Midlands Arts Centre Seeks Artist Facilitator for Little Legends, Big Worlds
A professional art commission alongside a Japanese design exhibition
Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) in Birmingham is seeking an experienced Artist Facilitator for Little Legends, Big Worlds, a 2027 art and learning programme alongside the exhibition Japan: Myths to Manga. The commission is focused on original visual artwork, school workshops and preparing young people to help interpret an exhibition.
The official artist fee is £5,000 for the full assignment, with project-related travel costs covered up to £200. Applications close Sunday 22 November 2026 at 11:59 p.m. UK time.
Workshops, exhibition and young gallery guides
The artist will plan and lead nine workshops in three Birmingham schools (three four-hour workshops per school) between January and March 2027. Pupils will work with their own cultural myths and legends through creative visual approaches including drawing, illustration, collage, mixed media and craft.
The work will contribute to a display in MAC's Community Gallery. The artist will also support selected Young Gallery Guides (four or five pupils per school) through activity days during the May half-term and summer holidays so they can share their perspectives with museum visitors.
The project requires approximately 25 working days when preparation, gallery support and participatory events are included. Final artwork is scheduled for delivery in late March and installation in April; the associated exhibition is planned from 17 April through 30 August 2027.
Experience and locality
Applicants should be experienced in leading inclusive creative workshops with school-age children, including groups with mixed abilities and additional needs. The commissioner seeks a professional with an existing or emerging visual arts practice and the practical ability to travel between local Birmingham schools and MAC.
This is not the separate free school-participation application on the organiser's website: the artist-facilitator announcement offers a commissioned professional fee.
Fee, application requirements and deadline
The total commission is £5,000. Project-related travel is supported up to £200 according to the employer's notice; this is a project fee, not a quoted annual salary. Candidates may submit a CV with a covering letter of no more than one A4 page, or an application video lasting up to three minutes, explaining their approach and relevant experience.
Send the application marked for the attention of David Poole to learning@macbirmingham.co.uk by Sunday 22 November 2026 at 11:59 p.m. UK time. Interviews are planned for the week beginning 30 November, and the organiser expects to select the artist by 4 December.
About Midlands Arts Centre
Midlands Arts Centre is an arts venue and registered charity in Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham. Its programme combines visual-arts exhibitions, film, music, theatre, learning and creative participation. In 2027 it is presenting Japan: Myths to Manga and a parallel community-gallery project involving pupils from local schools.
Editorial clarification
This independently edited callout summary was checked against MAC's official artist-facilitator page on 13 November 2026. Application deadlines, inclusion requirements, final project dates and fees should be verified from the employer's original brief. If any detail differs, MAC's current notice has priority.