Summer Exhibitions Assistant

The Vacancy Please note, we have two Summer Exhibition Assistant positions available, both of which are being offered on a fixed term contract basis. 1x 8 months (January – August 2027) 1x 6 months (March – August 2027) About This Role An essential part of the London art calendar, the Royal Academy of Arts’ Summer Exhibition is the largest open contemporary art exhibition in the world, drawing together a wide range of new and recent work by established and emerging artists.

In preparation for the Summer Exhibition 2026 we are now looking for Summer Exhibition Assistants to support the team in all aspects of the organisation and delivery of the Summer Exhibition 2026, and to assist with the selling of artworks throughout the exhibition.

About You The successful candidate will be a team player who is genuinely friendly and helpful, with excellent communication skills, and a flexible ‘can-do’ approach to working. You will be computer literate, with knowledge of databases and an exceptional eye for detail, along with first class customer service skills. Sales experience would be advantageous.

Demonstrable knowledge of the Summer Exhibition and the ethos of the Royal Academy is highly valued.

Occasionally this role will be required to work outside of usual working hours, so a willingness to work additional hours and assist at morning and evening events for a limited period is expected.

The Company The RA dates way back to 1768 when a group of artists and architects persuaded King George lll to help them to ‘establish a society for promoting the Art of Design'. The original academy, in Pall Mall, was less than 10 meters long. Since then, there have been many changes, though the RA’s core purpose of bringing art and design to a broad audience and championing art and artists still holds true.

Today we are a contemporary art organisation hosting internationally acclaimed exhibitions and through investment in employee training and development, with courses such as Unconscious Bias, LGBTQ+ Awareness, Bystander, and Mental Health First Aid training, we are striving to foster a safe space for everyone through positive action. We also have Employee Network Groups, Ways In Groups, and an Employee Council so every employee has a voice and a way to feel heard by colleagues through the CEO.

The RA is truly a unique place, both as an attraction to our visitors, but also as a workplace. Our people are at the heart of all we do, and we support a broad and inspiring mix of departments; from exhibitions, curators, art handlers, researchers, publishers, and digital to schools and education, visitor welcome, fundraisers, and corporate support.

The Benefits Exhibitions

Reciprocal Agreements with galleries across the UK

Enhanced Pension

Generous employer contributions

Enhanced Holiday

25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays

Wellbeing

Access to a virtual GP Service and Mental Health First Aiders

Agile Working

The opportunity to work flexibly

RA Staff Council

Where your views are heard and listened to

Employee Clubs

Football, Staff Choir and more