Community Learning Producer

THE WALLACE COLLECTION

The Wallace Collection is a national museum housing unsurpassed masterpieces of painting, sculpture, furniture, arms and armour, and porcelain. Built over the 18th and 19th centuries by the Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace, it is one of the finest and most celebrated collections in the world.

The Collection was given to the British nation in 1897 by Lady Wallace, so that it could be kept together and enjoyed by generations of visitors. It was an astonishing bequest and one of the greatest gifts of artworks ever to be transferred into public ownership. Today, we care for the collection through research and conservation, and preserve it for future generations. Our aim is to share the collection with as broad an audience as possible.

DIGITAL AND AUDIENCES AT THE WALLACE COLLECTION

The Digital and Audiences Department has three key aims: 

• To develop an engaging and inclusive Learning programme, ensuring that all audiences (both in person and online) maximise their engagement with the Collection in the most meaningful and relevant ways to the individual;
• To constantly evolve and advance the Collection’s digital presence and infrastructure to ensure efficient operations, to allow the museum to communicate effectively online, to better understand its audience and to expand its digital reach.
• To enact dynamic and effective marketing and PR strategies to maximise engagement across social and web channels, print and out-of-home media. We champion audience development, promote exhibitions and drive footfall to the museum.

The Digital and Audiences Department enables people of all ages to develop a greater understanding and enjoyment of art. Through a wide range of opportunities that combine discussion, observation and creative activities, learning programmes aim to inspire primary and secondary students and teachers, children and their families, adults and young people, and our diverse communities. The department also delivers accessible events for children and adults with SEND, and for D/deaf and visually-impaired people. Its extensive outreach programmes connect with older people living in residential care as well as children and adults in long-term hospital care. And its growing range of downloadable resources support self-directed learning in the classroom and at home.

The Department also undertakes effective management of the Collection’s digital systems including its CRM, website and CMS, ticketing system and participation in the global Bloomberg Connects app for smartphones, enabling the Collection to maximise its digital potential and its engagement with audiences online.

We also present the Collection to the world and aim to increase and sustain audience engagement, encouraging new and repeat, and real and virtual visitors. We achieve this through a broad spectrum of marketing, press/PR activity and targeted campaigns. We support the Collection’s revenue streams including exhibitions, retail and events.

OVERALL PURPOSE THE ROLE

To produce creative and inclusive learning programmes that enable participation for hard-to-reach and underrepresented audiences. The role manages programme development and implementation digitally, onsite, and through outreach in our community. The role recruits and supervises zero-hour Learning Assistants.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for the day-to-day delivery of the Collection’s community engagement programmes, ensuring they are of the highest quality, that they are fully accessible, and that they meet objectives for audiences, as well as funder and internal KPIs.
• With the Head of Digital and Audiences, set strategic direction for the Collection’s engagement with community audiences, adapting programmes to their shifting needs and to external factors, including government policy.
• Produce targeted learning programmes and projects that help fulfil the Collection’s commitment to accessibility; this includes and is not limited to implementing programmes for people with additional needs, who are D/deaf or who have visual impairment, or who are older and living with dementia, attending day centres or living in residential care.
• Produce targeted learning programmes and projects that help fulfil the Collection’s commitment to EDI; this includes and is not limited to implementing programmes for people who are underrepresented in museum audiences or who may otherwise not have engaged with the Collection’s mainstream learning programmes before.
• Implement community programmes digitally, onsite and through outreach, ensuring effective planning and delivery, and safe practice at all times.
• Provide effective and motivational management for several zero-hour Learning Assistants, coordinating their recruitment and training, and supporting individual professional development.
• Collaborate to implement necessary adjustments to other learning programmes to ensure the widest audience participation; advise on and help implement necessary accessibility adjustments to the Collection’s physical and digital spaces.
• Develop effective working relationships with Learning Assistants, freelance educators, artists and writers to secure the most creative and accessible session content and delivery.
• Manage the delivery of all live sessions, including coordinating Learning Assistants and freelancers to host sessions online, set up sessions onsite, and deliver outreach sessions in the community, both in London and further afield.
• Foster strong relationships with relevant charities and community organisations to grow participation; regularly consult with audience networks to develop and enhance programme content.
• Ensure effective programme reporting, administration and data recording, and evaluation; troubleshoot and proactively respond to feedback to improve the offer.
• Ensure efficient budgetary spend and accurate record keeping.
• Work with Marketing colleagues and the Head of Digital and Audiences to promote community programmes through the website, regular newsletters and other promotional channels.
• Ensure proactive compliance with the Collection’s Safeguarding and H&S policies, including carrying out risk assessments and producing Method Statements.
• Undertake other duties as reasonably directed by the Collection; be flexible with availability outside normal working hours when required.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Knowledge and Experience:

• Experience of working in the cultural learning sector, preferably with hard-to-teach and/or underrepresented audiences.
• Experience of line management or supervision of junior roles is desirable but not essential.
• Experience of working effectively with freelance educators, artists and writers to produce creative, ambitious and accessible learning programmes.
• Demonstrable knowledge of relevant learning pedagogy and of best practice for engaging hard-to-reach groups with cultural collections.
• Knowledge of and sensitivity towards the differing needs of community audiences; knowledge of current accessibility legislation.
• A degree in teaching, Art History, Fine Art or a field related to the Wallace Collection is desirable but not essential; equivalent work experience is relevant.

Skills and Competencies:

• Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to communicate clearly and effectively through direct delivery of learning content.
• Highly-developed interpersonal skills with the ability to work with a wide range of individuals.
• Strong time management skills with an ability to plan effectively and manage competing priorities successfully.
• Ability to problem-solve and work on own initiative without close supervision.
• Good knowledge of administrative packages including CRMs, Microsoft Office365 and Zoom.