymised at the initial screening stage to help avoid discrimination
- The Trust reserves the right to close the job before its application deadline
- Applicants must have the right to work in the UK; the Trust cannot currently offer visa sponsorship
- The Trust explicitly addresses the use of AI in applications: while AI tools may assist with tasks such as research, structuring, or formatting, applications relying heavily on AI-generated content may lack depth, authenticity, and individuality, and may not be progressed
- Candidates who do not see a current role that fits can register their interest to be contacted about future roles matching their criteria; the Trust states it cannot sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time