Festival Assistant

CANTERBURY THEATRE AND FESTIVAL TRUST

24,000 - 25,000 per year

Canterbury Festival Office

Full-time

2nd February 2026

Festival Assistant

Job Title: Festival Assistant

Reports to: Festival Director & Chief Executive

Location: Canterbury Festival Office (CT1 2JA) (flexible/hybrid working arrangements are available by

mutual agreement)

Contract: Permanent, full-time with additional hours during the pre-/post-October Festival period

Salary: £24,000–£25,000 per annum, dependent on experience

Application deadline: Monday 2nd February 2026 at 9am

About Canterbury Festival
Canterbury Festival is Kent’s leading arts festival, presenting a diverse programme of 120+ events
every October featuring music, theatre, literature, talks, comedy and community events, as well as
several weekenders and one-off events throughout the year.

We also run an active year-round Public Engagement programme of workshops, interactive artworks,
school projects, choirs, youth music and community showcases, giving over 12,000 people
opportunities to discover and engage with the arts in 2025.

Role Overview

The Festival Assistant provides all-round support across Canterbury Festival’s operations. Combining
administrative, programming, production, marketing, public engagement and front-of-house
responsibilities, the Festival Assistant plays an essential role supporting the planning and delivery of
the Festival and associated year-round activity.

With responsibilities ranging from programming administration, artist liaison, event management, box
office and marketing support to general office administration and volunteer co-ordination, the
Festival Assistant provides practical, organised and reliable assistance to ensure the smooth curation
and co-ordination of events and the Festival office. The role is varied, hands-on and well suited to
someone with a passion for the arts looking to build experience in arts administration and festival
planning and delivery within a busy, close-knit cultural organisation.

Festival House, 8 Orange Street, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2JA
General Enquiries 01227 452853
Website: www.canterburyfestival.co.uk E-mail: info@canterburyfestival.co.uk
Registered on England No. 1480595. Registered Charity No. 279714.
Canterbury Festival it the trading name of Canterbury Theatre and Festival Trust, a company limited by guarantee.
Registered Office: Festival House, 8 Orange Street, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2JA. VAT No. GB 397 8105 11

Key Responsibilities
Programming & Artist Administration
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Provide administrative support to the programming team, maintaining accurate records,
schedules and artist information.

- Act as a point of contact for artists, speakers, companies and agents, assisting with

communication, coordination and information gathering.
Support contracting processes, including issuing paperwork, tracking returns and maintaining
databases.

- Assist with artist logistics such as travel, accommodation, schedules, riders and hospitality

requirements.

Production & Event Support
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Support the planning and delivery of Festival events and year‑round activities across multiple
venues (including Public Engagement programmes and projects).

- Assist with event logistics including schedules, stewarding requirements, artist arrivals and

technical coordination.
Provide on‑the‑ground support during events, including front‑of‑house duties, steward briefing,
ticket checking/sales and venue set-ups and clear‑downs.
Liaise with venue staff, technicians, artists and volunteers both before and during events.

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- Assist with arranging sound checks, artist transport, refreshments and introducing events where

required.

Marketing & Communications Support
- Assist with gathering copy and images for marketing materials, newsletters and website updates.
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Support brochure and newsletter distribution, including volunteer coordination and mailing
preparation.
Support the Marketing Manager in the promotion of and preparation for Festival events as
required e.g. drafting social media posts, designing digital assets & on-site signage.

- Build and set-up events in the Box Office system as part of the on-sale process.

Staff the reception and box office, responding to in‑person, telephone and email enquiries.
Process ticket sales, exchanges and refunds using the Festival’s ticketing system.

Box Office & Customer Service
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- Assist with box office operations at Festival events and third‑party events.
- Monitor voicemail messages and info emails, ensure timely responses.
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Support Festival Friend management including acting as a point of contact, updating members’
records, claiming Gift Aid, managing subscription enquiries, supporting campaigns to drive new
subscribers and organising Friends exclusive events.

Volunteers
- Assist with volunteer recruitment, communication and scheduling.
- Create and coordinate steward rotas and respond to availability or staffing gaps.
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- Act as a point of contact for volunteer enquiries and help maintain positive relationships with the

Support training arrangements (e.g. first aid) and year‑round volunteer involvement.

volunteer team.

Office & General Administration
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Support day‑to‑day office administration including e.g. stationery supplies, basic housekeeping,
petty cash and record‑keeping.

- Assist with GDPR‑compliant data management and filing.
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- Help with meeting administration, including preparing papers, taking notes, hospitality and

Liaise with utilities and other suppliers regarding servicing and maintenance.

minute-taking.

- Carry out ad‑hoc tasks to support the smooth running of Festival House and Festival activity.
- Any other reasonable duties as required by the Festival Director and Board.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria
- Highly organised, reliable and able to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
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- Willingness to undertake a wide variety of tasks, including practical and administrative work.
- Confident IT skills, including Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel) with an appetite to embrace

Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with a professional and friendly manner.
Excellent attention to detail.
Experience of working in an office environment in an administrative capacity.
Experience of co-ordinating live events.

and train to use new technologies as relevant.

- Calm, adaptable and proactive, particularly during busy event periods.
- Availability to work evenings and weekends during the Festival and key events.

Desirable Criteria
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- Driving licence and access to a car.

Some experience in arts administration, events, festivals and/or customer service.
Interest in the arts and live events.
Familiarity with Canterbury and its venues.
Experience working with volunteers or the public, or of managing teams of people.

Personal Attributes
- Able to work independently and collaboratively
- Able to balance and prioritise a busy workload and work to agreed deadlines
- Calm and reliable under pressure, particularly during Festival periods
-
Trustworthy and discreet with a strong respect for confidentiality
-
Empathy with the mission, vision and values of Canterbury Festival
- Commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and access

Terms of Appointment
Probation period

Six months with one month’s notice period

Notice period

1 month for both parties

Holiday entitlement

Annual leave for full-time employees is 25 days per year plus UK bank
holidays. The office closes for approximately two weeks over Christmas and
New Year which is an obligatory leave period for all staff.

Pension

The Festival is part of a Standard life (SLAC) stakeholder pension scheme to
which the employer contributes 4% of salary and the employee 5% (or more
if they wish).

Equal Opportunities
Canterbury Festival is an equal opportunities organisation. We welcome applications from people of
all backgrounds and identities, particularly those underrepresented in the arts. We are committed to
creating an inclusive and respectful working environment for all.

Accessibility
We are committed to making our recruitment process and working practices as accessible as possible.
If you require this information in an alternative format or have any access needs for the application or
interview process, please let us know by contacting info@canterburyfestival.co.uk.

How to Apply
To apply, please send the following to info@canterburyfestival.co.uk by Monday 2nd February 2026 at
9am.

- A cover letter outlining how you meet the job description and outlining your suitability for the

role;

- A copy of your CV;
- A completed Equal Opportunities form. The form will be separated from your application on

receipt. You can download it here.

Late applications will not be considered.

Shortlisting will take place w/c 2nd February with interviews held w/c 9th February 2026.

Connect with a cause that needs you!

Festival Assistant