Category: Uncategorised

London Craft Week is seeking a new Managing Director to lead the 2026 edition of the festival. This role offers great scope for an entrepreneurial individual to shape London Craft Week and further grow its reputation as the world’s leading festival for outstanding craftsmanship. The right candidate will combine strong commercial instinct with passion for extraordinary creativity across art, design and luxury sectors. The role will require you to work with flexibility, energy and commitment, leading sponsorship sales and managing the team to deliver and promote a diverse and engaging festival programme.

Salary: £75k 

Term: Fixed term until 31 May 2026 (maternity cover)

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE:

We are seeking an exceptional leader with a proven track record in cultural event management, strategic business development and/or sponsorship.

Desired Experience & Skills:

• Senior Leadership: Significant experience in a senior leadership role within the arts, culture, events, or luxury sectors, demonstrating commercial success 
• Income Generation & Commercial Acumen: Strong history of securing high-value sponsorships and developing commercial partnerships
• Financial & Governance Oversight: Experience in financial management with P&L responsibility
• Stakeholder & Team Leadership: Exceptional skills in building and maintaining relationships with diverse stakeholders (sponsors, public bodies, VIPs) and inspiring/developing high-performing teams
• Strategic & Communication Excellence: Outstanding strategic planning capabilities, coupled with excellent written and verbal communication skills 
• Festival/Event Direction: Ability to lead the strategy, development, and successful delivery of a large-scale cultural event

Key Attributes:

• Passion for Craft & Culture: A genuine enthusiasm for craftsmanship, art, design, and cultural events
• Entrepreneurial & Visionary: A proactive, forward-thinking individual who identifies new opportunities and drives growth
• Collaborative & Resilient: A natural collaborator who thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

STRATEGY

• In conjunction with the Chairman and programme team, lead on creating, developing and implementing LCW’s mission, strategy and festival programme.
• Ensure the timely and effective production of all necessary planning and evaluation material, including appropriate financial plans and accounts. 
• Developing and maintaining excellent collaborative relationships with sponsors, commercial partners, public bodies and relevant stakeholders (current and potential) to enable LCW to achieve its strategic goals.

LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT

• Ensure that the organisation has the resources (human, material and financial) to operate as effectively as possible.
• Provide leadership to the LCW team, ensuring quality and timely output across all activities and maximising the potential of staff through training and development.

INCOME GENERATION 

• In conjunction with the Chairman, secure and manage the relationship with the Headline Sponsor. 
• In conjunction with the Chairman and programme team, set stretching but realistic revenue targets covering: programme partners, International Pavilions, sponsors, advertising, ticket revenue, e-commerce and public sector.
• Ensure successful development and delivery of new and existing sponsor relationships.
• Develop new strategic partnerships that strengthen LCW’s financial position and offer new income generating opportunities. 
• Work with programme team to develop a sales plan and manage relationships with an international network of partners

GOVERNANCE

• Ensure London Craft Week Limited discharges its legal obligations to include HMRC (VAT and Corporation Tax), Companies House (inc confirmation statements, accounts, registered office address), GDPR, Health & Safety and Employment.

FINANCE 

• Lead the sustainable financial and operational management of the business, including managements of budgets and banking, and oversight of accounting firm.
• Develop new models for income generation, identifying commercial and business development opportunities. 

OPERATIONS

• Manage LCW’s workplace arrangements and associated services as required.

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS 

• Develop and engage LCW’s VIP audience.
• Oversee the development of strategic marketing and PR plans to support the festival and enhance LCW’s reputation and profile. 
• Recruit all marketing staff as may be necessary, and appoint and manage the relationship with the Public Relations agency.
• Appoint and manage the relationship with key suppliers: graphic designers, web development, media buying, research, delivery/couriers.
• Work with the design agency on identity, print collateral, advertising, posters, web templates, sales packs and on-site signage.
• Manage research and evaluation including designing and promoting visitor and programme partner surveys using Survey Monkey.
• Act as a spokesperson with press and stakeholders as required. 

ABOUT LONDON CRAFT WEEK

London Craft Week is a city-wide festival celebrating exceptional craftsmanship, across multiple sectors and disciplines, from around the world. Through our curated programme of events, we shine a light on the creative talent behind some of the world’s most beautiful objects, telling stories of their inspiration, process and materials.

Since its inception in 2015, the festival has grown significantly in scale and prominence with nearly quarter of a million visitors enjoying the work of more than 1000 makers at events put on by over 200 partners from 35 countries in 2025.

The festival encourages those who attend to discover hidden workshops, independent makers, heritage craftsmen and jewel-like shops alongside great luxury houses, famous artists and designers, leading department stores, national museums and contemporary galleries. Visitors can embrace the sheer reach, diversity and serendipity that London offers as the world’s great creative capital.

 

Please apply by Monday 30 June to jo@londoncraftweek.com with a CV and short note explaining your interest in the role. We reserve the right to close applications early.

 

Image: Workshop at International Pavilion: Thailand | LCW 2026 | Photography by Dan Weill

This summer, the London Craft Week team is recruiting a new Partnerships Manager to join the team. If this year’s festival has left you feeling inspired by exceptional exhibitions, creative collaborations and unique experiences, why not join us in bringing together the festival line-up for London Craft Week 2026?

We’re a small team with lots of independence and scope for creativity. The role will expose you to the full spectrum of festival planning and delivery. We’re looking for someone proactive and enthusiastic about selling the benefits of the festival to top-tier brands, galleries, studios and makers. You may have previously worked in sales, marketing or partnerships, ideally in a related sector, but it could you be that you marry relevant skills with personal interest and passion for what we do. You will need to balance aesthetic appreciation with financial nous to bring together an exciting programme while hitting sales targets.

