Birmingham Bench: Jewellery Artist Tutor Trainee x3

Midlands Arts Centre

Birmingham

Bursary: £4250

Hours: 1 day per week (roughly 28 days in total)

Length: 7 months

Start Date: January 2027, with an induction in December

Location: On-site at Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham

Application Closing Date: 11.59pm on Sun 1 November 2026.

Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) is excited to announce the Birmingham Bench, a paid trainee programme for three Birmingham-based Jewellers supported by the Goldsmiths’ Foundation.

The Birmingham Bench is a paid trainee programme that provides work placement shadowing, mentoring, and a practical route into teaching and freelance work in Jewellery tuition. This project will support three Birmingham-based Jewellers to develop into Artist-Tutors, taking the next step in their creative career.

About MAC

Midlands Arts Centre’s jewellery programme is extensive, with 16 term courses and a wide selection of short courses for children, young people, and adults. Our courses cover many subjects, from nature inspired jewellery to traditional jewellery-making skills.

Fee / Salary

This is a paid traineeship. Each trainee will receive a bursary of £4,250 to facilitate their participation in the program. The bursary will be paid in three tranches (at the beginning, middle and end of the project) on receipt of an invoice.

Person Specification

We’re looking for people passionate about sharing creative skills, whether you are a qualified jeweller, recent graduate or experienced self-taught maker. Through mentoring, shadowing and networking you’ll learn the skills required to be a MAC Artist Tutor, while helping us diversify and strengthen our jewellery tutor cohort.

You should be passionate about the arts and informal learning experiences with a desire to teach Jewellery courses and workshops. Trainees must be reliable, personable and approachable, ready to observe existing tutors, meet learners, receive mentoring and develop teaching skills.

Essential

• Educated/experienced to a suitable level in Jewellery making. 
• Proven ability to communicate well with a range of people using varied communication methods.
• A passion and commitment to the Arts.
• A commitment to furthering your skills and knowledge in participatory arts, including attending meetings, participating in training, and reflecting on your practice.
• An understanding of and commitment to MAC’s key objectives.
• An understanding of the practical application of MAC’s Equal Opportunities and Diversity policy. 
• You must currently live, work or study in Birmingham.

Desirable

• Experience of working with adults with additional needs and/or vulnerable adults.
• Knowledge of other art forms which may help us expand our creative learning offer at MAC.

About the Placement

The successful candidates will learn from one of our Artist Tutors who help us deliver a vibrant and dynamic programme of informal learning. 

The programme will support three Jewellery Artist-Tutor Trainees through:

• Placement on a Jewellery Open Studio/Improver level course to shadow their assigned tutor. Trainees will attend courses for a minimum of 12 weeks during the Spring Term.  
• Progression to shadowing their tutor on Beginner level courses, and delivering tutorials when ready, during the Summer Term.
• Teaching/shadowing with experienced jewellery artist tutors.
• Mentoring support focusing on lesson planning, teaching skills, working with the public, learner support and professional identity.
• Retail and enterprise support through MAC’s shop, including pricing, product development, presentation and customer awareness.
• Free space at MAC’s Arts Markets in 2027.
• Cross-disciplinary creative development across MAC’s wider programme.
• Wellbeing, belonging and progression support.
• The opportunity to display your work in the Made at MAC Gallery, May– September 2027.
• Progression planning into teaching, assistant tutor, cover tutor, freelance, retail or further development opportunities.

Expectations of the Role

You must be available to participate in the program on average 1 day a week for 7 months from January – July 2027. This amounts to around 28 days onsite at MAC.  

Each participant will initially be required to attend one of the following workshops each week:

• Jewellery Workshop (JE04 Spring) | Mon, 1pm - 3pm | Tutor: Nick Greenhough
• Jewellery: Open Studio (JE95 Spring) | Tue, 6.30pm - 9pm | Tutor: Chloe Slater
• Jewellery: Open Studio (JE07 Spring) | Wed, 1pm - 3.30pm | Tutor: Nick Greenhough
• Jewellery: Open Studio (JE93 Spring) | Thu, 10am - 12.30pm | Tutor: Vanessa Miller
• Jewellery Inspired by Nature (JE102 Spring) | Fri, 10am - 12.30pm | Tutor: Vanessa Miller
• Jewellery for Improvers (JE107 Spring) | Sun, 1.45pm - 4.15pm | Tutor: Chloe Slater

Additional Responsibilities

• You will be matched with one of our existing tutors who will act as your mentor throughout the project.
• You will shadow your mentor once a week in one of their jewellery courses to directly support your learning and skills.
• You will aim to be teaching with support by the summer term with the hopes of teaching independently following the project end.
• You will be expected to attend additional group training and support sessions at fixed points throughout the project. 
• We will provide all tool and materials required to develop your work in our studio but trainees are expected to have access to their own studio facilities away from MAC. 

How many placements are available?

We are advertising 3 trainee positions.

The Spring Term 2027 starts on the week commencing Mon 4 January 2027. 

We expect the successful candidate to attend an induction session at MAC before they start in the first week of December.

How to Apply

Please follow this link: macbirmingham.co.uk

Please email personnel@macbirmingham.co.uk a cover letter including the below questions (maximum length 2 A4 sides) and attach a CV. 

• Please describe your previous jewellery making experience.
• What do you hope to achieve through this trainee programme?
• What interests you in becoming an Artist Tutor at MAC?
• A participant is struggling with an aspect of the class. Please describe your approach to assisting them.
• Which course/courses would you be able to attend?
• Do you currently live, work or study in Birmingham?

What to include in your cover letter

• Please describe your previous jewellery making experience.
• What do you hope to achieve through this trainee programme?
• What interests you in becoming an Artist Tutor at MAC?
• A participant is struggling with an aspect of the class. Please describe your approach to assisting them.
• Which course/courses would you be able to attend?
• Do you currently live, work or study in Birmingham?

Please ensure you read all of the information before submitting your application. 

If you have any questions before you apply, please email our team at personnel@macbirmingham.co.uk for more information. 

Applications Close
Applications can be received at any time until 11.59pm on Sun 1 November 2026. 

Late applications will not be considered. 

Shortlisting
Shortlisted candidates will be informed at the latest by the end of day on Wed 4 November.

Interviews

Interviews will be held on Tue 10 November 2026.

For more information: macbirmingham.co.uk

The Birmingham Bench is supported by the Goldsmiths’ Foundation. 

About Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) 

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