Visual Merchandiser Curator

The current opportunity is available for current Manchester Met students, to apply you must be based in the UK for the duration of the role. We are recruiting two Visual Merchandisers / Assistant Shop Managers to support the planning, installation and delivery of the Art School Commission (ASC) pop-up shop at the annual Art and Design Degree Show 2026. Working closely with the Shop Manager and Art Commissions Team, successful candidates will take a lead role in the visual presentation of bespoke and commissioned student work for sale, support day-to-day shop operations, and manage volunteers throughout the event., Exhibition Installation (from 2 June)

• Support the installation of the ASC shop in the lead-up to the Degree Show
• Take responsibility for the visual layout and merchandising of student work, ensuring displays are considered, coherent and sales-focused
• Ensure all labels and supporting materials are accurately matched with artworks and priced correctly
• Assist with general exhibition preparation as required
Pop-Up Shop Operations
• Lead on the setup and visual display of the Degree Show pop-up shop
• Organise and present student work for sale using visual merchandising principles
• Operate SumUp card machines and manage sales transactions confidently
• Brief and manage volunteers on sales etiquette, labelling and visitor interaction
• Liaise with students to ensure work is correctly labelled, presented and stocked
• Support restocking and reorganisation throughout the exhibition period
• Manage and update product listings online where required
Visitor and Sales Engagement
• Engage visitors with the work on display, communicating clearly and confidently about individual pieces, their context and their value
• Represent the Art School Commission with professionalism, warmth and curatorial authority
• Support students in articulating and presenting their own work to potential buyers where appropriate, Manchester Metropolitan University is committed to supporting the rights, responsibilities, dignity, health and wellbeing of staff and students through our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
  
  This is a hands-on role requiring demonstrable expertise in a gallery or curatorial context. Candidates must be confident discussing and articulating contemporary art and craft to a public audience, and must have direct experience working alongside curators - whether in a paid role or as a volunteer. The work on sale is bespoke and commissioned; candidates should be able to engage visitors meaningfully with individual pieces, their provenance, and their value.
This role is suited to someone who combines curatorial knowledge with hands-on visual merchandising experience and practical retail or events expertise. Candidates should be able to demonstrate a confident eye for display - arranging and presenting work in a way that is considered, commercially aware and sympathetic to the artistic context. Organised, proactive and comfortable operating across multiple teams in a fast-paced exhibition environment, they will bring both creative sensibility and operational reliability to the role.,
• If have not completed right to work Jobs4Students will need to attend a right to work appointment on Tuesday 2 June to be able to undertake this role
• Experience working in a gallery, museum or arts organisation (paid or voluntary)
• Experience working alongside or supporting curators in a professional or voluntary capacity
• Demonstrable visual merchandising skills - the ability to arrange and present artworks or creative products in a considered, sales-focused way
• Ability to discuss and articulate contemporary art and craft confidently and knowledgeably to a public audience
• Experience selling artworks or creative/handmade products
• Understanding of how to handle, label and present bespoke or commissioned work for sale
• Experience operating point-of-sale or card payment systems (e.g. SumUp)
• Confident communicating with students, staff and members of the public
• Available for the full contract period including 5 June PV 2026
Desirable
• Experience briefing, supervising or managing volunteers or team members
• Experience working on degree shows, art fairs, open studios or similar events
• Familiarity with online product listing or inventory management
• Experience working with student artists or emerging makers
• Previous involvement with Art School Commission events or the MMU Degree Show