JOBS

This is an exciting opportunity to join Spike Island’s team as Senior Technician, Artistic Programme (Maternity Cover).

Spike Island is an experimental space where art is taught, made and enjoyed – a vibrant social hub and one of the UK’s leading centres for contemporary art. Driven by a spirit of possibility and experimentation, we have been asking ourselves and our audiences ‘what if…?’ for the past 50 years. Today, Spike Island is a pioneering ecosystem of creative communities that’s shaping the future of art in Bristol and beyond.

Housed in an 80,000 sq ft former tea packing factory in Bristol’s harbourside, we produce and present an internationally acclaimed programme of museum-scale exhibitions, new commissions, learning and engagement activities – always with free admission and a commitment to broadening access to contemporary art for all. Our strength is in commissioning ambitious work by UK-based and international artists at pivotal moments in their careers.

As a home to over 70 subsidised artists’ studios and a wide range of making facilities, we provide vital infrastructure for artistic development and are a thriving site for learning: over 380 artists and creative practitioners benefit from our sector-leading professional development programme (Spike Island Associates). Over 250 young people also study Fine Art and Curating at Spike Island through our partnership with the University of the West of England (UWE).

At the heart of this work is a collaborative technical team that delivers ambitious exhibitions and projects to a high professional standard, working closely with artists, curators and external partners to realise innovative installations within our galleries and across the building. We present exhibitions by artists working across all mediums, from large-scale installation to experimental AV practices.

THE ROLE

The Senior Technician (Artistic Programme) will contribute to the planning, coordination and delivery of Spike Island’s programme, supporting the technical production of exhibitions, commissions and events. We are looking for someone with proven technical experience in gallery or arts settings, who can confidently manage exhibition installs, oversee freelance technicians and contractors, and maintain high standards of art handling, fabrication and health & safety.

This is a varied, hands-on role requiring strong technical knowledge, excellent organisational skills and the ability to work collaboratively with artists and curators to deliver projects on schedule and within budget. The successful candidate will play an important role in ensuring that Spike Island’s artistic programme is delivered efficiently, safely and to an exceptional standard.

This role is offered as a maternity cover contract for a minimum of 11 months, with the possibility of extension up to one year. The role is based on-site at Spike Island, with occasional remote working available.

Normal working hours are 28 hours per week, Tuesday to Friday, between 9am–5pm, with occasional evening and weekend work required according to the programme. Hours to increase to full time (35hrs) per week during exhibition changeover periods (three weeks per three seasons a year).

Salary: £28,500 p.a pro rata

HOW TO APPLY

Application deadline: Monday, 1 June 2026, at midday

Interviews: week commencing 22 June 2026

To read full job description and person specification and for details on how to apply, please visit:
https://www.spikeisland.org.uk/jobs-and-opportunities/spike-island-is-recruiting-for-a-senior-technician/

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.

Spike Island 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.