Emerging Professionals Programme

Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage 

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 programme recognises the increasing challenges faced by graduates and emerging practitioners in securing relevant employment, the programme provides a structured and supportive pathway from education into professional practice.  It is founded on the principle that access to careers in the creative and cultural industries should not be determined by an individual's financial circumstances or existing professional networks, but by talent, commitment and potential.

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. This internship is aimed at graduates who have recently completed a degree level qualification and provides practical experience across arts management, event delivery, marketing, finance and organisational administration, preparing the successful candidate for a career in arts and cultural management.

 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. This internship is aimed at graduates who have recently completed a degree level qualification and provides practical experience across work within the arts and heritage sectors.

 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, pro rata)
Deadline Date: 20 August 2026
Start Date: September 2026 

Applications have now closed