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Internship Overview: Galleries Student Engagement Intern
Job Summary
The University of Leeds is offering a unique internship tailored exclusively for current students looking to gain practical experience in gallery operations, event management, and public engagement. Working within Cultural Collections & Galleries (CC&G)—part of the University of Leeds Libraries network—the Student Engagement Intern will play a crucial role in bridging the gap between student life and campus cultural institutions.
In this role, you will help design, market, execute, and evaluate student-focused cultural events, creative workshops, and outreach initiatives. Leveraging your own perspective as a student, you will champion the university’s collections, drive student footfall, collect feedback to refine gallery programming, and lead a mentored project that leaves a lasting legacy for the galleries.
Key Position Details
- Employer: University of Leeds (Cultural Collections & Galleries / University Libraries)
- Location: Leeds, United Kingdom (Campus-based with options for hybrid/flexible working)
- Eligibility: Open strictly to current University of Leeds students
- Contract Type: SS4 Contract
- Total Hours: 210 hours (worked flexibly through July 31, 2027)
- Interview Date: Provisionally scheduled for September 3, 2026
- Visa Requirement: This position does not meet the requirements for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship (applicants must possess existing UK work authorization).
About Us
Cultural Collections & Galleries (CC&G) forms a dynamic part of the University of Leeds Libraries. It encompasses two primary public cultural spaces:
- The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery: Displays select masterpieces from the University Art Collection alongside a contemporary, socially engaged temporary exhibition program.
- Treasures of the Brotherton: Displays world-class rare books, historic manuscripts, archives, and fine art, bringing history to life through storytelling.
CC&G aims to make world-class heritage and art accessible, inspiring, and relevant to the entire university community and the wider public.
Website Link: https://www.leeds.ac.uk/
Career Guide Tips: Making the Most of an Arts & Heritage Internship
- Focus on Transferable Skills: Beyond arts administration, highlight your strengths in project coordination, public speaking, peer communication, and data gathering.
- Demonstrate Peer Engagement: Think about how you would connect with fellow students who might not typically visit campus galleries. Fresh, creative outreach ideas are highly valued.
- Embrace Mentorship: View the dedicated internship project as a launchpad for your resume. Seek constructive feedback from senior gallery staff and document your measurable outputs.
How to Prepare for the Interview
- Familiarize Yourself with the Venues: Visit both The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery and Treasures of the Brotherton in person or virtually to understand their current exhibitions and layout.
- Understand the Audience: Be prepared to discuss student demographics, campus life trends, and effective communication channels (e.g., student societies, social media, campus events).
- Use the STAR Method: Structure your competency responses using Situation, Task, Action, and Result to clearly convey your past experiences in communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.
Top 3 Interview Questions & Strategic Approaches
- “Why are you interested in engaging University of Leeds students with our galleries, and how would you encourage a student who has never visited to come in?”
- How to answer: Explain your passion for arts/culture accessibility. Share a practical engagement strategy—such as interactive workshops, student-led tours, or collaborative events with university societies.
- “Can you give an example of a time when you had to plan and deliver an event or group project? What challenges did you face and how did you resolve them?”
- How to answer: Detail a real-life project (academic, volunteer, or extracurricular). Focus on organization, timeline management, conflict resolution, and the ultimate outcome.
- “How would you collect meaningful feedback from student visitors, and how would you use that data to improve gallery programs?”
- How to answer: Discuss balanced data collection methods (e.g., short digital surveys, quick exit-polls, focus groups) and emphasize how acting on user feedback creates a better visitor experience.
Key Benefits of This Role
- Flexible Work Structure: 210 hours spread flexibly over the academic year to accommodate your degree workload.
- Professional Mentorship: Receive direct guidance from experienced cultural heritage professionals while managing your own dedicated project.
- Portfolio Building: Build a portfolio of event management, marketing, and engagement experience within a recognized university library system.
- Hybrid Working Options: Enjoy a blend of on-campus interaction and remote administrative planning.
How to Prepare Your CV for This Position
- Tailor to the Role: Emphasize any experience involving customer service, public interaction, event planning, peer leadership, or marketing.
- Highlight Soft Skills: Clearly showcase adaptability, verbal communication, team collaboration, and time management.
- Keep It Concise: Aim for a clean, professional 2-page format tailored to UK higher education standards.
- Quantify Results: Where possible, list metrics (e.g., “Organized a student society event with 50+ attendees” or “Managed social media promos increasing reach by 20%”).
How to Apply
- Verify that you are a current, enrolled student at the University of Leeds and hold valid UK working rights.
- Submit your formal application through the official University of Leeds Jobs Portal.
- For preliminary questions or further insights about the position, contact:
- Contact Person: Claire Evans (Galleries Learning Coordinator)
- Email:
c.evans@leeds.ac.uk
Salary & Compensation Insight
- Contract Level: University of Leeds Grade SS4 (Student Support).
- Pay Structure: Paid hourly across the allocated 210 hours. SS4 pay rates typically align with competitive UK higher education living wage benchmarks for student roles.
Email: c.evans@leeds.ac.uk
Disclaimer
Disclaimer: This document is an independent summary created for informational and career preparation purposes only. It is not an official job advertisement from the University of Leeds. Position details, deadlines, contract terms, and application requirements are subject to change by the employer. Always verify current information directly on the official University of Leeds careers portal.