Arts Officer

Arts Officer (Education) - Temporary | Newry, Mourne and Down District Council

Down Arts Centre, 2-6 Irish Street, Downpatrick BT30 6BP (working across the district)
£21.55 per hour (PAYE)
36 hours per week, with some evenings, weekends and bank holidays
Starting Monday 16 November 2026

Hatched Recruitment Group is recruiting an Arts Officer (Education) for Newry, Mourne and Down District Council's Culture, Arts, Heritage & Events team. You'll be based at Down Arts Centre in Downpatrick and work across the whole district.

This is a senior role. You'll manage the Arts Service jointly with the Arts Officer (Programming), and lead the visual and participatory arts and education programme. You'll report to the Arts Development Manager.

What you'll be doing:

Planning, delivering and reviewing the visual and participatory arts programme
Managing, motivating and appraising the staff who report to you
Jointly managing the Arts Service, its resources and the Down Arts Centre building
Working with artists, practitioners and partner organisations across the district
Preparing budgets and delivering the service within them
Preparing business plans, risk registers and reports for Council and committees
Negotiating contracts with artists and providers, covering insurance, security and health and safety
Designing marketing and audience development for events and seasonal programmes
Identifying and bidding for external funding
Acting as Duty Officer and keyholder for the arts centre and other venues, including call-outsWhat you'll need:

Experience in arts development, arts education or programming, ideally visual and participatory arts
Experience of managing staff, budgets and a venue or service
A good knowledge of the Northern Ireland arts sector and of artists and practitioners
Experience of working in partnership with external organisations
Strong report writing, planning and organisational skills
A full current driving licence and access to transport
Availability to work evenings, weekends and bank holidays when required, and to act as keyholderExperience of funding applications and audience development is a bonus.

What's on offer:

£21.55 per hour, paid weekly
Holiday pay accrued in line with statutory entitlement
Pension auto-enrolment (subject to eligibility)
A creative leadership role at one of the district's main arts venuesYou must be eligible to work in the UK. A Basic Access NI check is required