Breakthrough is a 6‑month employability programme from Arts Charity, Artswork. It's designed as a stepping stone to get you workplace experience and all-important employment skills. This short placement gives you insight into a future career in the Creative Industry, supporting your confidence and professionalism in the workplace, and helping you to break through into a career that matters to you.
You must apply via the Artswork website, otherwise your application will not be accepted - https://artswork.org.uk/opportunities/breakthrough-gallery-and-communications-assistant-portsmouth
Eligibility criteria:
To be eligible to apply for a Breakthrough training programme role, applicants must:
- Be aged 18-25 on the 28 September 2026
- Have the right to work and be usually resident in the UK
- Available to start work on the 28 September 2026 and available for the duration of the placement (until 28 March 2027)
- Have no or little (less than one month) previous experience of working in an arts, creative or voluntary sector organisation
We particularly welcome applications from applicants who:
- Are currently not in employment, education or training
- Are disabled and/or neurodivergent
- Have experienced barriers to employment due to current or prior mental health issues
- Have experienced barriers because of racism, homophobic or transgender discrimination
- Are recent school or sixth form college leavers
- Are struggling to find work due to lack of training or employment experience
Please note that this programme is not suitable for those on a degree placement year or an MA programme.
Job Description:
The primary responsibility of this role is to offer visitors to the gallery a warm and informative welcome and to support the day-to-day operation of the organisation.
You will also be working closely with the Marketing & Communications Manager, supporting communications and developing skills in a range of areas including copywriting, social media management, content creation, and website management.
During the placement you will gain experience of working across all aspects of our programme delivery, including a broad range of administrative and practical tasks.
This role will include assisting with:
- Front of house duties for the day-to-day operation of Aspex Portsmouth, its programme and events;
- Coordination of volunteers;
- The delivery of creative engagement events and exhibition installations;
- The creation and management of social media content and channels;
- Documenting internal and external activities across our programme and wider community outreach, through reporting and admin;
- Updating the Aspex website, including creating new listings and pages to support the communication of our programme;
- E‑newsletter and event communications using platforms including Mailchimp and Eventbrite.
The role will be based at: Aspex Portsmouth, The Vulcan Building, Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth PO1 3BF and will include attendance of offsite workshops and events in the community.
About Aspex
Aspex brings new art and ideas to Portsmouth. We believe that in bringing joy art broadens minds, facilitates learning, connects and nurtures our communities and stimulates radical imagining.
Located in the historic Vulcan Building on the waterfront at Gunwharf Quays, we create opportunities for people of all ages, backgrounds and life experience to engage with contemporary visual art – from looking and discussing, to making and curating.
You must apply via the Artswork website, otherwise your application will not be accepted - https://artswork.org.uk/opportunities/breakthrough-gallery-and-communications-assistant-portsmouth
Pay: £12.71 per hour
Work Location: In person
