Garden Museum: Project Director Benton End - Thedirt : Job Details

The Garden Museum has a rare and exciting job opportunity for a driven and dynamic Project Director to lead the transformation of Benton End – the iconic home of artist and gardener Cedric Morris, with the aim to transform it into a centre for creativity and freedom in the arts, horticulture and learning.

In 2021, ownership of Benton End was transferred to the Garden Museum to revive Benton End's legacy as a key site at the intersection of the arts and horticulture. The Project Director would oversee the transformation of Benton End to a thriving cultural and community venue in the heart of Suffolk's countryside. This position would suit an experienced professional from the cultural sector, with experience of delivering National Lottery Heritage Fund projects and managing arts venues, museums or heritage sites.

Home of the incredible painter, avid and successful gardener, Cedric Morris, Benton End in Hadleigh is a Grade II* listed 16th-century half-timbered house, situated on the edge of the historic market town of Hadleigh, Suffolk. The house enjoys a commanding position overlooking the Brett Valley.

Morris was also a horticulturalist of national distinction and in the walled garden at Benton End he created the country's first naturalistic garden. Morris lived at Benton End with his partner and fellow artist, Arthur Lett-Haines, and together they transformed it into a thriving community that celebrated art, gardening, music, literature and food but, above all, Benton End was a place for freedom, inspiration, and creativity. They founded and managed the East Anglian School of Painting and Drawing from 1940 at Benton End, until Cedric's death in 1982. Students of the school included Lucian Freud, Maggi Hambling, and Bettina Shaw-Lawrence.

The Project Director will be an employee of the Garden Museum but will lead their own small but growing team in Hadleigh, which is currently comprised of the Manager, Head Gardener, and Horticultural Trainee.

• Develop and deliver a National Lottery Heritage Fund project through the R1 and R2, with building work scheduled to begin in late 2026; for the R1 you will be working with the team of consultants including Julia Holberry Associates, Anna Cullum Associates, and James Mellish of JM Environmental Ltd., who drew up the successful EOI.
• Work with the Head Gardener, design consultant, and Gardens Committee and Horticultural Trainee to deliver the design for the walled garden, including raising a further £180,000; this element of the project is to be independent of the NLHF process.
• Establish a group of volunteers based inside the house, complementing the volunteer group established in the garden.
• Develop the learning programme initiated in 2023 in partnership with community groups, and partners including Otley College and the Field Studies Centre at Flatford Mill.
• Pilot an artistic programme to begin a series of ‘pop up' exhibitions in addition to residencies; a bedroom was refurbished in 2024 with a grant from the Estelle Trust.
• Establish a regional network composed of:
  • a regional steering group comprising partner Museums and HEIs, and Babergh and mid-Suffolk District Council.
  • Hadleigh community panel.
  • fund-raising Committee with its own Chair.
• Represent and advocate Benton End to a diverse range of people and constituents, with major stakeholders including the District Council and Arts Council.
• Recruit and lead a team of staff and consultants appropriate to the NLHF process while generating momentum and life for Benton End within its current limitations.

The ideal candidate will be a seasoned museum or heritage professional who has delivered a significant NLHF project from inception to delivery. Excellent team leadership and management of Heritage Fund projects is key.

• Contract: Fixed – 3 years (commencing March 2025, or sooner if possible).
• Full-Time, however 4 days per week will be considered for the right candidate.
• Location: Hadleigh based, with national reach.
• Occasional evening and weekend working may be required.
• Salary: £65,000 per annum.

Full job and application details can be found here.