Open Call: Upė Foundation Curatorial Fellowship

Upė Foundation and Gasworks are looking for a Curatorial Fellow!

The Upė Foundation Curatorial Fellowship is an 12-18 month full-time paid position embedded within Gasworks’ curatorial team. Conceived as a professional development opportunity for an early-career curator with a connection to the Baltic region, the Fellowship offers sustained experience across Gasworks’ exhibitions, residencies, public programmes and wider artistic activity.

Working closely with Gasworks’ Curator and Assistant Curator, the Fellow will contribute to the coordination and delivery of Gasworks’ artistic programme and collaborate across the organisation with artists, partners, external contributors and freelancers. The role requires care, curiosity, strong organisational ability and administrative skills in an artist-focused, fast-paced environment. A particular focus of the Fellowship will be supporting the artist selected through the parallel Upė Foundation open call. The Fellow will work closely with the selected artist during their 2027 residency and contribute to the research, development, production and logistics of their subsequent solo exhibition at Gasworks in 2028.

This new role is part of a multi-year partnership between Gasworks and Upė Foundation supporting emerging artists and curators connected to the Baltic region (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) and their diasporas. The partnership also includes a fully funded artist residency in London, followed by a solo exhibition at Gasworks in 2028. Throughout the Fellowship, regular meetings with Upė will be held, and it is expected that the Fellow engages with research, travel and networking supported through Upė’s programme and with their wider fellow cohort.

Through the Fellowship, the successful candidate will benefit from:

• Structured professional development within Gasworks’ Programmes team

• Experience contributing to exhibitions, commissions, residencies, public programmes and events

• Opportunities to contribute Baltic and broader Central Eastern European research perspectives to Gasworks’ curatorial discussions

• Opportunities to build professional networks in London, the UK and internationally

• A dynamic working environment within a leading international contemporary arts organisation

Please review the job description found in the resources section below before starting your application. Then download the application form, complete and submit below. If you have any questions about the opportunity please email rosaharvest@gasworks.org.uk

This fellowship is supported by Upė Foundation, a London-based platform that draws currents between global and Baltic (Lithuanian, Latvian, Estonian) art communities, setting new artistic, curatorial and research possibilities in motion. Upė focuses on horizontal, long-term exchange through a range of partnerships, fellowships and initiatives, amplifying new ideas, risk-taking work and underexplored perspectives. Upė is drawn to a field that is living, cross-disciplinary and imaginative, open to encounters between practices, contexts and communities.

JOB TITLE: Upė Foundation Curatorial Fellow 

EMPLOYER: Gasworks, 155 Vauxhall Street, London, SE11 5RH 

REPORTS TO: Curator

CONTRACT: Fixed Term: April 2027 – September 2028, 5 days per week 

HOURS OF WORK: Monday to Friday (10 – 6pm). Some evening and weekend work will be required, compensated by time off in lieu. 

SALARY: £32,000 per annum 

THE ROLE 

The Upė Foundation Curatorial Fellowship is an 12-month*, full-time paid position embedded within Gasworks’ curatorial team. Conceived as a professional development opportunity for an early-career curator with a connection to the Baltic region, the Fellowship offers sustained experience across Gasworks’ exhibitions, residencies, public programmes and wider artistic activity. * with the possibility of a 6-month extension if all sides are in agreement.

Working closely with Gasworks’ Curator and Assistant Curator, the Fellow will contribute to the coordination and delivery of Gasworks’ artistic programme and collaborate across the organisation with artists, partners, external contributors and freelancers. The role requires care, curiosity, strong organisational ability and administrative skills in an artist-focused, fastpaced environment. A particular focus of the Fellowship will be supporting the artist selected through the parallel Upė Foundation open call. The Fellow will work closely with the selected artist during their 2027 residency and contribute to the research, development, production and logistics of their subsequent solo exhibition at Gasworks in 2028. This new role is part of a multi-year partnership between Gasworks and Upė Foundation supporting emerging artists and curators connected to the Baltic region (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia). The partnership also includes a fully funded artist residency in London, followed by a solo exhibition at Gasworks in 2028. Throughout the Fellowship, regular meetings with Upė will be held, and it is expected that the Fellow engages with research, travel and networking supported through Upė’s programme and with their wider fellow cohort.

Through the Fellowship, the successful candidate will benefit from: 

● Structured professional development within Gasworks’ Programmes team; 

● Experience contributing to exhibitions, commissions, residencies, public programmes and events; 

● Opportunities to contribute Baltic and broader Central Eastern European research perspectives to Gasworks’ curatorial discussions; 

● Opportunities to build professional networks in London, the UK and internationally; 

● A dynamic working environment within a leading international contemporary arts organisation.

THE TEAM Gasworks operates with a core staff of eleven, supported by an additional five Front of House team members. We prioritise collaboration and mutual support to advance the organisation's ambitions and objectives.

KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES EXHIBITIONS 

• Provide administrative, organisational, and practical support to develop and execute ambitious exhibitions and commissions.

 • Support registrar duties including researching materials, liaising with fabricators, managing loans, organising transport, creating lists of works, organising insurance, carrying out condition reports and overseeing documentation. 

• In consultation with the Curator and Assistant Curator, arrange transport, transfers, accommodation and hospitality for visiting artists. 

• Support with financial processes related to exhibition budgets, including seeking estimates, processing invoices and promptly providing digital records of all credit card transactions. 

• Research funding opportunities and collaborate on drafting applications and subsequent reporting. • Carry out tasks during exhibition installations as required, including condition checking, completing shipping manifest checks and basic manual tasks. 

• Draft text and interpretation materials for exhibitions and related events, collaborating with the Communications Coordinator positively to promote all Gasworks’ activities.

