Working closely with the Shop Manager and Art Commissions Team, successful candidates will take a lead role in the visual presentation of bespoke and commissioned student work for sale, support day-to-day shop operations, and manage volunteers throughout the event.

This is a hands-on role requiring demonstrable expertise in a gallery or curatorial context. Candidates must be confident discussing and articulating contemporary art and craft to a public audience, and must have direct experience working alongside curators — whether in a paid role or as a volunteer. The work on sale is bespoke and commissioned; candidates should be able to engage visitors meaningfully with individual pieces, their provenance, and their value.

This role is suited to someone who combines curatorial knowledge with hands-on visual merchandising experience and practical retail or events expertise. Candidates should be able to demonstrate a confident eye for display — arranging and presenting work in a way that is considered, commercially aware and sympathetic to the artistic context. Organised, proactive and comfortable operating across multiple teams in a fast-paced exhibition environment, they will bring both creative sensibility and operational reliability to the role.

Key Responsibilities

Exhibition Installation (from 2 June)

•       Support the installation of the ASC shop in the lead-up to the Degree Show

•       Take responsibility for the visual layout and merchandising of student work, ensuring displays are considered, coherent and sales-focused

•       Ensure all labels and supporting materials are accurately matched with artworks and priced correctly

•       Assist with general exhibition preparation as required

Pop-Up Shop Operations

•       Lead on the setup and visual display of the Degree Show pop-up shop

•       Organise and present student work for sale using visual merchandising principles

•       Operate SumUp card machines and manage sales transactions confidently

•       Brief and manage volunteers on sales etiquette, labelling and visitor interaction

•       Liaise with students to ensure work is correctly labelled, presented and stocked

•       Support restocking and reorganisation throughout the exhibition period

•       Manage and update product listings online where required

Visitor and Sales Engagement

•       Engage visitors with the work on display, communicating clearly and confidently about individual pieces, their context and their value

•       Represent the Art School Commission with professionalism, warmth and curatorial authority

•       Support students in articulating and presenting their own work to potential buyers where appropriate

Event Support (Opening Day and Exhibition Run)

•       Provide logistical support across the opening day and full exhibition run

•       Troubleshoot minor setup issues and maintain the shop area throughout busy periods

•       Act as a key point of contact for volunteers and students during the event

Essential

• If have not completed right to work Jobs4Students will need to attend a right to work appointment on Tuesday 2 June to be able to undertake this role
• Experience working in a gallery, museum or arts organisation (paid or voluntary)
• Experience working alongside or supporting curators in a professional or voluntary capacity
• Demonstrable visual merchandising skills — the ability to arrange and present artworks or creative products in a considered, sales-focused way
• Ability to discuss and articulate contemporary art and craft confidently and knowledgeably to a public audience
• Experience selling artworks or creative/handmade products
• Understanding of how to handle, label and present bespoke or commissioned work for sale
• Experience operating point-of-sale or card payment systems (e.g. SumUp)
• Confident communicating with students, staff and members of the public
• Available for the full contract period including 5 June PV 2026

Desirable

• Experience briefing, supervising or managing volunteers or team members
• Experience working on degree shows, art fairs, open studios or similar events
• Familiarity with online product listing or inventory management
• Experience working with student artists or emerging makers
• Previous involvement with Art School Commission events or the MMU Degree Show