Serendipity Opportunities | Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage

Emerging Professionals Programme

The Emerging Professionals Programme, led by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage has been established to create meaningful, paid employment opportunities for early-career professionals seeking to build sustainable careers within the arts, heritage and cultural sectors.

The Emerging Professionals Programme combines paid employment with structured professional development, mentoring and practical experience, enabling participants to develop the knowledge, confidence and professional skills required to thrive within the cultural sector.  By embedding interns within the day-to-day activities of Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage, participants gain first-hand experience of working within a nationally recognised, Black-led arts organisation whose programmes encompass festivals, heritage, archives, higher education, publishing, community engagement and cultural leadership.

Arts Administration Internship

The Arts Administration Intern will support the day-to-day management and administration of Serendipity’s programmes and operations.

Click Here for the Arts Administration Internship Job Description

Heritage and Archives Internship

The Heritage and Archives Intern will support the preservation, documentation and interpretation of Black British heritage collections while gaining practical experience in archive management, collections care, research and public engagement.

Click Here for the Heritage and Archives Internship Job Description

Organisation: Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage
Location: Leicester
Contract: Fixed-Term Internship, 12-months
Hours: Full-Time, 37 hours per week (some evenings and weekends)
Salary: £12.75 per hour (equivalent to approximately £24,531 per annum)
Reports to: Operations Director
Start Date: September 2026
Deadline: 20 August 2026

Head of Heritage and Collections

Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage is seeking an exceptional Head of Heritage and Collections to lead the strategic development, management and interpretation of one of the UK’s leading collections dedicated to the histories, cultures and artistic contributions of Britain’s African and African Caribbean communities.

This is a senior leadership position responsible for shaping Serendipity’s heritage vision and ensuring that its collections, archives, exhibitions, publications, research and public programmes continue to set national standards for excellence, scholarship and community engagement.

Working closely with the CEO and Artistic Director, the Head of Heritage and Collections will provide strategic leadership across the organisation’s heritage portfolio, ensuring that heritage informs every aspect of Serendipity’s artistic, educational and public programme.

The role encompasses leadership of Serendipity’s collections, archives, exhibitions, oral history programme, publications and heritage research, alongside responsibility for major public programmes.

The Head of Heritage and Collections will establish and strengthen partnerships with museums, archives, universities, libraries and heritage organisations locally, nationally and internationally, ensuring that Serendipity remains at the forefront of Black arts and heritage practice.

The post requires occasional evening and weekend working to support Serendipity’s public programme.

Organisation: Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage
Location: Leicester
Contract: Initial Fixed Term Contract with 6-month and 12-month reviews. Permanent contract subject to probationary period and funding.
Hours: Full-Time, 37.5 hours per week (some evenings and weekends)
Salary: £30,000–£32,000 gross per annum (subject to experience)
Reports to: CEO and Artistic Director
Responsible for: Heritage and Collections Team, freelancers, consultants, volunteers, placement students and interns (as agreed with the Chief Executive and Artistic Director).
Start Date: August-September 2026
Deadline: 10 August 2026

How to Apply

Interested applicants should submit their CV along with a cover letter detailing their qualifications, experience. Applications should be sent to: opportunities@serendipity-uk.com

Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage is an equal opportunities employer. We particularly welcome applications from individuals from underrepresented groups within the arts sector.