Job Title:
Project Archivist
Organisation:
Topolski Memoir Ltd.
Contract:
12 months, part-time (0.6 FTE, ~3 days/week), fixed term to begin e/o October or start of November
Salary:
£47,745 pro rata (£28,647 actual)
Location:
Topolski Studio, Waterloo, London (with some flexible working)
Reporting to:
Project Manager (Lucien Topolski, Director, Topolski Memoir Ltd.)
Languages:
Polish desirable but not essential
The Feliks Topolski Archive Project
Supported by the National Archives' Archives Revealed Programme
The Feliks Topolski Archive (FTA) holds a unique collection of over 6,000 works, including drawings, paintings, prints, photographs, and personal writings by Feliks Topolski RA (1907–1989). Topolski's work provides a distinctive visual chronicle of the twentieth century, portraying both iconic figures, such as Churchill, Gandhi, Malcolm X, and Queen Elizabeth II, as well as everyday life, through sensitive, observational sketches that charted the social, cultural and political course of the 20th century.
He recorded Africa and Asia as western imperial power fell, and bore witness to the independent nations that rose to replace them; he drew China entering the cultural revolution, and Vietnam at the beginning of their war with America; he charted British cultural and political upheavals, from the Hippies to Greenham Common, the Blitz to the Troubles in Northern Ireland; he travelled the US recording Hollywood, the Black Panthers, Martin Luther King, and several election cycles. He travelled constantly, reaching every continent (except Oceania), sharing his attention between the streets and the halls of power and everything in between. In short, he chronicled the century.
Whilst Topolski was recognised in his own lifetime, his work has since fallen out of mainstream public memory and his work has never been the subject of a retrospective or a monograph, largely because our archive remains relatively unstudied.
Supported by The National Archives'
Archives Revealed
programme,
this is an exciting opportunity to develop a cataloguing infrastructure that will exist far beyond the end of the project. By cataloguing and digitising the collection, the archive will have greater accessibility for researchers and drive progress with planned exhibitions, publications and partnerships.
You will be working primarily in Topolski´s original studio in Waterloo, in the heart of London´s South Bank. The archiving work will feed directly into our outreach programme, providing opportunities for a range of public engagement initiatives. For example, 2026 is the 75th anniversary of the Festival of Britain, in which Topolski contributed a large mural, and we will be commemorating the event with a project developed in partnership with our partners at the London College of Communication.
The events that Topolski witnessed resonate strongly today, and his artwork contains hidden insights that help us to better understand them. Our goal as an organisation is to harness Topolski's legacy to promote the genre of reportage and documentary artwork. We champion the eye of the artist as a force for reflection and change in the world. By uncovering the depth of Topolski´s experiences, we aim to inspire people to understand their place in history, and think critically about our path to the future.
The project will:
* Catalogue the collection to ISAD(G) standards
, enabling global discoverability via The National Archives'
Discovery
platform and Archives Hub.
- Rehouse fragile items
in archival-grade storage to ensure long-term preservation.
- Digitise key works
to expand access for researchers, students, and the public.
- Deliver a programme of engagement
, including workshops, talks, and collaborations with partners such as Ravensbourne University and London College of Communication (UAL) and other cultural partners.
Two complementary roles will deliver this work in close collaboration:
* Role 1: Project Archivist
(12 months, 0.6 FTE) – lead on archival standards, infrastructure, and workflows, and carry out cataloguing programme.
- Role 2: Assistant Archivist / Programme Officer
(6 months, 0.6 FTE) – focus on Polish-language materials and outreach.
The combination of these two posts will balance professional archival rigour with contextual interpretation and creative engagement, ensuring the archive is both well-documented and meaningfully shared. The two posts will overlap, with the Assistant role beginning 3-4 months into the project, allowing for an initial project strategy to be developed.
The two roles will work closely with the Director and an intern, benefiting from deep knowledge of Topolski´s career and artwork, as well as administrative and event management support. We use Notion as a collaborative project management tool, facilitating communication.
Key Purpose of the Role
To lead the professional cataloguing of the Feliks Topolski Archive to
ISAD(G) standards
, ensuring its long-term preservation and accessibility. The Project Archivist will oversee cataloguing workflows, rehousing of material in appropriate storage, metadata preparation in Excel for National Archives Discovery platform, and contribute to outreach activities.
They will work in
close collaboration with the Assistant Archivist / Programme Officer
, whose role focuses on supporting the categorisation of Polish-language material and public engagement. They will also work closely with the Project Manager, Lucien Topolski and an intern at the Topolski Studio.
Key Responsibilities
Cataloguing and Standards
* Lead the arrangement, description, and cataloguing of the FTA to ISAD(G) standards.
* Carry out or oversee a condition survey of the collection, documenting the physical state of items to inform rehousing and digitisation priorities.
* Ensure metadata is prepared for The National Archives'
Discovery
and Archives Hub.
- Supervise the rehousing of identified fragile items in archival-grade storage, with practical work undertaken by staff, interns, or volunteers under the archivist's direction.
- Coordinate with digitisation partners and prioritise material to be digitised.
- Create regular detailed progress reports for submission to the National Archives.
Infrastructure and Systems
* Establish and manage an Excel-based cataloguing system, aligned with ISAD(G) and adaptable for future migration.
* Integrate inherited physical catalogues and inventories into the new structure.
* Ensure the system is clearly structured to accept future deposits.
* Use the National Archives'
Manage Your Collections
template to prepare catalogue metadata, ensuring accessibility through The National Archives' Discovery platform (training will be provided by The National Archives).
- Coordinate with digitisation partners to manage workflows and ensure digital files are stored and preserved in line with the NDSA Levels of Digital Preservation, with support from The National Archives' resources and training.
Collaboration and Outreach
* Work jointly with the Assistant Archivist / Programme Officer, ensuring Polish-language material is effectively catalogued and interpreted.
* Manage and supervise volunteers assisting with cataloguing and repackaging tasks.
* Collaborate with the project team, educational partners, and volunteers to deliver outreach activities (talks, workshops, tours, and open cataloguing sessions). Ensure cataloguing supports public engagement.
Advisory and Professional Input
* Provide professional advice on archival handling, preservation, and access.
* Liaise with The National Archives, sector networks, and cultural partners.
* Advise towards using the archival material to produce exhibitions, both within the Studio and with other institutions.
Person Specification
Essential
* Postgraduate qualification in Archives and Records Management (ARA-accredited Diploma/Masters, or Level 7 apprenticeship).
* Demonstrable experience cataloguing complex collections to ISAD(G) standards, ideally using Excel.
* Strong project management and organisational skills.
* Excellent written and verbal communication.
* Ability to collaborate effectively across professional and cultural disciplines.
Desirable
* Familiarity with The National Archives' Manage Your Collections system and workflows, which enables sharing of information on its Discovery platform (training with the National Archives possible).
* Experience working with artists' archives or art-history collections and an awareness of the SPECTRUM standard.
* Experience with digital preservation or awareness of frameworks such as the NDSA Levels.
* Knowledge of Polish language.
* Experience working with artists' archives or art-history collections.
* Experience delivering outreach and engagement programmes.
* Familiarity with Excel-based cataloguing or metadata management