IMMEDIATE START REQUIRED TO SUPPORT SUMMER CONTEMPORARY 24TH JULY - 31 AUGUST
PART TIME, TEMPORARY CONTRACT, 10AM-17:30PM, 7 DAYS A WEEK (ROLE TO BE SPLIT BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE)
About Snape Maltings and Britten Pears Arts
Overlooking the Alde estuary, Snape Maltings is home to our world-famous concert hall and music facilities; it is also a popular visitor destination with independent shops, cafes, a restaurant, event venues and art galleries. The site is now largely owned by Britten Pears Arts, a Music & Arts based charity.
Snape Maltings Trading Limited (SMTL) is the commercial arm to Britten Pears Arts. All of the profits that we make through sales at Snape Maltings contribute towards supporting our charitable work in Artist Development, our year-round Performance Programme, Music in the Community and Creative Health and our Living Heritage Museum and Archive at The Red House. Aswell as the support received from SMTL, Britten Pears Arts is also supported though fundraising, public funding, ticket sales and royalties from works by Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears.
Our mission at Britten Pears Arts is to use Music, Arts & Heritage to transform people’s lives for the better, to bring communities together and effect positive social change. We continue to follow in the footsteps of our founders Britten and Pears, inspired by their goal to make the arts useful and available to all. At our two internationally recognised cultural destinations, Snape Maltings and The Red House, we create vibrant, uplifting and life-enhancing experiences for visitors, customers and audiences alike. We deliver this vision through our remarkable people and brilliant inclusive teams, working together with a sense of purpose.
Our retail Brand Values guide everything that we do: Quality – we provide high quality products across a range different price points; we are Customer Lead – we take time to understand our customers and to build loyalty; we are Authentic to our unique Suffolk location, natural environment and history; we are Enterprising and Open – always looking for ways to improve, adapt and embrace new and different opportunities.
About this role
The Visual Art Programme is delivered across all parts of the organization, through commercial revenue-generating shows and exhibitions curated for public benefit and as a means of attracting new audiences to Snape and The Red House. The Visual Art department is responsible for programming a number of galleries at Snape Maltings; Winch Gallery, Concert Hall Foyer, Dovecote Studio, Building 21 and additional temporary exhibition spaces. The Visual Arts Team also collaborates on the programming of Visual Art at The Red House; the Kitchen Gallery, house hang and Sculpture Garden, as well as working with the Britten Pears Arts Collection.
Main Purpose
The role holder will deliver excellent customer service to Gallery viewers across various spaces located at Snape Maltings, providing information to viewers and answering questions. They will be responsible for accurately updating sales spreadsheets on Excell and using EPOS to process sales, also updating the Gallery Supervisor with sales/enquiry information. Vigilance in relation to security will be an important aspect to the role.
Key Responsibilities (Gallery Assistant)
- Complete all opening/closing procedures including security checking artworks.
- Have a good knowledge of all galleries, exhibitions and artworks across the site and is able to convey that to viewers and colleagues.
- Be aware of forthcoming shows/exhibitions to be able to inform viewers.
- Encourage viewers to sign up to the mailing list so that they can be contacted about private views, events etc.
- Accurately record sales information and track sales payment through our system.
- Keep record of receipts and BACS transactions along with any documentation relating to Artworks to be passed to customers.
- Take details of art sales and art-related enquiries and email the information to the Gallery Supervisor.
- Contact customers to collect artworks once funds are cleared and artworks are available for release.
- Ensure correct process is followed when receiving or returning work to Artists.
What helps us get the most from your application:
- A CV that shares your experience, skills and what you’ve been involved in
- A cover letter giving us a sense of who you are, what interests you about the role, and what you would bring to it
- Applying via our website where possible, so your application comes through clearly and can be reviewed in full
We understand there’s no single “right” way to apply, and that people bring different experiences and styles. If there’s anything we can do to support you in the process or make adjustments, please feel free to get in touch—we’d be very happy to help.
We are an equal opportunities employer and believe that diversity strengthens and enriches us. We positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates of all ages and from all backgrounds, in particular from global majority backgrounds and disabled candidates who are currently under-represented at Britten Pears Arts and Snape Maltings Trading Limited.
Unfortunately, we are not able to offer sponsorship for roles at Britten Pears Arts.