Applications are now open for our Thinker-In-Residence (internship)

Extant is delighted to be offering a Thinker-in-Residence (Internship) as part of the Get Set Progress scheme.

Extant is the UK’s leading professional performing arts company that explores visual impairment to create unique and innovative artistic experiences, placing visually impaired people at the centre of all it does: from the productions we create, to the artists we support, to the audiences we perform to and the participants we work with. Extant is an award-winning company and are funded by Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation as well as several trusts and foundations.

Since our inception in 1997 we have produced 8 ground-breaking national/international theatre productions led by visually impaired artists, including pioneering work on 3 site-specific and multi-sensory productions. We have developed 11 visually impaired-led Associate Artist productions since 2016, and our pioneering Pathways programme was the first programme in the UK to support emerging visually impaired artists. We have supported the career development of over 250 visually impaired artists, and our ongoing programme of training, participation and access consultancy provides a 360 approach of interlinked activity for visually impaired participants, audiences and artists.

Key Information

As part of its commitment to fostering innovative approaches and fresh ideas in visual impairment and the performing arts, we are excited to recruit its first visually impaired Thinker-in-Residence. Our intern will be an imaginative, dynamic and articulate visually impaired person with experience of working outside of the performing arts.

Role: Thinker-in-Residence (Internship)
Reporting to: Ian Abbott, Operations Director, Extant
Location: Hybrid / 2.06 Carlton Mansions, Brixton House, 385 Coldharbour Lane, London, SW9 8GL
Salary: £13.85 (p/h)
Hours: Fixed term 9-months. Full time – 37.5 hours per week. Whilst normal working hours will be Monday to Friday 9.00-5.30pm (with an hour break for lunch), this role will require flexibility with some evening and weekend working required. We operate a time off in lieu (TOIL) system.
Annual Leave: 20 days per annum plus bank/public holidays (pro rata).
Probation: Three months.
Notice Period: One month. One week during probationary period.
DBS: We will ask you to complete a DBS check, which will cover you to work with vulnerable groups.
Access: We can provide support for any access requirements you have.

Benefits:

• Tickets & travel expenses to see theatre.
• Contributory pension scheme.
• Employee assistance programme.

Recruitment

We are holding 1 x 1hr Zoom FAQ session at 11am on Monday 18^th August where you will have a chance to ask our Trainee Artistic Director Tam Gilbert and Operations Director Ian Abbott any questions about the role. To attend the FAQ sessions please email [email protected] at least 48 hours before the session you would like to attend, and you’ll be sent the Zoom link.

Please answer the following questions in a cover letter:

In answering these questions, think about the Job Description and Person Specification sections. We’re interested in what you say rather than how you say it. So please answer in a format that best suits you and enables you to respond fully to the questions. This could be written English, video, audio recording, bullet points, etc.

1. Let us know your:

1. • Name
   • Pronouns (eg: she/her, he/him, they/them)
   • Address
   • Email
   • Contact Phone Number
   • Do you have the legal right to work in the UK?
   • Are you over 18?
   • This internship is for blind and partially sighted people. Please confirm that you have lived experience of sight loss.
2. Please tell us a little about your life and career journey so far. Why would this opportunity be the right next step for you? (write/record around 250 words)
3. What areas of the Thinker-in-Residence are particularly attractive to you? (write/record around 250 words)
4. Please tell us about any experience you have in working outside of the performing arts? (write/record around 250 words)
5. Thinking about your lived experience with sight loss, tell us about a time you experienced really good access and/or felt really welcomed into a space. (write/record around 250 words)
6. Tell us anything else you think will help us know more about you and your experience. (write/record around 250 words)
7. Please share any access requirements you have. Information you provide regarding your access requirements will not form part of the decision-making process.
8. Where did you hear about the Thinker-In-Residence role?

Send your answers in a cover letter to [email protected] alongside your CV by 10am on Wednesday 10^th September 2025. In the subject line put “Thinker-in-Residence Internship Application”. If you are sending attachments, please send them as word documents and complete the monitoring form which can be found here.

Closing Date: 10am, Wednesday 10th September 2025

Interview Date: Wednesday 17th September 2025

Start Date: Monday 27th October 2025

For more information on how to apply, please view the job pack below:

Thinker-In-Residence Internship Job Pack

Thinker-In-Residence Internship Job Pack Large Print