Example Job
London
Quentin Blake Centre is the UK’s first and only charity for illustration – art that communicates stories and ideas. We create and tour exhibitions that explore how illustration shapes our lives and we open up opportunities for creative expression, with a strong focus on people and stories that have been marginalised.
In May 2026 we will open our new, permanent home, within a beautifully-restored waterworks in Clerkenwell, Islington. It will be a vibrant place where everyone feels welcome: where the displays are unexpected yet relatable, where everything is accessible and everyone’s stories and ideas matter.
We are named after the illustrator and author Quentin Blake, a tireless champion for illustration who founded the charity and helped us establish our new home. Quentin’s illustrations will be on display at the Centre, alongside examples of illustration from around the world.
Find out more about us here.
When we are true to our values:
Our staff and volunteers bring a wide range of skills and life experiences to the organisation. We want them to thrive and grow. In our last staff survey, colleagues rated us 4.9/5 for having a “friendly, kind and inclusive” staff team.
Staff work across two locations in south Islington, a vibrant area with excellent local transport links and amenities. The new Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration includes a small office for staff working on-site, along with a café and spaces that can be used for meetings. This is supplemented by a larger office within a beautiful building, five to ten minutes’ walk away. Both locations offer level access, good natural light, cycle parking, accessible showers and free tea and coffee. In some roles (as set out in job descriptions) it is possible to work up to 40% of contracted hours from home.
We take contracted hours seriously and operate a time-off-in-lieu policy. We also have clear policies to support parental and caring responsibilities, as well as enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, sickness and compassionate leave policies.
Everyone has an allocated line manager who meets with them regularly. Six-monthly development reviews are used to capture achievements, set objectives and identify support needs. Professional development opportunities include formal training and access to relevant sector networks and events. There are monthly all-staff meetings and cross-team forums, including meetings dedicated to environmental impact and equity, diversity and inclusion.
We have achieved Disability Confident Level 2 accreditation and are working towards Level 3. We invite our staff, freelancers, contractors and volunteers to share their needs via an access ‘passport’.
You can read our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion policy here.
All our current vacancies will be advertised on this page. Please do not send speculative CVs and applications as these will not be stored on file.
We publish a Job Pack for all paid opportunities, explaining what the role entails and the experience and skills that you will need to demonstrate to be considered. For most roles you don’t need experience in illustration or visual arts to make a successful application.
When you apply for a position, you will need to complete our online application form. It is very important that you explain how your skills and experience (including transferable skills) match the essential criteria set out in the job pack, giving examples wherever possible.
Our online application form includes an equity, diversity, and inclusion monitoring section. Information you provide in this section is entirely confidential, accessible only to our HR team, and will not be seen by the shortlisting or interview panel.
Applications are anonymised before being passed to the shortlisting panel and are scored according to the essential criteria outlined in the Job Pack. Ahead of interviews, we provide a preparation document with directions, details of anything you need to prepare in advance, and what to expect on the day.
We strive for equity in our recruitment processes. As a Disability Confident Employer, we offer guaranteed interviews to applicants whose applications meet all the essential criteria for the role and who are disabled. Further information about the guaranteed interview scheme and how to opt in is included in the application form.
Please let us know if you have any access requirements that need to be met to support you to make an application or participate in the interview process by emailing jobs@qbcentre.org.uk.
Job offers are conditional upon references and may necessitate DBS clearance if appropriate for the role.
If you have any questions about our recruitment process or any of the vacancies listed here please contact us at jobs@qbcentre.org.uk
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