Informal Learning Coordinator

Walsall Council; Walsall; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government body in Walsall is seeking a coordinator for informal learning programmes at its gallery. The successful candidate will facilitate workshops, coordinate events, and engage with diverse audiences. Ideal applicants will have a strong knowledge of art, excellent communication skills, and experience in educational settings. The position requires on-site work and offers flexible working arrangements with various employee benefits.

Benefits

Generous annual leave entitlement

Access to LG Pension scheme

Training and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Excellent communication skills required for interacting with various age groups.
• Experience facilitating workshops for children, young people or adults.
• Ability to evaluate programmes through participant feedback.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate informal learning programmes and events at the gallery.
• Promote and deliver educational workshops and family events.
• Ensure effective communication and organisation of events.

Skills

Knowledge of 2D and 3D art mediums

Verbal communication with diverse audiences

Interpersonal skills

Written communication

Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, Teams)

Experience in education programmes or learning experiences

Education

Degree in art, museum studies or related field

Job description

Overview

To coordinate and develop the informal learning programmes at The New Art Gallery Walsall, and to facilitate rich, meaningful, exciting and inspiring learning experiences for children, families and adults. This post is based at The New Art Gallery Walsall and requires on-site working. Friday working is essential. Other working days are negotiable. Occasional weekend working is required. Working hours will be 9am - 3.30pm, inclusive of a 30 - minute lunch break each day.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the artist-led, weekly Sunday Art Club.
• Coordinate the Gallery\'s core family workshops: Baby & Me, Mini Makers, Wednesdays For All and Young Masters.
• Promote and deliver children\'s birthday parties.
• Coordinate the Gallery\'s annual World Book Day celebration, liaising with partner organisations.
• Facilitate workshops for children with PMLD and complex support needs in collaboration with partner organisations.
• Lead quarterly prep days with freelance artist educators to plan family programmes of workshops and events.
• Compile copy and images for the quarterly family leaflet and liaise with the graphic designer on its development; proofing drafts and signing off.
• Liaise with Gallery staff in advance of visits and at morning briefings to ensure clear understanding of workshop and event requirements.
• Coordinate the set-up and clear-away of activity rooms for workshops and events.
• Meet and greet groups and give welcome addresses in the foyer.
• Design and produce resources, examples, worksheets and Gallery trails.
• Facilitate tours, talks and workshops for adult groups.
• Document informal learning experiences with photographs and seek permission from the subjects to use for marketing purposes.
• Liaise with artist educators and the Learning Assistant: Administrator regarding the ordering of materials for workshops and events.
• Liaise with the Learning Assistant: Administrator to ensure purchase orders are raised for artist educators and other suppliers of services to the NAG.
• Evaluate the success of informal learning experiences by conducting, collating and analysing participant feedback.
• Produce year-end attendance reports, and present qualitative and quantitative data to the Head of Visitor Experience.

Qualifications

• An excellent knowledge of 2D and 3D art mediums, processes and techniques.
• The ability to communicate verbally with children and adults of all ages.
• The ability to adapt language and behaviours with different audiences, as appropriate.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Excellent written communication skills.
• Good working understanding of Microsoft Office programmes including Excel, Outlook, Word and Teams.
• Excellent knowledge of, and demonstrable interest in learning in museums, galleries and/or equivalent arts and cultural context.
• Some experience of coordinating or facilitating education programmes or learning experiences for children and young people in a museum, gallery or cultural context.
• Some experience leading practical workshops for children, young people or adults.
• Some experience giving talks or presentations on collections, exhibitions, or equivalent cultural contexts.
• Some experience of working with children and young people from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds, and a demonstrable sensitivity to and awareness of different peoples\' needs.
• A degree or equivalent in art, museum studies or learning is desired but not essential. A PGCE or equivalent is desired but not essential.
• This post is covered by the Government\'s 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.

About The New Art Gallery Walsall

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 education events and learning opportunities, an artist studio, library, café, and shop. The Gallery provides a truly unique place for its visitors to experience, learn from, and participate in the visual arts.

Benefits and Working Environment

Here at Walsall, we want to attract the best talent. As well as a satisfying and rewarding job, we offer a range of attractive benefits. Working arrangements in most jobs are flexible (you may work flexitime, full or part time and job sharing is usually available) and you can expect generous holiday entitlements, a first class pension scheme and plenty of opportunities for training and personal development.

Walsall Council is committed to creating and working to uphold an inclusive environment where every person feels empowered, valued and respected. We strongly encourage applications from individuals across diverse backgrounds, and we work to treat all applicants fairly and without discrimination. We actively promote diversity and equality, ensuring that our services and opportunities are accessible to all members of our community. We recognise that achieving true inclusivity is an ongoing journey; together, we strive to create a welcoming workplace that celebrates differences and empowers everyone to thrive.

Living in Walsall. Part of the Black Country, famous for its enterprising and industrial past, Walsall is reinventing itself to become a progressive modern community. The borough is centred around the major town of Walsall, but also includes five smaller and distinctive district centres (Bloxwich, Aldridge, Willenhall, Darlaston and Brownhills), together with numerous villages. Find out more about Living in Walsall.

Walsall Council is committed to Safer Recruitment. To achieve our commitment, we will ensure continuous development and improvement of robust recruitment processes and procedures that promote a culture of safeguarding amongst our workforce.

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

• Generous annual leave entitlement (increasing after 5 years)
• Access to the LG Pension scheme
• Training and development opportunities
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• 15% selected membership discount for Walsall Leisure centres