Vacancy Type/Job categoryManagement & Professional
Department: Arts Centre
Salary: £30,942 – £40,322 per annum
Location University of Warwick, Coventry
Vacancy Overview: Permanent position, 36.5 hours per week.
Warwick Arts Centre is at an exciting stage of development. In 2021 we will complete a £27 million capital development, with a new and enhanced arts and visitor offer for Coventry in its year as UK City of Culture.
The post is key to our future direction. The Mead Gallery presents a lively and diverse programme of outstanding contemporary art. The successful candidate will assist with the management of a high-profile gallery and the development of an international programme of exhibitions and events that connect with, excite, and develop audiences.
Our reopening will mark a shift in the ways we collaborate with our audiences, including plans for ambitious growth in diverse community engagement and increasing the diversity of those we work in partnership with, and those who visit or engage with Warwick Arts Centre.
We are seeking a confident, skilled, and experienced individual to help us on our journey.
Interview Date: w/c 28 June 2021.
Job Description
To plan, co-ordinate and present a nationally significant programme of temporary exhibitions, events, commissions, and projects that responds to the wider programme strategy of Warwick Arts Centre. We aim to deliver an exciting, engaging, and significant programme that is relevant to diverse communities; it extends, develops, and responds to audiences and creates opportunities for artists.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
To assist the Curator in the day to day running of the Mead Gallery to include:
1. To undertake the research, curation, planning, and project management of the temporary exhibitions programme, ensuring agreed strategies are implemented and audience targets achieved.
2. To work closely with the Creative Learning team and Audience Development Officer to plan, manage and deliver a structured programme of audience development and engagement activity to ensure that a rich diversity of communities participates not only as audiences but as co-creators. The programme may include (but is not limited to) public talks and tours, artists’ residencies, outreach programmes and symposia involving academics from within and beyond the University.
3. To undertake all administrative duties related to exhibitions and events programme to include (but not limited to) issuing contracts to and managing artists and suppliers, loan agreement forms, management of budgets and financial records, insurance arrangements, preparation of funding applications and strategy documents, maintaining health and safety records.
4. To work in partnership with the Technical Manager to develop, plan and implement the design and professional installations of exhibitions and to ensure timely management of technical requirements of exhibitions and events.
5. To ensure that risk assessments and method statements are undertaken and completed for all exhibitions and events and that they are timely and comply with Health & Safety legislation.
6. To work with the Warwick Arts Centre Programme Team to make connections across the organisation that develop and engage all audiences, including the student audience.
7. To support, develop and commission digital content for exhibition and for online platforms in collaboration with Creative Learning, Programme and Marketing teams.
8. To liaise and work closely with the House Manager to ensure sufficient Front of House staffing levels to support Gallery exhibitions, events and to always deliver excellent customer service experience.
9. To work closely with the Marketing teams to ensure the effective and timely communications for all exhibitions and events.
10. To commission and produce texts and publications to accompany exhibitions and ensure their national distribution where appropriate. To manage print production for publicity material, exhibition texts and catalogues and ensure that they meet the deadlines established by the Arts Centre Marketing department.
11. To contribute to the development of the University of Warwick Art Collection and its exposure throughout the University. To be responsible for looking after external visitors who wish to view the University Art Collection in the absence of the Curator (Art Collection).
12. To contribute to the development of strategies for the Mead Gallery and for the wider Arts Centre.
13. To liaise with University departments and external agencies in the planning of all exhibitions/events outside the Arts Centre.
14. To participate fully in the programme of Warwick Arts Centre, attending other performances and events.
15. To entertain artists and visitors to Warwick Arts Centre as required.
16. To deputise for the Curator in their absence
17. To comply with financial regulations.
18. To undertake any other duties commensurate with the grading of the role.
Person Specification
The Person Specification focuses on the knowledge, skills, experience and qualifications required to undertake the role effectively.
- Significant professional experience in contemporary art context
- Specialist knowledge of international contemporary arts and the workings of the artworld.
- Experience of engaging diverse communities with contemporary work
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills to explain and present complex information, to enthuse and inspire audiences and stakeholders and to negotiate with and manage a wide range of people.
- Ability to organize and plan complex and long-term activities and events, and to develop and implement strategies related to the Mead Gallery and Warwick Arts Centre.
- Experience in planning, developing, and overseeing the installation of exhibitions
- Experience of managing budgets and generating income
- Ability and experience in resource planning
- Excellent team player with ability to work on own initiative and take the lead as required
- Sound IT skills to include excel, word, PowerPoint, outlook, and the ability to adapt to new software
- Willingness to work evenings and weekends as required
- Commitment to continuing self-development. Ability to organise and deliver in house training/briefing sessions
- Flexible and positive (can do) approach
- Minimum two years professional experience in gallery environment.
- Significant experience of leading and managing a team of staff and working inter-departmentally
- Experience of and a commitment to delivering excellent customer service personally and through a team of staff
- Experience of overseeing resource allocation and contracts for goods and services
- Experience in successful fundraising and writing grant applications
Additional Desirable Criteria:
- Experience and a good understanding of health and safety legislation, writing risk assessments, training, and monitoring staff to ensure compliance with Health and Safety legislation
- For further information about the University of Warwick, please read our University Further Particulars.
- For further information about the department, please visit the departmental website.
Right to work in the UK
If you do not yet have the right to work in the UK and/ or are seeking sponsorship under for a Skilled Worker visa in the UK points-based immigration system
please click on this link which contains further information about obtaining right to work in the UK and details about eligibility for sponsorship for a Skilled Worker Visa.
The University of Warwick provides an inclusive working and learning environment, recognising and respecting every individual’s differences. We welcome applications from individuals who identify with any of the protected characteristics defined by the Equality Act 2010.
Recruitment of Ex-Offenders Policy
As an organisation using the (DBS) Disclosure and Barring Service to assess applicants’ suitability for positions of trust, the University of Warwick complies with the DBS Code of Practice and undertakes not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a Disclosure on the basis of a conviction or other information revealed. More information is available on the University’s Vacancy pages and applicants may request a copy of the DBS Code of Practice.
