Work With Us
Equity, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of everything we do at 42nd Street and it is essential that our workforce represents the populations of young people we support. With this in mind, we particularly welcome applications from people who identify as being from communities of need, identity and with lived experience.
Current Posts
We are seeking an artist under 30 who identifies as male with Global Majority heritage for an artist-in-residency opportunity. Inclusive of non-binary young people.
Who we are
42nd Street is an innovative Greater Manchester young people’s mental health charity with 45 years’ experience of providing free and confidential services to young people. aged 11- 25, experiencing difficulties with their mental health and emotional wellbeing.
We are here to support young people with their emotional well-being and mental health by offering a choice of effective, creative, young person-centred and rights-based support.
The Horsfall is our Gallery and Creative space located in Ancoats, next to the main service. The space offers opportunities and support for young people to explore creativity in its many forms – supporting sense of self, confidence, skills, voice and careers. From our weekly art drop-ins, studio space, projects and commissions with young people working alongside established and/or emerging artists highlight the impact of choice and therefore we put this at the centre of everything we do. Each young person gets to choose how they wish to use creativity and what for and we support their intentions.
This can range from supporting young people to get involved in external arts and cultural projects, exploring their own medium in our resourced creative spaces, to commissioning young people as artists and hosting their exhibitions in the gallery.
Artist in Residence Opportunity
We are seeking an artist (under 30) to undertake a paid residency project at The Horsfall between December 2025 and mid-March 2026 culminating in an exhibition or showcase at the end of March 2026.
The theme of the work is open – artist can choose to reflect upon the nature of our space – youth led, celebratory, creative, or themes of expression, mental health and identity.
While the opportunity is for artists with a particular identity the work does not need to be about that identity unless the artist wishes. We are seeking artists to propose how they would use the opportunity to create meaningful work.
We are open to all mediums of creative work, and the work can include the involvement of young people if you wish but this is not a requirement of the residency. We would however like you to meet our young people (some will be on the interview panel, and we’d also love you to talk to our creative groups about your work).
You will be supported in the residency with regular check ins with our creative producer and coms person. The exhibition/ showcasing of the work will be promoted through our social media on our website.
Timeline
- Application closing dates: 7th January 2026 by 5pm
- Informal interviews:14th January 2026 onwards
- Residency Period: February 2026- June 2026
(Work can be carried out over that period or in a more intense period if you wish – artist can also access space at The Horsfall to develop the work (notice is required.)) - Showcase Set-up week: Late March 2026. Artists will need to be available to set up their Event / Exhibition at The Horsfall with staff in the week leading up to the event/ exhibition
- Showcase: The finished work will be shared and showcased at the end of March 2026 at The Horsfall gallery
Payment
- The successful candidate will receive £1750 for the period, covering materials for creating the work and your time, payable in money or vouchers at three stages.
throughout the residency- On signing the artist-in-residence contract
- February 15th, 2026 (15/02/26)
- On successful completion and showcase of the work
- Additional budget: £200 for printing/hanging costs
Note: Artists are responsible for their own tax records (support/guidance available)
How to apply:
- Please email a proposal (up to 1000 words) for the work you would like to create as part of the residency to rod.kippen@42ndStreet.org.uk, including:
- Theme/Concept: what will the work explore – highlight?
- Medium: What materials/forms will you work with?
- Vision for the showcase: How do you visualise using The Horsfall's gallery space? (Exhibition, event, launch night, etc.)
- Why you: What makes you the right artist for this residency?
- Support needs: What help would you benefit from The Horsfall staff? (We can help with design, installation, hanging, engagement with young people, etc.)
- Include illustrations, rough drafts or examples of the work you would like to create as you wish.
Also include:
- A CV
- A link to social media or online portfolio showing previous creative work
- we are as interested in your ideas as your previous work so please don’t worry if you don’t have lots of previous work.
