Creative Studios Manager

ABOUT V&A EAST

V&A East is dedicated to creative opportunity and its power to bring change. Two free cultural destinations – V&A East Storehouse and Museum – will open up the V&A collection for all, celebrate making in all its forms and create new possibilities for everyone.

The V&A is the world’s leading museum of art and design, housing a permanent collection of over 2.8 million objects, books and archives that span over 5,000 years of human creativity.

The museum holds many of the UK’s national collections and houses some of the greatest resources for the study of architecture, furniture, fashion, textiles, photography, sculpture, painting, jewellery, glass, ceramics, book arts, Asian art and design, theatre and performance.

Our mission is to be recognised as the world’s leading museum of art, design and performance, and to enrich people’s lives by promoting research, knowledge and enjoyment of the designed world to the widest possible audience.

ABOUT THE ROLE

This role will be part of a dynamic Learning and Engagement Team and will oversee the delivery of creative activity in new creative studios V&A East Storehouse and V&A East Museum. They will work across the V&A to support efficient use of the spaces with particular focus on the Collections, Care and Archives team to support links with our V&A Storehouse.

They will manage the operational delivery of the spaces and be instrumental in developing and delivering a programme of workshops with schools and youth groups, courses, talks, symposia, social events and live performance. They will directly manage two Creative Studio Practitioners.

We are looking for an organised, collaborative and engaging individual with experience of developing and leading exploratory, creative, inclusive activities. They will have experience of managing spaces and resources in either studios, community organisations, schools or colleges. They may have a creative making practice of their own.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversee and take part in the delivery of workshops with schools, colleges, community and youth groups and support the delivery of courses, talks, symposia, social events and live performance.
• Set-up systems and processes to ensure coordinated use of the creative studios and workshops at V&A East Storehouse and V&A East Museum. Maintain a store of creative materials, tools and equipment such as projectors, cameras and printers.
• Work directly with the Head of Learning and Engagement, Senior Producers and the Collections, Care and Archive Team to develop a dynamic and critically engaged programme of creative activity in the spaces.
• Work with the Visitor Experience and Operations Team to ensure that groups and individuals participating in activities have the highest possible quality of experience.
• Ensure health and safety procedures are in place.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• Pragmatic and resilient, contributing to a dynamic Learning and Engagement Team. They will be outward looking and proactively build relationships across V&A East and within the wider V&A.
• Sensitivity and knowledge of inclusive creative practices for young people and other under-represented groups.
• A considerate supportive manager who can support colleagues to work creatively and with focus through a period of change and adjustment.
• Demonstrable skills in managing space, budgets and resources in creative environments such as studios, community organisations, schools or colleges.
• Significant experience devising and delivering critically engaged, discursive and creative activity in workshop settings.
• A practical person who may have a creative practice of their own.
• Experience of risk assessments that consider safeguarding.

To view the full job description, please click here —> V&A – Creative Studios Manager – JD

V&A are looking for someone with transferable skills and not necessarily someone with a conventional museum background.