Location
London
Hours
Full Time - 40 hours per week
Salary
£70,000 per annum (Full-Time Equivalent)
About the Role
Join Europe’s largest arts centre and lead the national conversation. As Head of Literature and Spoken Word you won't just programme a season – you will shape culture. You will curate and deliver over 150 extraordinary events each year, from electrifying live poetry and interdisciplinary performance to high-profile talks, debates, and major cultural moments. This year-round artistic programme will see words transform, challenge, and inspire audiences.
You will lead the strategy to reverse the national decline in reading, support sustainable careers for writers, and position Southbank Centre at the heart of the national conversation. You will take the lead of the world-renowned annual London Literature Festival (co-curated this year with Dua Lipa) and pioneer high-impact partnerships, such as the collaboration with Goalhanger to produce The Rest Is Fest.
Building powerful alliances across publishing, agency, and literary networks will be key, alongside nurturing ground-breaking, diverse new voices. Working closely with the Audiences team, you will ensure that digital content strategies reach global audiences.
As part of the wider artistic life of Southbank Centre, you will engage fully with the artistic planning process and forge collaborative projects with leads across music, performance and dance, creative technology, and visual arts.
Key Responsibilities
- Deliver the Literature and Spoken Word Strategy addressing reading decline, author sustainability, and public discourse through year-round programming and initiatives.
- Curate the literature and spoken word programme across Southbank Centre’s site and online, including the London Literature Festival, own-promotions, co-promotions, new commissions, and rentals.
- Contribute to the wider artistic life of Southbank Centre by collaborating across art forms and engaging in artistic planning.
Benefits
- Minimum 5% pension contribution (up to 9% depending on employee contribution) from day one
- 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Hybrid working model (3 days office, 2 days home)
- Health cash plan benefits
- Enhanced sick pay and family leave benefits
- Up to 30% discounts at onsite retail, food and beverage vendors
- Staff ticket offers for Southbank Centre events
- Free entry to Hayward Gallery and discounted/free entry to other reciprocal organisations
- Free staff yoga sessions
Experience
Proven leadership in curating and delivering large-scale literature and spoken word programmes. Experience in building partnerships within publishing, literary networks, and cultural sectors. Track record of managing high-profile festivals or cultural events is highly desirable.
About You
You are a dynamic champion of literature in all its forms, driven by an ambitious vision for public engagement. You believe literature and spoken word belong to everyone and have the power to transcend artistic disciplines. You are passionate about addressing societal challenges through culture and committed to nurturing diverse new voices. Strong strategic thinking, excellent communication skills, and the ability to collaborate across disciplines are essential.
Qualifications
While specific qualifications are not stated, a strong background in literature, arts management, or a related field, combined with relevant professional experience, is expected. A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is essential.
