Durham County Councils Culture, Sport and Tourism Service delivers outstanding cultural experiences across the councils culture venues and programmes. We are committed to inspiring learning and engagement for people of all ages, supporting creativity, and promoting access to culture across the county.
Were looking for an innovative and enthusiastic Learning and Engagement Support Officer to help shape unforgettable learning experiences at our new venue, The Light which is due to open in 2026. In this role, youll design and deliver inspiring learning programmes and events with a specific focus on connecting children and young people with science, technology and contemporary art, bringing our collections, cultural spaces and exhibitions to life.
You will work across our varied programme of exhibitions and events in the Gallery Spaces to create inclusive, thought-provoking experiences that spark curiosity and creativity through learning. Whether collaborating with artists, working with schools, families and communities, or welcoming first-time visitors, youll play a key role in shaping how audiences experience The Light.
If youre enthusiastic about contemporary art and heritage, thrive in creative environments, and are driven to make art and collections accessible, wed love to hear from you.
WHAT IS INVOLVED?
In this dynamic role, youll play a key part in shaping inspiring learning experiences across our arts spaces, heritage venues, exhibitions, and collections. Working closely with schools, teachers, and partners, youll design and deliver creative activities that bring culture, artistic practice, and our shared stories to life for audiences of all ages. From developing innovative learning resources and digital content to contributing to the creation, interpretation, and delivery of exhibitions and arts engagement projects, your work will help spark curiosity and connection. Youll also support volunteers, maintain high standards of safety and care for learning and exhibition spaces, and ensure our activities are continuously improving through accurate reporting and thoughtful evaluation.
This is a fantastic opportunity to make a real impact on cultural education and engagement across County Durham.
We encourage you to contact Emily Thompson |
[email protected] to arrange an informal discussion about the role.
WHAT WILL I NEED?
- Experience in developing and delivering learning activities within cultural, heritage, or arts settings.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences.
- Knowledge of current trends and best practice in cultural learning and audience engagement.
- Ability to manage projects, resources, and maintain accurate records.
- Experience working with schools and educational stakeholders.
- Familiarity with digital learning tools and online engagement platforms.
- Understanding of heritage collections and performance arts.
Please refer to the attached Person Specification for the full criteria.
If successful, you will be required to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Disclosure and have the ability to travel across the County and North East as required to deliver learning sessions, attend meetings, events, or training sessions.
INTERVIEWS
Interviews will be held week commencing 3 August 2026.
We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran.
If successful, you will be required to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Disclosure.
Our commitment to safeguarding
Durham County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore if successful in your application, an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be sought - inclusive of a check of the Childrens Barred List and / or Adults Barred List, due to the position working in regulated activity. Applicants should be aware that the DBS check will disclose both spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings, in line with current legislation - and will confirm whether an individual is barred from working with children, adults, or both.
OUR OFFER TO YOU
We offer a competitive rewards package that includes attractive salaries, a generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (rising to 32 after five years continuous local government service), membership of the excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme, and a range of flexible working arrangements including hybrid working (home and office) where applicable. Explore the full range of rewards and benefits on our website.
Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions.
EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION
We are a proud equal opportunities employer and believe a diverse workforce brings fresh ideas and drives service improvement. We welcome applications from everyone and make employment decisions based on skills and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively encourage applications from disabled people and offer support throughout the recruitment process.
HOW TO APPLY
Please note, we do not accept CVs. All applications must be submitted online via the Northeast Jobs portal. Use the Person Specification section of the form to clearly demonstrate how you meet the essential (and where possible, desirable) criteria. Applications that do not evidence the essential requirements will not be shortlisted.
Please visit our website to understand our position on using AI to support your application and for guidance on completing your application.
If you require assistance when applying for this role, please contact our Recruitment Helpdesk on 03000 26 27 27, or via email
[email protected]
All correspondence relating to your application will be sent from
[email protected]. Kindly check your spam/junk folder regularly to ensure you dont miss any updates.
All correspondence relating to your application will be sent from
[email protected]. Kindly check your spam/junk folder regularly to ensure you dont miss any updates.
CONNECT WITH US
Follow us on Instagram
Like us on Facebook
Visit our website
