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Talent Development Opportunity – Assistant Curator (Learning & Engagement)
Deadline for applications: Wednesday 21st January 2026
Interviews: Thursday 29th January 2026
Start date: End of February 2026
The Turnpike Gallery is offering a Talent Development Opportunity for an Assistant Curator (Learning & Engagement) to join our team from February to July 2026. This role is designed to nurture emerging professionals, providing hands-on experience and sector insight while supporting activities within an established visual arts venue. Priority will be given to applicants living and/or working in the borough of Wigan.
As part of a small, dedicated team, you will contribute to the delivery of exhibitions and learning programmes, including our Arts Council-funded project, Make.Believe. This is an ideal opportunity for someone looking to develop their expertise in visual arts education and engagement while working alongside experienced professionals.
What you will gain
- Build confidence and practical skills in gallery education and community engagement.
- Expand professional networks and deepen knowledge of the arts sector.
- Experience in curating exhibitions and facilitating participatory arts activities.
- Skills in planning and delivering workshops for diverse audiences.
- Insight into marketing, operations, and project management within a gallery setting.
- Mentorship and on-the-job learning to support your career progression.
Commitment
- Duration: February – July 2026
- Time: 2 days per week for up to 20 weeks (flexible schedule, some evenings/weekends)
- Support: Structured guidance and professional development throughout the placement
- Payment: £150 per day
Who we’re looking for
Someone eager to learn and contribute, with experience or interest in:
- Organising exhibitions and working with artists.
- Community arts and educational workshops.
- Facilitating creative sessions for children and adults.
- Understanding a range of art materials and techniques.
- Writing and designing content for marketing and interpretation.
Key Activities
- Exhibitions: Assist with planning, research, and installation of artworks.
- Learning & Engagement: Support workshops, family sessions, and resource development.
- Make.Believe Project: Collaborate with artists and producers on gallery and community activities.
- Marketing & Operations: Gain experience in social media, event promotion, and front-of-house duties.
Location
The Turnpike Gallery, Leigh Library, Civic Square, Leigh WN7 1EB, and Higher Folds estate in Leigh WN7 2XY.
How to Apply
Submit a CV, covering letter (Word/PDF up to 4 pages or audio/video up to 4 minutes), and equal opportunities monitoring form to theturnpikegallery@wigan.gov.uk by 15th January 2026.
Your covering letter should include:
- Why you’re interested in this development opportunity.
- The skills and experience you bring.
- Examples of relevant work/projects (include images if appropriate).
For questions or an informal conversation about the role, please contact theturnpikegallery@wigan.gov.uk (Please note that the gallery office will be closed from 24th December 2025 to 4th January 2026).
Additional information
Introduction to MAKE. BELIEVE.
MAKE. BELIEVE. is a two-year ACE funded programme of creative activity led by The Turnpike Gallery, designed to reach new audiences, address inequalities in our community and co-create new artworks in Wigan & Leigh.
The project is woven together in three strands which will come together in the Make. Believe exhibition in May 2026, celebrating the creative imagination of our communities.
Community led engagement project with Higher Folds residents
We will deliver a programme of participatory arts and creative storytelling in partnership with HF Works CIC & Resilient Cities Network. Higher Folds estate in east Leigh is an isolated, often misunderstood community and an area of significant deprivation (top 8% in UK). Residents tell us they ‘just want to be given a chance’. There is a wealth of creativity within the neighbourhood – from the outsider art of individuals to the collective folklore stories of Marble Woods, the Monkey Tree and the epic tree house created by a local resident out of recycled materials.
Creative participation and learning with Wigan borough communities
For our wider community workshops, we’ll explore a similar DIY approach to creative making. Taking a cue from the Turnpike Print Collection, with works by artists such as David Hockney and Patrick Caulfield, we will share different printmaking methods and innovative techniques to encourage people’s creativity through a touring workshop programme.
Local Artist and Organisational Development
The programme will be anchored by professional development opportunities and paid work for artists, including the creation of a peer advisory group for The Turnpike Gallery to share sector learning, ensure relevance and quality and raise our ambition.
About The Turnpike Gallery
The Turnpike Gallery is an arts and exhibition space based in Leigh and managed by Wigan Council. Our small team run an ambitious and dynamic visual arts programme rooted in our local community. We deliver quality cultural activity through collaboration with artists and local people, platforming youth voices and nurturing new connections in the town of Leigh, the Wigan borough and beyond.
About HF Works CIC
HF Works (external link) is a community-led organisation dedicated to empowering young people and supporting families living on Higher Folds housing estate in Leigh. They provide a safe space for growth and development to raise aspirations and break the cycle of low expectations.