Wellbeing Learning Circles, Wester Hailes, Edinburgh
Part of the Culture Collective / Co-Chomann Cultair
| Job title | SUPPORTING ARTIST |
| Responsible to | WHALE Arts – Head of Engagement |
| Personnel responsible for | N/A |
| Location | WHALE Arts Centre and other locations across Wester Hailes |
| Hours of work | 211hrs / 26.4 days over 12 months |
| Contract length | 12 months |
| Salary | Total freelance fee: £7828.10 over 12 months |
Project Overview:
Wellbeing Learning Circles is a Culture Collective project funded by Creative Scotland and based in Wester Hailes, Edinburgh. The project is led by the Community Wellbeing Collective (CWC), in partnership with WHALE Arts, SCOREscotland, Starcatchers, Grass Roots Remedies, and With Kids.
The project centres on a shared question: What can communities teach artists, and what can artists teach communities? In line with this, each of the partners will embed freelance artists within their own organisations to help develop and deliver the project.
This embedded, socially engaged approach is structured around three shared themes, or Learning Circles: Children’s Learning and Development, Adult Mental Health and Creative Culture. The six project partners will each engage in the Learning Circle(s) most relevant to their work and, along with the freelance artists, will meet quarterly to share learning as the project progresses.
WHALE Arts’ strand of the project, Creative Circles, brings together the Creative Culture and Adult Mental Health Learning Circles as one combined programme.
We will employ two freelance artists – one experienced and one emerging. Both artists will be embedded within our organisation for the duration of the project, working alongside our team and community members to explore themes of culture, place, mental health and wellbeing. They will work together throughout, with the experienced artist mentoring the emerging artist.
Supporting Artist Job Specification
We are looking for an emerging artist/creative practitioner with 3 years or less professional experience, who is keen to develop a socially engaged, participatory arts practice within community settings. We particularly welcome applications from people with a connection to Wester Hailes or a similar community.
The person we are looking for will have
- 3 years or less professional experience as an artist/creative practitioner (any art form) – we welcome applications from people at the start of their practice
- Openness to being mentored, and willingness to reflect honestly on your own practice
- Enthusiasm for, or emerging experience of, socially engaged and participatory arts practice
- Some experience or keen interest in working with community groups, including young people, adults, people facing mental health challenges and other barriers to participation
- Good communication skills and confidence in building relationships with community members, colleagues, partners and the Lead Artist
- Self-motivation and enthusiasm for contributing to an ambitious, community-rooted project
- Openness to working across the intersection of Creative Culture and Adult Mental Health
Ideally, but not essential, they will have
- Lived experience or a strong connection to Wester Hailes or a similar community
- Interest in using the arts to address community issues
Application deadline: 9.00 am on Tuesday 1st October 2026.
(If you are successful, interviews will take place on Wednesday 7th and Thursday 8th October)
