Arts Engagement & Outreach Officer

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape how people experience arts and culture across Somerset. As Arts Engagement & Outreach Officer, leading on the Octagon Theatre’s Talent Development & Artist Support programme, you will connect communities, artists and partners to create inspiring, inclusive programmes that bring creativity to life. Your work will help grow vibrant cultural spaces and open up access so more people can take part and feel the impact of the arts.

This role supports the development and delivery of the Octagon Theatre’s Arts Engagement & Outreach programme across Somerset, helping to ensure that arts and cultural opportunities are accessible, relevant, and welcoming to all.

The Octagon’s Arts Engagement & Outreach team works to develop the venues (Octagon Theatre and its sister venue, Westlands Entertainment Venue, in Yeovil) as cultural hubs and delivers the Arts for Health & Wellbeing, Creative Learning & Education, Talent Development & Artist Support, Participation, and Productions & Events programmes across Somerset, with schemes to improve inclusion and remove geographical, social, economic, physical and psychological barriers to access. It plays an important part in breaking down barriers to participation, enabling more people from a wide range of communities to engage with and benefit from creative activity.

Working closely with the Arts Engagement & Outreach Manager, you will lead on the development, planning, facilitation, and delivery of the Talent Development & Artist Support programmes with activities at The Octagon Theatre & Westlands Entertainment Venue and across Somerset. You will help to plan, deliver and evaluate a varied programme of activities, partnerships, and events across Somerset. This includes working with schools, young people, artists, community groups, and partner organisations to create meaningful opportunities for participation, learning and creative development.