Collections Manager Ref EE04026

Collections Manager - Ref: EE04026

G9:42839 - 46142 per annum.

The New Art Gallery Walsall(Permanent37hours per week)

Monday working and evenings willalsoberequired.

The venue:

The New Art Gallery Walsallis one of the leading visual arts venues in the West Midlands. Situated in the heart of Walsall town centre the Gallery is a busy and vibrant building with an exciting programme of contemporary art exhibitions and collections displays livelylearningeducation and community events an artist studio library café conferencefacilitiesand shop.

The Gallery is home to the prestigious Garman Ryan collection including works by Jacob Epstein and Lucian Freud as well as Constable Degas Matisse Monet Picasso and Van New Art Gallery Walsall has also an impressive Permanent Collection of over 3500 works - as well as Victorian history paintings and works with a resonance to Walsall the Gallery retains a strong commitment to contemporary collecting. Additional information is available through theCollections page of our website.

The Gallery providesa truly uniqueplace for its visitors to experience learn from andparticipatein the visual part of Walsall Council and funded as a National Portfolio Organisation by Arts Council England the Gallery is committed to delivering ambitious artistic programmes and meaningful engagement with diverse audiences.

The role:

We are seeking an ambitious and experienced Collections professional to lead the care development and interpretation of our Collections Archives and Art Library.

Reporting to the Head of Exhibitions & Collections you will play a central role in shaping how our collections are managed displayed and shared with audiences. You will oversee collections management to accreditation standards develop policies and procedures and curate a dynamic programme of exhibitions and displays.

You will also:

• Lead on the accessioning conservation and long-term care of the Gallerys collections and archives

• Develop and manage loans acquisitions and collections policies

• Curate and deliver exhibitions and displays from the collection

• Increase public access and engagement through innovative interpretation

• Build partnerships with artists donors communities and sector peers

• Line manage the Collections and Archives Assistant and support wider team development
  

This is a key role for the organisation acting as an advocate for the Collections and contributing to the Gallerys wider artistic and strategic ambitions.

You:

We areseekingan enthusiastic and dynamic individual with good attention to detail and an excellent team playertojoin usfor the next exciting stage in the Gallerys future.

As a skilled and motivated professional with a passion for collections and public engagement you will bring:

• Strong experience in collections management within a museum or gallery setting.

• Knowledge of historic modern and contemporary art.

• Experience of curating exhibitions and developing engaging displays.

• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage complex projects.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with confidence to work across teams and with partners.

• Creative thinking and the ability to develop innovative approaches to interpretation and audience engagement.

• Experience of managing budgets and resources effectively.

Why join us

At The New Art Gallery Walsall youll be part of a passionate and supportive team working within a nationally recognised cultural institution. We offer:

• The opportunity to work with an important and diverse art collection

• A leading role in shaping how collections are experienced by audiences

• Professional development and opportunities to grow your career

• The chance to contribute to an ambitious Arts Council England funded programme

Benefits:

Whilst working with Walsall Council you can take advantage of a host of employee benefits including:

• Generousannual leave entitlement (increasing after 5 years)

• Access to the LG Pension scheme

• Wide range of training opportunities

• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health support

• Cycle scheme and car leasing scheme

• 15% selected membership discount for Walsall Leisure centres other local discounts

As part of Walsall Council you will also benefit from a strong organisational commitment to wellbeing inclusion and flexible working.

Additional Information:

• Based at The New Art Gallery Walsall with some flexibility to work at other locations

• Includes occasional evening and weekend working and public engagement activity

• Opportunity to represent the Gallery at events previews and sector networks

We want our staff to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve in Walsall and at The New Art Gallery we are committed to promoting equality and anti-discriminatory practice. We welcome applications from people of all cultures races ethnicities and religions of different genders ages sexual orientations and abilities and recognise unique perspectives and contributions.

For more information on the role or to discuss aspects of this role please contactDeb Robinson Head of Exhibitions & Collections.. Additional information is also available on our website

This post is covered by the Governments Code of Practice on the English Language Fluency Duty for public sector workers. The post holder will be required to communicate verbally with customers and provide advice and/or information in accurate spoken English.

View Job Description and Employee Specification

Important note: When completing your online application form you will be asked to enter supporting information. You must enter a detailed supporting information statement describing how your skills abilities and experience meet the specific criteria included in the employee specification. If you do not include a supporting information statement you will not be shortlisted. Please also ensure that you complete the work history and qualifications sections of your application form. Please do not add a CV as we do not accept them. Please see ourInformation for Applicants leaflet for further information.

We kindly request that recruitment agencies do not contact us regarding this job vacancy. We are not accepting agency applications or referrals at this time.

At Walsall Council we appreciate that AI can be a useful tool for ideas or guidance. However we encourage you to make sure your application reflects your own voice and experiences. Over-reliance on AI can make responses feel less personal and we really want to understand what makes you unique. Your experiences skills and perspective are what set you apart so please ensure your application as a whole particularly your Supporting Information reflects your own voice.

Closing Date: Sunday 28th June 2026