Cultural Heritage Researcher

This role will focus on telling the story of Hackney Empire’s popular and radical artistic programming. This will include researching diverse audiences and artists involved in the vanishing acts of Variety, Magic and Music Hall, alongside the surviving ones of Music, Comedy, Carnival, Pantomime and Theatre, tracing how Hackney Empire has responded to East London’s migration heritage and driven our mission to help historically disenfranchised people find their voice on our stage.

The researcher will engage with archives, private collectors, and cultural institutions to identify materials and stories that illuminate Hackney Empire’s role as a platform for underrepresented artists and communities.

This role is sought in conjunction with a Community Heritage Researcher in a mirrored job description. We are open to proposals from candidates who are interested in combining both these roles.

The role is offered on a Freelance basis, with a contract length of approximately 4 days of 7 hours/day each month until w/c 12th October 2026. Working days to be mutually agreed based on project need and timesheets to be provided with invoices.