Trustees: State School Education, Fundraising, or Museum and Gallery Sector

Fewer than 1% of UK state schools offer Art History at A Level. At Art History Link-Up, we believe every young person should have the chance to study art history, whatever their school or background.

Since 2016, we've offered free, accredited Art History courses to state school students who would otherwise have no access to the subject, taught in and through the UK's great collections, in partnership with institutions including the Courtauld, the National Gallery and Sir John Soane's Museum. More than 600 students from over 250 schools have studied with us. Half of our current students are from ethnic minority backgrounds, and many are the first in their families to go to university. Our alumni are in every Art History undergraduate year group at Cambridge and the Courtauld, at Russell Group universities, and entering careers in the sector.

We're a small, founder-led charity with a warm, supportive culture that our students and alumni tell us is central to their experience. In 2026 we celebrated our tenth anniversary with a public campaign for access to art history, continuing with an Art History Summit at Christie's in February 2027. A Strategy Year supported by the Rothschild Foundation is shaping our next phase of growth.

Would you like to help open up art history to every young person in the UK?

The roles

We're seeking three new trustees to strengthen our Board as we enter our second decade.

As our State School Art History Education Specialist, you'll keep our teaching grounded in the realities of state school classrooms and support the Board's oversight of safeguarding.

As our Fundraising and Philanthropy Specialist, you'll help us build a broader, more resilient income base, so our courses stay free for every student who needs them.

As our Museum and Gallery Sector Specialist, you'll strengthen our partnerships with cultural institutions and help our students see, and reach, a future in the sector.

What you'll be doing

• You'll join a Board of six trustees, working with the Chair, CEO and fellow trustees to shape AHLU's strategy and governance.
• You'll bring your specialist expertise to Board discussions and, where helpful, advise the CEO between meetings.
• You'll help us make the most of a pivotal moment, as we plan national growth and make the case for Art History in education.
• You'll champion AHLU and the young people we work with through your own networks.

This role is for you if

• you share our belief that art history should be open to every young person
• you have senior or recent experience in state school teaching, fundraising, or the museum and gallery sector
• you're collaborative, curious and enjoy working with others to solve problems
• you can give around one to three hours a week to Board life

Previous trustee experience is welcome but not essential. We provide an induction and support.

Key details

Position: Trustee (up to three roles available)
Responsible to: The Chair of the Board
Location: Hybrid. Board meetings are held in central London, with the option to join online. Trustees can be based anywhere in the UK.
Hours: Four Board meetings a year, usually early evening, plus time to read papers and respond to occasional emails. Around one to three hours a week.
Term: Three years
Remuneration: Voluntary. Reasonable expenses are covered where agreed in advance.

How to apply

Click the Apply button and send us your CV, with a covering letter (maximum two pages) or a short video (maximum five minutes) telling us which role you're applying for, why our mission matters to you and how your experience fits. Video and written applications are valued equally. Full role descriptions are in our Trustee Recruitment Pack.

There are two rounds of interview, the first online and the second in person in London. We review applications on a rolling basis.

Closing date: Friday 4 December 2026

And finally

We particularly welcome applications from people with lived experience of the barriers our students face, and from disabled candidates, candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds and LGBTQ+ candidates, who are currently under-represented in the charity sector. If you don't meet every point above but feel you could contribute, we'd still love to hear from you. We're happy to make reasonable adjustments at any stage.