Closing date 7th January 2026 by 5pm
Informal Interviews will, be held the 14th January 2026 onwards
Work to start February 2026
Any Questions?
We warmly welcome informal chats to talk through your proposal before submitting, or for any questions. Please reach out by email to Rod at rod.kippen@42ndStreet.org.uk
The general occupational hiring requirement is based on a legitimate aim in line with Schedule 9, Part 1 (1) and (2)(a–b) of the Equality Act 2010, which you can read more about here:
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/schedule/9
About “Genuine Occupational Requirements” in relation to this post:
This post is subject to a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) for the artist to identify as male and be from the Global Majority and be under the age of 30.
The Global Majority refers to people who are Black, Asian, Brown, dual-heritage, Indigenous to the global south, or who have been racialised as ‘ethnic minorities’ in the UK context.
The GOR is applied to this residency opportunity as it is essential for, and relates directly to, the aims and purpose of the role. The following objective justifications apply:
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The Horsfall’s creative residency programme aims to support young artists from backgrounds underrepresented in the creative and cultural industries. This includes male-identifying artists from the Global Majority, who remain significantly underrepresented in both the youth arts and broader cultural sectors.
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Representation and visibility of Global Majority male artists remain disproportionately low within youth arts and mental health settings. This targeted residency contributes to addressing this imbalance and advancing equality of opportunity under Section 158 of the Equality Act 2010 (positive action).
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The residency will offer young people the opportunity to engage with a creative role model who reflects their cultural and gender identity, supporting confidence, connection, and wellbeing through shared lived experience.
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42nd Street is committed to building a more diverse and inclusive arts environment, and this opportunity is an intentional and proportionate step toward that goal
All posts
We cannot accept CV's or any applications submitted after the closing date and time.
Unfortunately, interviews dates cannot be changed. Please ensure you are available if shortlisted. Interviews are primarily face to face at our Ancoats base, however we can accommodate video-conference interviews where required.
We reserve the right to close the application process at any stage should we receive a high volume of applications. You are advised to submit your application as soon as possible. Applications that do not meet the person spec points will not be shortlisted.
There is potential for contracts to be extended beyond fixed term, subject to funding / service needs.
If you have access needs that require additional support to make an application, please let us know and we can discuss best how to support you during the application process.
How To Apply
We look forward to receiving your application. To ensure we offer an equal recruitment experience for all, we do not accept C.V. applications. Please use the application process as directed provided on our website.
To apply please send your application to recruitment@42ndstreet.org.uk.
Please return the Application Form and Equality & Diversity Form. These forms will be separated upon receipt and the Equality & Diversity Form will not be seen by the recruitment panel.
If you require adjustments or have access needs, please include details at application stage so we are able to make arrangements. All disabled candidates will be interviewed. Please tell us this at application stage. Please download and read our policy and guidance documents.
If you require any documents in an alternative format, you can contact us: recruitment@42ndstreet.org.uk. Please note, we do not accept CVs.
- Application Form (all posts)
- Equality and Diversity Candidate Form
- Cover Letter
- 42nd Street Recruitment Privacy Notice 2021
- Terms and Conditions
- Guidance on completing your application
Our Employee Benefits Package
- 42nd Street is a Real Living Wage employer
- Most roles offer hybrid working in a way that fits the needs of the service
- 27 days’ annual leave and 8 bank holidays per year (pro rata), rising to 30 days’ annual leave after 5 years’ service
- Pensions Scheme - 3% employer contributions
- Bike To Work scheme
- Childcare vouchers
- Annual personal training budget on successful completion of your probationary period
- Internal training calendar with modules identified by staff
- Opportunities to access ‘train the trainer’ training to develop your skills to become a 42nd Street training facilitator
- 4 paid team wellbeing afternoons off per year to use as you wish
- Leadership Development Framework – 42nd Street is committed to growing talent from within
- External supervision dependent on role
- Identity based support groups and socials
42nd Street is a Disability Confident employer