Full job description and application instructions can be found below. We are interviewing during July with a view to the new recruit starting in September.

Job Description: Partnerships Manager

Contract:

Full time / Permanent

Location:

Hybrid and flexible with a few days per week in Central London 

Reports to:

Managing Director

Salary:

£26-30k, depending on experience

Hours:

35hrs per week, excluding public holidays

About London Craft Week

Having returned for its eleventh edition from 12-18 May 2025, London Craft Week (LCW) is a city-wide festival, celebrating exceptional craftsmanship from around the world.  A unique cultural and commercial platform, LCW attracts over 200,000 visitors to a rich and varied programme of over 400 events.

LCW’s curated programme brings together established and emerging makers, iconic heritage and contemporary brands, studio groups, collectives and galleries with discerning consumers to build engagement and sales. It features exclusive workshops, demonstrations, exhibitions, talks and discussions and performances.

London Craft Week tells the stories behind some of the world’s most beautiful objects – the material, the maker, the process and the inspiration.  We work closely with partners to shape persuasive activations, connecting partners with new and existing customers. 

 London Craft Week is an independent, not-for-profit organisation.

 

About this role

London Craft Week is looking for a confident and independent individual with exceptional communication skills and meticulous attention to detail. 

You will work closely with the Managing Director and Senior Content and Partnerships Lead, supporting the development of the programme and marketing strategies for LCW.  You will oversee programme partner relationships, sell partnership packages and provide administrative support to the team. 

You will have the opportunity to work across the whole event and contribute creatively to its success, speaking directly with makers, partners and sponsors.

You will have a keen interest in the work of London Craft Week, craftsmanship, art and design, and in the luxury fashion, retail, arts and culture sectors more broadly.

 You will be part of a small team working on a dynamic and ambitious event.

This role will require you to work with flexibility, energy and commitment.

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

This is a role that varies year round, so the below activities will come in and out of focus through the festival cycle. 

 Partnership Sales

• Sell partnership packages, driving revenue for the festival – this is key
• Manage programme partner relationships, securing details of their LCW activations, contracts, copy and images
• Ensure potential partners understand the LCW offer and opportunity and address any concerns
• Research potential new programme partners including luxury brands, independent makers, studio groups, international collectives, galleries and national delegations
• Maintain and update LCW’s contact database as necessary

 Print & Proof-reading

• Approach and chase programme partners for copy and images for the LCW Guide and website
• Liaise with partners and the Copy Editor to ensure efficient copy flow from partners to the Copy Editor and onto the design agency
• Proofread the LCW Guide, website and newsletters

 Online & Digital

• Work closely with other members of the team, upload event information (copy and images) from partners to the LCW website
• Chase programme partners, sponsors and media partners for copy and images
• Schedule and post content to LCW’s social media channels

 Administration

• Support the team with postal mailings
• Process and edit images for use across London Craft Week platforms

 Operations

• Prepare and distribute invoices for programme partners and sponsors using the accounting software Xero; applying PO numbers and refunds where necessary
• Ensure timely payment of invoices, contacting partners and sponsors about late payments.
• Prepare agreements for programme partners, confirming the terms of their participation in LCW.
• Use Adobe Sign to send agreements to programme partners.
• Provide ad hoc logistical support in relation to festival delivery

 Distribution

• Support the Marketing team with the distribution of LCW Guides and event signage, liaising with partners and suppliers

PR

• Provide information and images to LCW’s PR agency 
• Liaise with the PR agency and the LCW team to schedule interviews and to monitor copy deadlines

 VIP Programme

• Liaise with programme partners to ensure the smooth delivery of VIP events, monitoring guest lists, F&B and logistics as necessary

 

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• A keen interest in the work of London Craft Week, craftsmanship, art and design and in the luxury, fashion, retail, arts and culture sectors more broadly
• Strong interpersonal skills with excellent written and spoken English – sales and/or marketing experience a strong advantage
• Ability to form persuasive communications
• Strong commercial awareness
• Confident telephone manner
• Self-confident with the ability to communicate and work with senior staff from a range of organisations including the art, craft and luxury sectors
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, work to deadlines and stay calm under pressure
• Creative with the ability to think clearly and solve problems effectively
• A keen organisational sense with meticulous attention to detail
• Strong customer care ethic
• Tenacious and hardworking
• Good understanding of digital and social channels
• Comfortable with learning a range of software including MailChimp, WordPress, Hootsuite Xero, and Adobe Acrobat 

TO APPLY

Please supply a brief CV and reasons why you would love the role.

Applications should be sent to jo@londoncraftweek.com with the Subject Line ‘Partnerships Manager Application’.

We will interview in July, with a view to the new team member starting in September.

Photography by Dan Weill

CREATEDAY.ORG

“Well before Covid-19, we had become somewhat isolated from each other, too busy, too narrow-focused. Yet there has never been more creativity, imagination and talent. Or people who appreciate it. In that sense, despite so much uncertainty, I believe we live in auspicious times.”
Guy Salter, Chairman, London Craft Week.

Hence Create Day: an opportunity once a year to pause, appreciate beauty and applaud the talent in our midst. To reconnect with our own creativity and bring like-minded people together.

Join us from 2am GMT on createday.org for hourly releases of exclusive video content from around the world, uploaded region by region according to time zone. Live streams will be available on a dedicated channel every hour from 9am – 8pm. Don’t miss sessions from Noel Stewart, Tom Dixon, Japan Woodcraft Association and others.

The final schedule will be released on the day, but we’ve shared a few highlight teasers below from our Create Day partners.

FIND OUT MORE