Freelance Community Collections Assistant

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Freelance Community Collections Assistant

Gallery Oldham

Region: North West

Salary / Fee: From £30,599 to £30,599. This is a freelance position on a rate of £120 per day, equivalent to £30,599 pro rata. The post is 1 day per week (7.33 hours) and it is a fixed-term contract for 12 months.

Job Type: Freelance

Closing Date: 6/1/24

Link / Contact details to apply:

Please email a CV and covering letter including details of two professional references on no more than three pages to karen.heatley@oldham.gov.uk by 9am on Monday 6th January 2025.

Please match your skills and experiences with the essential and desirable criteria on the Job Description. Use the subject line ‘YOUR NAME – Community Collections Assistant’ when sending your application. Interviews will be held on Tuesday 21st January 2025.

To discuss any aspect of this role, please contact Karen Heatley, Senior Exhibition and Collection Officer – karen.heatley@oldham.gov.uk

Job Opportunity: Gallery Oldham
Job title: Community Collections Assistant
Salary: £30,599 pro rata, £120 per day
Location: Oldham, Lancashire
Hours: Part-time, 1 day per week (7.33 hours)
Contract: Freelance, for a period of 12 months
Closing date: 9am, Monday 6 January 2025

Gallery Oldham is looking for a freelance Community Collections Assistant to work with us to develop a new co-curated gallery for Early Years audiences focused on nature. As Community Collections Assistant, you will assist with exhibition content, consultation, and community engagement for the project.

This opportunity is a freelance position working 1 day per week at a rate of £120 per day. The initial appointment would be for 12 months.

This is an exciting opportunity to be involved in the Our Beautiful Oldham project funded by a Reimagine grant from Art Fund. We are looking for a freelance Community Collections Assistant who can support Gallery Oldham to deliver a new co-curated gallery for Early Years audiences focused on nature. As Community Collections Assistant, you will assist with exhibition content and community engagement for the project. The role will involve working with our partners Northern Roots and Oldham Family Hubs to consult with families, test interactives, develop ideas, and organise creative workshops with the aim of engaging more directly with our communities.

Key Relationships: Senior Collections and Exhibitions Officer, Exhibitions and Collections Officer (Natural History), Project Management Team, and Steering Group.

Applicants will be required to have an Enhanced DBS check as they will be working with Early Years families.

Responsibilities

• Carry out consultation and workshops in the community via Oldham Family Hubs, Children Centres, and within existing Early Years groups at Heritage, Libraries, and Arts.
• Assist in developing and writing the content for a new permanent exhibition in co-curation with our target audience – Early Years families.
• Work with a creative practitioner and Oldham Family Hub to organise creative workshops for Early Years families.
• Work with Senior Collections and Exhibitions Officer to co-ordinate with partner organisations and carry out evaluation of events and workshops.

Role and Responsibilities

• Assist with the creation of the content for initial outreach events and consultation in the community.
• Assist with recruiting Early Years families to a Steering group and the co-curation of the new gallery space.
• Work with a creative practitioner to organise workshops at Oldham Family Hubs.
• Undertake evaluation of project delivery, community consultation, and linked events.
• Liaise with stakeholders to ensure their input at appropriate stages, especially via the Steering group.
• Work with Exhibitions and Collections Co-ordinator (Natural History) to collate object lists and carry out content research for the new gallery.
• Contribute to the storyline for the gallery and work with exhibition designers on the content for the gallery.
• Work alongside the Senior Collections and Exhibitions Officer and Steering Group to assist in writing briefs for interactives and artist commissions.

Knowledge and Experience

• Experience of co-curation/co-production community-based museum practice.
• Experience developing activities for family and community audiences.
• Experience of effective multi-disciplinary team working and understanding of project processes.
• Experience of developing visitor-focused exhibitions and writing inclusive text for different audiences.
• Experience of carrying out evaluation of exhibitions, events, and activities.
• Ability to communicate with a range of stakeholders and audiences in various formats.
• Good skills in MS Office, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Clean valid driving license and access to a vehicle to travel between Family Hubs and deliver consultation in the community.
• A recognised degree in a relevant subject or comparable experience in the workplace.
• Experience of working with exhibition designers on gallery development.
• Awareness of health and safety matters affecting working in stores and with collections.
• Experience of working with at least one collection management specialist database.
• Knowledge and experience of working with Natural History collections.

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