• Support on talks and tours to public and private groups, and Gasworks’ public programme, including event set-up.

 • Follow and contribute to the development of the Upė Foundation exhibiting artist project, bringing specialist knowledge and context of Baltic and broader Central Eastern European artistic contexts, contributing to cross-team learning. 

• A willingness to engage with Upė Foundation’s wider fellow cohort and to share insights from their research and experience. 

• Maintain and nurture relationships with exhibiting artists in alignment with Gasworks’ values.

RESIDENCIES

 • Provide practical assistance and pastoral care to residency artists, ensuring they experience a welcoming and supportive environment throughout their stay.

 • With the Assistant Curator, coordinate open calls and applications for Gasworks’ residency opportunities, tracking schedules and participating in selection processes. 

• Issue visa documentation, organise international travel and transfers for all visiting artists. 

• Support with financial processes related to the residency programme including disbursement of funds to visiting artists, processing invoices and keeping digital records of all transactions. 

• Follow and support the Upė Foundation residency artist closely, bringing specialist knowledge and context to aid their experience. 

• Facilitate access to resources and other research material needed by visiting artists during their residency. 

• Work with the Assistant Curator to produce reports on each residency artist. 

• Collaborate with the Communications Coordinator to promote, produce content, and share information on visiting artists and their activities. 

• Assist and help coordinate quarterly Open Studios events, and other residency activities including social gatherings, gallery days, away-days and events. 

• Coordinate meetings between residency artists, visiting curators and organisations. 

• Work with the Assistant Curator and Operations Coordinator to ensure that the standard of upkeep of Gasworks’ Residency House (where artists live during their residency) is kept high and that any issues are dealt with quickly and positively. 

• Ensure residency events are well documented, and the material is clearly available for marketing and reporting purposes. 

• Act as a first point of contact for general email and phone enquiries about the residencies programme and respond as necessary.

ADMINISTRATIVE 

• Maintain accessible and effective records, including minutes and contracts. 

• Actively seek to implement Gasworks’ finance and health and safety policies. 

• With the Operations Coordinator to maintain the upkeep of Gasworks’ store including all AV and technical equipment. 

GENERAL

 • Actively seek to implement Gasworks policies including the Code of Conduct and Equality and Diversity Policy. 

• Contribute to and participate in a collaborative working environment, including weekly team meetings and other conversations.

 • Contribute to the general maintenance and upkeep of Gasworks’ building. 

• Assist with Gasworks’ participation programme, where relevant.

 • Attend exhibition previews and special events, representing Gasworks at external events as agreed by the Curator. 

This Job Description is a guide to the nature of the work required. It is not wholly comprehensive or restrictive and does not form part of the contract of employment. 

PERSON SPECIFICATION 

The successful candidate will possess the following: 

ESSENTIAL

 • A demonstrated connection to, or sustained engagement with, the Baltic region, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, or their diasporas. This may include lived experience, heritage, working knowledge of a Baltic language, relevant research, or curatorial work with Baltic artists, institutions or contexts.

 • Experience of exhibition administration, including logistics, installations and deinstallations, managing loans, transport, insurance and condition-checking. 

• Experience of directly supporting artists.

 • Excellent communications skills. 

• Strong attention to detail.

• Ability to multi-task, delegate and prioritise within a busy working environment. 

• Experience of tracking and reconciling project budgets. 

• Experience of organising events. 

• Familiarity with Adobe products: Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator 

• Knowledge or keen interest of contemporary visual arts.

• Strong ability to build team-spirit in the workplace. 

• Confident working independently but also as part of a small team.

DESIRABLE SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES

 • Experience of working in a small-scale arts organisation. 

• Familiarity with setting up audio visual equipment. 

• Knowledge of Sketchup for basic exhibition layouts. 

• Experience of using CRM systems. 

• Experience of writing or contributing to exhibition texts.

• Working knowledge of Lithuanian, Latvian or Estonian. 

RIGHT TO WORK, VISA & RELOCATION SUPPORT 

Gasworks will consider visa sponsorship for this fixed-term Fellowship where required. Visarelated costs will be covered by Upė Foundation, subject to individual circumstances. For candidates relocating for the Fellowship, Gasworks will cover return flights at the beginning and end of the contract, up to £250, subject to individual circumstances. 

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION 

Gasworks is committed to equal opportunities. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and are committed to building a diverse workforce. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian, and ethnically diverse candidates, and disabled candidates, who are currently under-represented in employment within the visual arts.

Gasworks is fully accessible and compliant with the Equality Act 2010. We are a Disability Confident committed employer and guarantee to meet with anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post. By ‘minimum criteria’ we mean that the individual must provide us with evidence in their application form, which demonstrates that they meet the qualifications, skills or experience defined as essential in the Person Specification. The selection process will include a completed application form and two rounds of panel interviews. If you require any different arrangements at any stage of the selection process, please contact Rosa Harvest on rosaharvest@gasworks.org.uk 

BENEFITS 

• 25 days of annual leave plus UK public holidays, pro-rata per financial year.

• Employer pension contribution of 5% of eligible salary. 

• Use of the Gallery’s ICOM membership card, providing free entry to a range of arts organisations across the UK and internationally. 

• UK travel and networking opportunities. 

• Discounts on Gasworks’ limited-edition prints. 

• Training and mentoring opportunities. 

EXTENSION REVIEW 

• A formal joint review will be undertaken at month 10 of the fellowship. 

• Continuation beyond 12 months is subject to written agreement and formal review by both Gasworks and Upė Foundation, based on performance, alignment with institutional objectives, and available resources. 

• If extended, the fellowship will run for a maximum total of 18 months.