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Current Vacancies
Artistic Learning, Participation and Administration Assistant
UKCCA is pleased to promote an exciting employment opportunity - Artistic Learning, Participation and Administration Assistant. The postholder will work closely with the Learning and Participation Project Manager, Executive Producer, Arts Team and external partners, organisations and individuals to support the growth, development and delivery of the ambitions of the organisation.
We welcome applicants of who are passionate about supporting the delivery of the carnival arts at UKCCA and beyond. We keen to encourage those who have worked in the carnival arts, other creative arts fields and who have experience of supporting the administration of arts projects funding by various funding sources to apply for this role.
The postholder will maintain and nurture a positive working culture and be the welcoming face and voice for visitors and callers to our Centre.
Equity, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of everything we do, from programming work with, by and for Lutonians and carnivalists across the UK, through to how we build partnerships and support others to engage in the carnival arts. We are committed to our organisation reflecting and celebrating Luton and the wider UK’s incredible diversity in the carnival arts across ethnicity, age, gender identity, disability and socio-economic background. We therefore especially welcome applications from people with lived experience of the communities that we work with.
Further information, job description and person specification can be downloaded here
How to Apply
Please email your application to: info@carnivalarts.org.uk
To submit an application, please send an up-to-date CV, with details of two referees, a completed Equality Monitoring Form and a supporting statement outlining your interest and why your experience makes you an excellent fit for the role.
Deadline for applications: 12:00 (12pm), Wednesday 30 September 2026
Interviews will take place on Thursday 8 October 2026
We would like to thank the Arts Council England, BLCF and The Steel Charitable Trust for their support which made this role possible.
LEARNING AND PARTICIPATION PROJECT MANAGER
Fixed Term Contract: Until 31 March 2028
We are seeking an ambitious and collaborative Learning and Participation Project Manager to join the team at the Luton Carnival Arts Development Trust (known as UKCCA).
The postholder will work closely with the Executive Director, Executive Producer and Arts Team to support and enable the growth, development and delivery of the ambitions of the organisation. This includes successful delivery of the Arts Council Funded Carnival Arts programme, which includes the annual Luton International Carnival, alongside development of new activities, particularly those which facilitate the engagement of schools, young people and community partners.
UKCCA is continuing to deliver work to support the UK carnival industry and deliver key services in Luton, where the organisation is located. We continue to broaden our programme and ambitions. As a key member of the team – working closely with the Executive Director – the postholder will work collaboratively with the Arts team and lead the development of relationship with key stakeholders to further progress UKCCA’s business delivery.
Working with the Executive Director the postholder will be key in consolidating business delivery which particularly includes fostering and sustaining productive partnerships with a range of agencies, to include local authorities, schools, community groups and leaders to ensure there is an understanding of the work being delivered by UKCCA, and effective engagement across communities. The role also includes responsibilities for income generation, marketing, evaluation and reporting. The postholder will also have experience of use of AI tools to support their work delivery.
The postholder will maintain and nurture a positive working culture that is ambitious, positive, welcoming, friendly and inclusive. The postholder will be an ambassador for our organisation and encourage engagement with our services.
Equity, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of everything we do, from programming work with, by and for Lutonians and carnivalists across the UK, through to how we build partnerships and support others to engage in the carnival arts. We are committed to our organisation reflecting and celebrating Luton and the wider UK’s incredible diversity in the carnival arts across ethnicity, age, gender identity, disability and socio-economic background. We therefore especially welcome applications from people with lived experience of the communities that we work with.
Further information, job description and person specification can be downloaded here
How to Apply
Please email your application to: info@carnivalarts.org.uk
To submit an application, please send an up-to-date CV, with details of two referees, a completed Equality Monitoring Form and a supporting statement outlining your interest and why your experience makes you an excellent fit for the role.
Deadline for applications: 12:00 (12pm), Wednesday 7 October 2026
Interviews will take place on 16 October 2026.
Volunteers Wanted
We are currently welcoming applications for volunteers to help with the Luton International Carnival. Volunteering is an ideal opportunity to gain some experience in the Arts. There are a range of volunteer posts available - from stewarding to assisting the Carnival Parade groups before, during and after the event. Full training is given to all those wishing to volunteer.
A chance to gain skills for employment
Working for the UKCCA can provide you with essential skills that are needed for employment.
Experience in the arts sector and charitable sector
UKCCA is an ideal opportunity to gain some experience in the Arts. Carnival is a progressive art form; we welcome individuals with interests in combined arts and want to contribute to the art scene in Luton.
Person Specification
We welcome applications from anyone aged 16+ who wishes to be part of this amazing community event. You must be exceptionally trustworthy and reliable and have good communication and interpersonal skills. You will also need the ability to meet the physical demands of the position, i.e., walking along a route or standing in an area for periods of time.
If you are interested please complete the application form below, and we will be in touch! Please check our Privacy Policy for details of how we collect and process your data.
Trustee of the Luton Carnival Art Development Trust Known as UK Centre for Carnival Arts (UKCCA)
The UK Centre for Carnival Arts (UKCCA) is dedicated to creating work that embeds Carnival into places, into spaces and into communities. UKCCA is unique. We are one of the very few organisations committed to promoting excellence within the field of carnival arts in all its professional forms, from spectacle art, mass bands and characters, floats, steel orchestras, samba drumming and dance, calypso and soca music, sound systems, DJing and traditional forms of carnival expression to emerging urban voices of the street plus other carnivalesque forms that exist in world cultures. The UKCCA is an Arts Council England NPO – Band 1.
We are searching for a new Trustee to join the UKCCA board.
UKCCA Trustees help run the charity and make sure it achieves its long-term goals. Trustees are volunteers and are selected through an open recruitment process. In legal terms, they are also the Directors of the Limited Company. We do ask our board members to ideally commit for a minimum of three years and we are working to good practice standards that would mean a maximum of six years.
We currently have 5 Board members. They have experience of working in carnival, education, public, private and voluntary sector organisations. We are looking for people who have experience in:
• Capital development
• Marketing or communications
• Carnival Arts
• Commerce
• Professional services eg legal, accountancy
• worked in a senior leadership role within an arts or cultural environment who can help to support the organisation at a strategic level.
But that list doesn’t include everything!
We are also especially interested in recruiting young people (under 30) who, whilst they may not have a great deal of experience in these key functions, are willing to learn and are committed to bringing a young person’s perspective and insights to the charity.
The test of whether or not you will be a good Trustee is simply if you can add value to the organisation or help to stimulate positive new thinking in relation to our work. This could be in many different ways: you may have experience of working or volunteering in a similar area of work; you may be aware of issues affecting our core audiences or have studied something relevant to our work; you may know something about how policy is made or have knowledge of a similar sort of business.
To find out more about our vision, mission and values and the role of Trustee please download the pack below and the application form, complete and return to claudette@carnivalarts.org.uk.
Please check our Privacy Policy for details of how we collect and process your data.