VISITOR SERVICES ASSISTANT

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Application deadline: Sunday 26 April 2026 (Midday)

Interview date: Wednesday 13 May 2026.

THE ROLES

Visitor Services Assistant – Thursday and Sunday (10.5 hours per week)

Visitor Services Assistant – Wednesday Gallery shift + Reception Monday/Thursday (half day) (9.75 hours per week)

Part-time, permanent

HOURS: 10.5 and 9.75

SALARY/WAGE: £13.45 p/h

ROLE DESCRIPTION:

Spike Island is looking for friendly, motivated and organised individuals to join our lively contemporary arts organisation.

Visitor Services Assistants play a vital role in the everyday running of our gallery and events programme. We seek enthusiastic, committed and conscientious individuals to deliver a high-quality visitor experience for all types of audiences. You will be responsible for the public and the artworks on display and enriching the experience of all those who engage with us.

This role requires excellent communication and people management skills, a strong visible presence and a responsive, can-do approach to meet the diverse needs of our building users and the wider public. If you are passionate about contemporary art, feel comfortable talking about exhibitions to large groups of people and enjoy delivering exceptional customer service, we would love to hear from you.

Responsibilities

• Deliver a warm, friendly welcome to all visitors and building users.
• Provide an efficient front-of-house service, handling enquiries in person, by phone and email.
• Ensure gallery and reception spaces are clean, well presented and up to date.
• Share exhibition information and confidently engage visitors with the programme.
• Invigilate the gallery, ensuring the safety of visitors and artworks.
• Monitor visitor numbers, gather feedback and support audience development.
• Encourage donations and promote supporter opportunities.
• Deliver exhibition tours.
• Assist with events, including set-up and occasional evening work.
• Follow all health and safety, security and emergency procedures.
• Support an inclusive, accessible and welcoming environment for all visitors.

Skills & Experience

• Strong customer service skills with a welcoming, approachable manner.
• Excellent communication and confidence engaging with a wide range of audiences.
• Organised and reliable, with good administrative skills.
• Ability to remain calm, professional and proactive in a busy public environment.
• Attention to detail and commitment to maintaining high presentation standards.
• Interest in contemporary visual art and engaging audiences with exhibitions.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Commitment to diversity, inclusion and accessibility

HOW TO APPLY

• Download and view the person specification
• Download and view the job application form
• Apply using the form below (CV’s will not be accepted).

We employ anonymous shortlisting, so please make sure that your application does not contain your name, address or other personal data.

• Complete the online anonymous equal opportunities monitoring after submitting.

AFTER YOU APPLY

Interview date/s: Wednesday 13 May 2026

Spike Island is a Disability Confident Committed employer. We offer guaranteed interviews to applicants who meet the essential criteria for this role who identify as having a disability.

If you have any access needs, please list any requirements or reasonable adjustment requests  in the submission form below, and we will work with you to see they are met at the interview stage and in the event of the offer of employment. This includes Access to Work and other reasonable adjustments, for example if you need a BSL interpreter at interview, or if you would need an adapted workstation. If you’re not sure, please get in touch.

ABOUT SPIKE ISLAND

Spike Island is a dynamic arts centre and registered charity that supports, produces and presents contemporary art across an 80,000 square foot former industrial building near Bristol’s harbourside. We run a diverse programme of exhibitions and events; and directly support artists through major new commissions, subsidised studios and development opportunities. We also offer bespoke exhibition services and are home to Emmeline café, workspaces for designers and creative businesses, and UWE Bristol’s Fine Arts programme.

EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AND ACCESS STATEMENT

Spike Island is a Disability Confident Committed employer, who values equity, diversity and inclusion, and is committed to anti-racism and to addressing inequality in the arts sector. We strongly encourage applications from people who identify as D/deaf, disabled or neurodivergent, come from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds and/or people of the Global Majority.

Spike Island will work with applicants to ensure their access needs are met during the interview process, and during the course of any employment offered, while also ensuring that these needs will not influence our decision-making. After submitting your application, you will be prompted to complete an online anonymous equal opportunities monitoring questionnaire.

ANY FURTHER QUERIES?

If you have any questions or queries relating to this opportunity or the application process, please get in touch by emailing  recruit@spikeisland.org.uk or calling 0117 929 2266 and asking to speak to the Office & HR Manager.