Vacancies
Collections Manager – Ref: EE04026
G9: £42,839 – £46,142 per annum.
The New Art Gallery Walsall (Permanent, 37 hours per week)
Monday – Friday. Weekend working and evenings will also be required.
The venue:
The New Art Gallery Walsall is 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, lively learning, education and community events, an artist studio, library, café, conference facilities and 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 Gogh. The 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 the Collections page of our website.
The Gallery provides a truly unique place for its visitors to experience, learn from, and participate in the visual arts. As 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 Gallery’s 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 Gallery’s wider artistic and strategic ambitions.
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 contact Deborah Robinson, Head of Exhibitions & Collections. Deborah.Robinson@walsall.gov.uk
View: Job Description and Employee Specification
Closing Date: Sunday 28th June 2026
Exhibitions & Studio Programme artist proposals
We pride ourselves in supporting artists at all stages of their career through a diverse Exhibitions and Studio programme that seeks to serve local regional, national and international audiences and improve inclusivity in the arts. Most exhibitions are proposed and curated by the Gallery’s programming team up to three years in advance. Artist residencies are normally arranged by invitation or through open calls. We welcome proposals from artists for an exhibition or residency, and we will consider these at quarterly meetings involving a wide cross section of staff. Proposals can be submitted at any time.
Please bear in mind when writing a proposal our purpose for each part of our programme. We strongly advise that you visit The New Art Gallery Walsall before making a proposal.
Exhibitions: Floor 3
The Floor 3 programme presents work by established living artists through a diverse programme of solo and group exhibitions that engage audiences with the very best in international contemporary art and compelling topics of the day. The programme involves a diverse mix of solo and group exhibitions in a range of media, often involving newly commissioned work. Connections are often made with the Gallery’s Collections and artists from diverse geographies, communities and generations are regularly brought together. Composed of four spacious galleries, this floor is particularly suited to the presentation of large two dimensional work, sculpture and installation.
Exhibitions: Floor 4
The Floor 4 programme prioritises working with West Midlands artists to support them with the development of new work, often leading to the production of their first institutional solo exhibition. We regularly develop group exhibitions in partnership with other West Midlands arts organisations to nurture emerging regional talent and networks.
Exhibitions: Community Gallery
The Community Gallery is our Ground Floor Gallery, and its aim is to connect art and artists with the wider West Midlands community. It is used as a space to try to capture new audiences, an access point and ‘way in’ to our programme, and to encourage visitors to explore further and get involved in what the Gallery has to offer. It provides a focus for works created with or by local communities, often addressing topical subjects or socially urgent themes.
Collections: Floor 2 temporary exhibition space
As a fully Accredited Museum, we are committed to providing access to our Collections for all, and using them for civic engagement, enjoyment and enlightenment. To compliment the permanent presentation of The Garman Ryan Collection across Floors 1 & 2 we produce both solo and thematic group exhibitions in the dedicated temporary exhibition space that make links to artists in the Garman Ryan collection, their life and times or wider themes within our Collections. We also commission new projects with living artists who want to engage with aspects of The Garman Ryan Collection in various ways. We often involve diverse communities with the presentation of our Collections, supporting alternative readings of artworks and challenging prevailing narratives.
Studio Programme & Artist Development
The Artists’ Studio programme occupies a dedicated studio space on Floor 1. The curated programme hosts both individual and group residencies of varying lengths, which are tailored to artist’s needs. The programme focuses on support for emerging to mid-career West Midlands artists at a critical point in their career. The focus is on nurturing talent, artist development and studio practice rather than the production of exhibition-ready work. Resident artists are encouraged to pursue new work, test ideas and engage with the unique context of our building and locality. Resident artists benefit from time and space to explore their practice and professional aspirations through dialogue, mentoring and guidance, tailored external studio visits, public events, technical support and access to collections, exhibitions and resources, including a well-stocked Art Library. This programme has the flexibility to engage with a broad range of contemporary art, including participatory, research-led and online practices.
Work experience and volunteering
We regularly offer opportunities for work experience and volunteering for people over the age of 18. Find out more.