About the Royal Academy of Arts
The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is one of the UK’s foremost arts institutions, whose purpose is to be a clear, strong voice for art and artists. Our public programme promotes the creation, study and enjoyment of art to a wide range of audiences through exhibitions, education and debate.
The Royal Academy has undergone a major transformation for its 250th anniversary: launching a significantly expanded campus in the heart of London; diversifying and extending its programming beyond the world-class exhibitions for which we are best known, welcoming record numbers of visitors, and achieving a step-change in its public profile. As we embark on our next 250 years, we have a major opportunity to build on our recent successes, and to reach and engage more people with all that we do.
Deepening our impact in learning and teaching is a core strategic objective underpinning our 5-year plan. Our aim is to position the RA as a destination not only for world-class exhibitions but for an expanded programme of events, lectures, practical courses and learning for all levels. Over the past decade, the RA has greatly expanded its learning programmes, expanding opportunities for families, instituting long-standing partnerships with organisations serving vulnerable adults, adding programmes for teachers, expanding the offer of events and lectures and launching an ambitious programme of courses and classes for adults.
About this position
The Director of Learning and Collections will be responsible for building on this success, (1) shaping a responsive and inspiring Learning Portfolio which creates unique experiences with art for primary, secondary, college students and teachers; (2) structuring an outstanding public programme for adults – rooted in creative pedagogy and linked to the RA collection, its displays, its exhibitions and visual culture in general ; and (3) building on our ambition to establish the academic excellence of the RA’s new Masters in Cultural Leadership. The role will also be responsible for Collections management and specifically identifying opportunities for greater collaboration between our Collections and the Learning Programme. The Director of Learning and Collections will lead the RA in developing an outstanding programme that spans a broad audience from school children through families, & adults; and engages community and access groups who might otherwise face barriers to participating in the arts. Building on the history of the RA as a centre of debate and a community of artists and with an emphasis on learning through making art and exchanging ideas, the DL&C will play an active role in shaping the overall programme, measuring impact, fundraising, and executing on strategies to maximise income from ticketed events.
The Director of Learning and Public Programmes will lead a team of ~c.30 FTEs. Supported by their team, they will lead on setting the learning agenda at the RA and continuing to sustain and preserve the Collections. The Director of Learning and Collections will also be an agent for change at the RA, helping to place learning at the heart of the organisation and working towards even more visitor-focused culture.
The benefits we offer
- A very generous pension, contributing up to 10% of your salary into a defined contribution scheme
- Along with 25 days’ holiday and 8 bank holidays each year (pro rata), we close between Christmas Eve and New Year, allowing staff additional paid leave
- Staff are encouraged to attend free History of Art and life drawing classes on site
- We also have a staff choir, running and craft clubs
- Best of all, we have reciprocal agreements with many leading museums and art galleries in London and New York that enable you to enter for free with your staff pass.
Closing date for applications: 24 February 2019 (midnight).
