FACT
Overview
- 4 days per week for 6 months (28 hours per week)
- In-person at FACT with scope for some remote working, operating within core office hours (10am – 4pm)
- National Minimum Wage £9.50 per hour / £750 Local Travel Stipend / £750 Research Budget
- This post is considered a freelance position, and the successful candidate will be responsible for their own taxes
Context
FACT is one of the UK’s leading centre’s for artists, curators and researchers working at the intersection of art, science and technology. We have been working to better support artists, curators and researchers working at the intersection of art, tech and science.
Curators impact how an artwork is made, shown, and talked about. They have the ability to make unique connections between ideas, people and projects which are specific to their interests or research. As such, they are a vital part of any art ecology, and FACT is eager to support the next generation of curators based in the North West. Addressing the lack of opportunities for early-career curators – from those who are looking for a way into the arts, to those fresh out of university – this new Curatorial Internship aims to act as a springboard into a career.
Purpose of the Post
Working alongside the busy Programme team at FACT, the Curatorial Assistant will pick up practical skills as well as have the opportunity to develop their own ideas, receive
mentorship, and work with our growing creative community. Sitting between FACT’s Studio/Lab and Exhibitions teams, the Curatorial Assistant will help to deliver artist-led activities from production to presentation. Tasks range from curatorial and/or research assistance to administration and production support and will place the Curatorial Assistant right at the heart of an internationally recognised, centrally located art gallery.
Person specification
- Open to those based in the North West
- The role is aimed at emerging artists and curators; those who are looking to begin or move into a career in the arts, or recent graduates
- Applicants should be interested in curatorial practice, working with artists and creating artistic experiences to engage audiences
- Applicants should be interested in the overlapping fields of art and technology, approaching this from a critical and/or social perspective
- Applicants should be committed to Equality, Access and Inclusion in the way they work with staff, artists, participants, audiences, and other colleagues
- Strong oral and written communication skills, with a good phone manner
- Knowledge of using google-suite to a good standard (particularly drive, sheets, docs & slides)
- Motivation and ability to take initiative, managing own time to meet tasks and deadlines
- Eager to experiment, have a flexible approach and willingness to learn as they go, with a good eye for detail.
Deliverables / Expectations
- To undertake a 6-month internship, operating within core office hours (Between 10am – 4pm, daily) for 4 days or 28 hours a week. We are also open to extending this period so candidates can work part-time (e.g. 12 months at 14 hours a week)
- Primarily an in-person role with the possibility of some remote working. There will be periods where full onsite working is required
- To support the development and delivery of Exhibitions, Public Programme (both online and on-site), Exhibition Openings, Artist Residencies and off-site events
- To support the delivery of Artist in Residence development programmes, and the administration of open calls, including contacting artists
- Research support, including preparation of information packs for Front of House, taking meeting minutes, collecting and collating audience research surveys, researching artists, film licences, artwork, and key concepts of exhibitions
- Administration and logistics support including completing expenditure logs, obtaining quotations for materials, finding unique items, creating welcome packs for artists, collating A/V for events, and arranging travel and accommodation for artists
- To support the delivery and maintenance of Exhibitions including creating a daily checklist for maintenance of gallery spaces, and attending to minor troubleshooting.
The above should not be regarded as exhaustive or inclusive as there may be other duties associated with the post that FACT will require the post holder to perform.
Benefits / Resources
- £9.50 per hour (National Minimum Wage)
- £750 Local Travel Stipend
- £750 Research Budget
- Significant and wide-ranging experience in many stages of producing and programming digital art for a wide audience, working with both local and international artists and curators
- 1-2-1 tailored mentorship from FACT’s curatorial staff, as well as the Research Curator, and Curator in Residence
- Support to move onto the next stage of their career, specifically through support in writing applications for future roles, open calls, or funding opportunities as well as networking opportunities (within academia, the arts etc.) and practical experience
- Introductions to other makers, organisations and producers in similar fields based in the UK, and specifically the North West
- Access to a wide network of artists, curators and research through FACT’s Programme but also through Studio/Lab, where they have the opportunity to work alongside our residents and become embedded in the organisation and benefit from shadowing mentoring/upskilling sessions
- Access to FACT’s partners in Liverpool and beyond, from academic institutions to creative technology labs and major arts organisations.
