Arts Council Jobs UK | Submit Your Job Application

Explore Arts Council careers if you want to build a career in the culture and creative field. As England’s main public body for the arts, museums, and libraries, Arts Council England is in charge of funding, strategy, and support for all of the country’s artistic institutions. The organisation has jobs that involve the arts, culture, and community across the whole of the country, whether you live in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, or another big city.

When you look at Arts Council jobs, you can find roles in policy and research, customer and client service, funding and relationship management, and digital and tech. ACE encourages a culture of learning, effect, and inclusion, no matter if you are a recent graduate eager to start your career in the cultural sector, a professional who speaks more than one language, or someone who has experience in arts management, operations, or technology. You can make a difference in how people across England can experience culture by contributing here.

Job Details:

Arts Council Jobs in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds

A brief overview of Arts Council:

Arts Council England is a public organisation that operates in the cultural-policy and public funding sectors. It offers strategic guidance and investment to cultural institutions, museums, libraries, and arts organisations throughout England. ACE, an arm’s-length public entity sponsored by the UK government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), was established in 1994 as the successor to the Arts Council of Great Britain.

The organization’s primary services consist of the distribution of National Lottery funding, the awarding of grants and financing programs to cultural organisations, the establishment of strategic priorities (such as through its “Let’s Create” strategy), and the support of access, diversity, and excellence in arts and culture. Its commitment to diversity and inclusion, its national reach, and its position as a critical connector between the cultural sector, government, and communities are its greatest assets. ACE is widely acknowledged for its critical role in fostering the growth of cultural and creative industries in the United Kingdom and for its leadership as a funder in the arts sector.

Available Job Positions:

Arts Council England offers a wide array of roles spanning across funding & grants management, relationship and stakeholder management, digital/tech, operations and support services. Whether you’re passionate about cultural policy, digital transformation, community engagement or strategic investment, ACE provides career paths across functions and seniority levels. Here is a friendly introduction to the variety of jobs you might find at ACE:

• Relationship Manager (Theatres & Diversity)
• Senior Delivery Manager – Culture & Place
• Officer – Global Talent Visas
• Tech Champion – Digital Accessibility
• Assistant – Development Initiatives Operations
• Area Director – Midlands Region

Qualifications and Abilities:

Having a workforce equipped to handle funding programmes, cultural strategy, stakeholder relationships and digital operations is essential for Arts Council England’s success. Here’s a friendly overview of what the organisation commonly looks for in candidates. Working at ACE means you’ll be part of a team that supports culture, deals with policy or funding, or delivers digital or operational excellence. So the baseline qualifications and skills help ensure you thrive and contribute.

• A bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) is often preferred, especially for specialist or senior roles.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills; ability to build relationships with arts organisations, stakeholders and partners.
• Experience in or interest in the cultural, arts, museum, library or creative sectors is a plus (for some roles).
• Ability to work in fast-changing, multi-stakeholder environments and manage complexity.
• For digital or tech roles: experience or aptitude with accessibility, digital platforms, UX, data or tech project management (e.g., “Tech Champion – Digital Accessibility” role)
• For funding/grants roles: ability to assess applications, understand budgets and risk; for example the “Relationship Manager, Theatre & Diversity” role emphasises talent for funding assessment.
• Flexibility to work hybrid models, willingness to travel regionally if required, and commitment to the organisation’s values of diversity, inclusion and public service.

Good Salary and Benefits:

Arts Council England offers compensation and benefits that reflect its role as a national public body with a wide variety of roles – from entry-level to senior leadership. While exact figures vary significantly by role, seniority and region, below are estimated ranges and typical benefit themes.

Estimated Salary Ranges (UK):

• Entry-level Assistant roles (e.g., “Assistant, Customer Service” in Manchester) ~ £22,000-£30,000 per annum.
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• Mid-level Officer/Manager roles (e.g., “Officer, Global Talent Visas” in Manchester) ~ £32,000+ per annum.
• Senior leadership roles (e.g., Area Director, Midlands Region) ~ £94,000 per annum.

Employee Benefits – typical examples:

• Hybrid working and flexible arrangements (many posts note hybrid working options)
• Final salary pension scheme (noted in multiple role descriptions)
• Generous annual leave allowance and public-sector working terms.
• Learning and development opportunities, including apprenticeships and professional qualifications (ACE mentions being Investors in People Gold)
• A mission-driven work environment where you contribute to art, culture and societal impact.

What Is the Process for Applying for Arts Council Jobs?

If you’re ready to pursue a career at Arts Council England, here’s a clear step-by-step guide to applying successfully.

• Visit the official Arts Council England careers portal via their website and browse available roles by location, category and contract type.
• Use the search filters to refine by region (e.g., London, Manchester, Birmingham) and function (e.g., funding, digital, operations).
• Review the job description carefully: note the required skills, criteria, contract type (permanent, fixed term) and closing date.
• Create a candidate profile or sign-in if required: fill in your contact details, upload your CV/resumé (and portfolio, if relevant) and any supporting documents.
• Write a tailored cover letter or application responses: address how your experience meets the specific role, reference the organisation’s values and culture, and highlight why you want to work at ACE.
• Submit your application before the deadline. You may receive a confirmation email; monitor your inbox (and spam folder) for updates.
• If shortlisted, prepare for interview/assessment: review preparation tips above, be ready for competency and role-specific questions.
• After applying, stay responsive: check for email or portal messages, keep your availability updated, and continue exploring other roles within ACE or the wider cultural sector while you wait.

HR Email Address:

Title: “Add the title to the subject line”
Send Your CV To: recruitment@artscouncil.org.uk

Apply Here

Available Job Opportunities

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: How do I apply for a job at Arts Council England?
You apply via the official careers site of Arts Council England. Search for roles by location and category, create or sign-in to your candidate profile, upload your CV/resumé and supporting documents, fill out the application form, and submit by the closing date.

Q2: What types of roles does Arts Council England hire for?
Roles include relationship management (for arts organisations), funding and investment officers, policy and strategy roles, digital/tech functions (e.g., digital accessibility, analytics), operations/support roles (finance, HR), and senior leadership roles (Area Director, regional role).

Q3: What kinds of experience or qualifications are needed?
Qualifications vary by role: entry roles may ask for strong communication and support skills; mid-level roles often require experience in stakeholder management, arts/creative sector or digital projects; senior roles demand leadership, strategic insight and sectoral knowledge. Degrees may be preferred, but relevant experience also counts.

Q4: What salary and benefits can I expect?
Salary depends on role and seniority: entry roles may start around £22,000–£30,000; mid-level roles around £30,000+; senior roles can exceed £90,000. Benefits often include a final salary pension scheme, hybrid working, generous leave, development opportunities, and being part of a mission-driven organisation.

Q5: Does Arts Council England support early-career applicants or apprenticeships?
Yes — ACE has an Early Careers Programme and apprenticeships. More than half of apprentices have secured other roles within ACE before the end of their programmes. ACE is Investors in People Gold and has strong learning and development commitments.