Visual Arts Officer & Collections Co-ordinator

This fixed-term role has been created to support rb&hArts in two key areas:

• Collections Management – The postholder will coordinate and manage the hospital’s visual arts collection, ensuring accurate documentation, research, conservation, and labelling of artworks.
• Visual Arts Programme – Supporting the Visual Arts Manager with temporary exhibitions and new commissions, enhancing the arts programme across two hospital sites.
  
  

This role requires a proactive and organised individual with experience in collections management and a passion for arts in healthcare settings.

Hybrid working is permitted, but you need to be on site at least two days per week at our office at Royal Brompton Hospital, Sydney Street, London SW3. Regular travel to Harefield Hospital is also required.

The main duty of this job is to help us devise a new collections management system (CMS), and to update and maintain records. In addition, you will support the visual arts programme as a whole.

• Maintain and update the collections management system (CMS) for over 1200 artworks.
• Research and document existing and newly acquired works.
• Develop risk assessment procedures and conservation plans.
• Standardise and produce artwork labels, ensuring accessibility and engagement.
• Establish sustainability measures, including training the team in CMS usage.
• Provide regular reports to the Head of Arts and stakeholders.
  
  

• Assist the Visual Arts Manager to run the Visual Arts programme, including: the exhibition programme, one-off commissions, and patient/ staff engagement activities.
  
  

• Work closely with the Visual Arts Manager and wider rb&hArts team.
• Support volunteers and work placement students.
• Manage email correspondence, take meeting notes, and track project timelines.
• Collaborate on online content about the collection.
• Contribute to research and evaluation strategies for future projects.
  
  

rb&hArts runs an award-winning, innovative arts programme at Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals, including live performances, participatory workshops, exhibitions, and multi-disciplinary artists’ commissions. We manage a collection of over 1,200 artworks and engage over 5000 people a year.

By joining our team, you will be part of a creative health programme embedded within a specialist clinical care group, working collaboratively with artists, healthcare professionals, and patients to create meaningful cultural experiences by, with, and for our communities.

This role is for four days per week over 11 months. We are happy to talk with you about flexible working hours and arrangements at interview. The role can be hybrid (minimum 2dpw in the office) or based at our office in Royal Brompton Hospital. Some travel to Harefield Hospital is also required.

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Mary Paterson Job title: Head of Arts Email address: m.paterson2@rbht.nhs.uk