Ryedale Festival is Hiring

We are looking for a Development Officer and Festival Assistant to join our small, friendly and ambitious team. Details of both jobs, and how to apply can be found below.


DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

Initially 12-month fixed term | 0.3 FTE
Salary: £10,000 – £12,000 per annum, depending on experience 
Hours: 10.5 hours / 1.5 days per week
Location: Pickering, North Yorkshire, with considerable flexibility for home working

About the role

The Ryedale Festival is one of the UK’s most distinctive and ambitious classical music festivals, bringing internationally recognised artists to beautiful and historic venues across North and East Yorkshire.

We are seeking an enterprising Development Officer to help build the fundraising needed to sustain the Festival’s progress and ambitions. This is a new role at an exciting point in the Festival’s development, offering an opportunity to help shape the next stage of its work.

The principal focus will be trusts and foundations, researching opportunities, developing a strong pipeline and preparing high-quality applications and reports. The role will also support the development of corporate partnerships and sponsorship and identify other appropriate fundraising opportunities.

The Development Officer will report to the Artistic Director and work closely with the Festival’s active Development Committee, drawing on its considerable experience and network. Although initially a 12-month fixed-term appointment, there is considerable potential for the role to grow and develop over time as the Festival expands its fundraising activity.

We are looking for someone who enjoys spotting opportunities, writing persuasively, building relationships and keeping things moving.

For further information on the job, and details of how to apply, please see the role description below:


FESTIVAL ASSISTANT

Fixed term January – August 2027 | 0.6 FTE
Salary: £14,687 per annum pro rata (£24,479 FTE)
Hours: 21 hours / 3 days per week
Location: Festival Office, Pickering, North Yorkshire. This is an office based role, with limited flexibility for working from home.

About the role

The Ryedale Festival is one of the UK’s most distinctive and ambitious classical music festivals, bringing internationally recognised artists to beautiful and historic venues across North and East Yorkshire.

We are seeking a Festival Assistant to join our small, friendly and ambitious team and help with the preparation and delivery of the 2027 Festival. The role is central to the smooth running of the Festival, with hands-on involvement in everything from planning and administration to Box Office and the delivery of concerts and events.

This is a varied and rewarding role, offering the chance to learn new skills, take on responsibility and work closely with outstanding performers. It could suit someone looking for a first step into the arts, or someone bringing transferable skills from another area.

The focus will vary throughout the contract. Earlier in the year, the emphasis will be on planning and preparation. As the Summer Festival approaches, the role will increasingly focus on Box Office and event delivery, with July being the busiest period.

The appointment is initially fixed term from January to August 2027 but the role has the potential to grow and develop over time.

For further information on the job, and details of how to apply, please see the role description below:

More News

Three-year partnership with John Wilson and Sinfonia of London

Ryedale Festival has announced a new three-year partnership with Sinfonia of London and conductor John Wilson, marking a significant commitment to bringing orchestral music of the highest quality to audiences across North Yorkshire and the wider north of England.

Thank you for a record-breaking Summer Festival

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported this year’s Summer Festival and helped make it our most successful yet. With performances from artists such as Jess Gillam, Stephen Hough, Eric Whitacre, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and so many others, the Festival travelled to more places – and reached more people – than at any point in our history.

Why Festivals Matter

As the long days of summer approach, excitement is building for our 2025 Summer Festival. To mark the launch, our Artistic Director has shared his insights in a new article for the Yorkshire Post, exploring why regional festivals play such a vital role in the cultural life of our communities.