My name:

Nick Neal

My job:

Assistant Arts & Education Manager

Who I work for:

Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk

A bit about my job:

Main duties include installing exhibitions, preparing and delivering workshops, organising print, copy and publicity, applying for funding and managing educational projects, documenting and archiving, overseeing work experience placements, liaising with educators, students, community groups, artists and other departments (marketing, Arts Development, etc.)

How I got it / Qualifications needed

I got my job by having a passion for the arts, and by sticking at it - writing letter after letter to galleries to see if they had an opening.

I took A levels in English, Art & History of Art, then took a Foundation Course in Art & Design at Isle College in Wisbech, now part of the College of West Anglia. From there I did a degree in Art & Design (Painting) at the University of Wolverhampton.

After a year out to earn some money, I took a full-time Masters Degree at Anglia Ruskin University (or Anglia Polytechnic University as it was then known) in Cambridge. Then I spent a couple of years working in a supermarket (while I was writing letter after letter!)

There are very few paid workers running galleries and a lot of work is done by volunteers.  I was quite prepared to get a foot in the door as an unpaid volunteer or casual worker.  I heard about an opportunity to work at the King’s Lynn Arts Centre after applying to do some voluntary work there.

What I earn:

£15,000 - £20,000

Anything else?

Most like - meeting new people, whether they are artists, students, young people, teachers or members of the public.

Least like - having to meet deadlines