Summer Exhibition Manager
About the Royal Academy of Arts and our values
The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is one of the UK’s foremost arts institutions. We are best known for our programme of world-class exhibitions including David Hockney RA: A Bigger Picture, Ai Weiwei and the recent blockbuster, Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse.
It is a particularly exciting time in our history as we are mid-way through a transformation project. An ambitious ‘Masterplan’ by David Chipperfield RA is underway, redeveloping our 2.5 acre campus in Mayfair in time for our 250thanniversary in 2018. The works will unite our two buildings, providing refurbished galleries, a state-of-the-art auditorium and a dedicated Collections gallery in Burlington Gardens.
We are an innovative and forward-looking organisation, yet we’re also immensely proud and respectful of our 2 and a half centuries of heritage. Our mission is to be a clear, strong voice for art and artists and we are leaders in the exhibition, creation and debate of the visual arts.
About the role
An essential part of the London art calendar, the Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition is the largest open contemporary art exhibition in the world, drawing together a wide range of new and recent work by established, unknown and emerging artists. It is also one of the largest art fairs in the world and makes a significant commercial contribution to the Academy.
An exciting and rare opportunity has arisen to join the team as Summer Exhibition Manager. You will be responsible for other Royal Academy exhibitions throughout the year, principally Royal Academician member shows.
About you
Highly organised and a talented project manager, you will possess a thorough knowledge and experience of organising exhibitions, with a meticulous approach to budget management and schedule planning. You must also have excellent attention to detail.
Personable and diplomatic, you will be a first class communicator and must be able to build strong relationships internally and with Royal Academicians and external stakeholders.
Commercially minded, you will be able to demonstrate strong negotiation skills, especially in relation to contract negotiation.
You will be a Masters graduate of Museum and Gallery studies or similar and must be able to demonstrate a genuine interest and knowledge of the visual arts and a sound understanding and knowledge of the Royal Academy of Arts.
What benefits do we offer?
We offer a very generous pension scheme, contributing up to 10% of your salary into a defined contribution scheme.
On top of 25 days’ holiday and 8 days bank holiday each year, we close between Christmas Eve and New Year, allowing staff additional paid holiday.
Staff are encouraged to attend free History of Art and life drawing classes on site. We also have a staff choir, running club and craft club. Best of all, we have a reciprocal agreement with many leading museums and art galleries in London and New York, that allow you to enter for free with your staff pass.
How to apply
You will find further details about this position in the Current Vacancies and How to Apply section of the Careers page on our website http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/careers.
Closing date for applications: 25 September 2016
Interviews to be held: w/c 10 October 2016
JOB DESCRIPTION
Main Objective:
Assist the Summer Exhibition & Contemporary Curator in delivering the annual Royal Academy Summer Exhibition and other Academician related projects as directed. Provide full project management from selection to close down logistics.
Duties:
- Schedule entire programme for Summer Exhibition, from the selling of entry forms, through the selection process, delivery and installation of work. To liaise with Summer Exhibition and Database Manager on schedule for the printing of exhibition related material.
- To manage the preparation of the galleries and the installation of the exhibition and any build that this requires, and including the Courtyard installation.
- Create, manage and monitor all contracts relating to the Summer Exhibition and Members’ exhibitions, including touring contracts.
- Contribute to the policy and planning for the Summer Exhibition.
- Work closely with the Academy’s art handlers in the planning of and setting up and taking down of the Summer Exhibition and any other exhibition
- Manage transport and insurance for the Summer Exhibition and other projects covered by the team. Co-ordinate timetables and deadlines, and liaise with art handlers, temporary staff and all staff across the Academy on the implementation of agreed timetables.
- Responsible for conservation reporting for each exhibition/project.
- Adhere to systems guidelines and data protection best practice for Summer Exhibition, to include database management and method of selling and recording financial information.
- Under the supervision of HSE, set and manage budgets for the Summer Exhibition, and other activities. Monitor the day-to-day budget of the team. Check costs and estimates, discuss with HSE as necessary. Monitor expenditure against agreed budget, report overspends and shortfalls, deal with invoice processing and chase for payments. Liaise directly and regularly with Finance representative.
- Attend and contribute to meetings of the Summer Exhibition Committee. Assist in the setting of the agenda, the circulation of papers the compilation of minutes and the application of resolutions.
- Assist in the organisation of the prizes associated with the Summer Exhibition, schedule judging and coordinate prize-giving ceremony.
- Represent SE Team at Scheduling, EOMs and other meetings, as requested.
- Represent the artistic and cultural interests of Academicians within the Academy.
- Work with HSE on temporary projects relating to Academicians.
- Ensure that Health & Safety policies, procedures and regulations are known, understood and complied with by yourself, your team and any contractors, suppliers and all others who work with the team.
- Undertake any other duty, which may reasonably be allocated by the HMSE or other senior officer.PERSON SPECIFICATION
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
- A degree qualification in a relevant discipline such as Museum & Gallery Management and/or relevant experience.
- Excellent experience (ideally 3+ years) of exhibition management and a strong track record of achievement.
- Strong project manager and excellent logistician
- Flexible: the tight schedule for the Summer Exhibition and range of major tasks the team has to undertake require all members of the team to participate in different activities when pressure demands. A strong and supportive team player is essential.
- Knowledge about import and export of artworks including UK tax, temporary and permanent importation rules. Dealing with relevant forms and paperwork.
- Strong knowledge of data protection principles across digital media channels
- Experience of setting, managing and reporting on budgets and of financial forecasting
- An experienced negotiator, able to secure the best commercial terms with external suppliers and partners
- First-class written and oral communication skills
- A positive attitude to problem-solving
- Data-driven, and highly numerate; proven ability to gather, present and use information, compile reports and make recommendations. Must have experience of analysing and using data.
- Strong interpersonal skills – diplomatic, friendly, articulate, persuasive and confident. Ability to build effective working relationships with a wide range of colleagues internally and with external stakeholders, to deliver success. Able to brief, provide constructive feedback and get the best out of others
More information: https://www.cloudonlinerecruitment.co.uk/royalacademy/VacancyDetails.aspx?FromSearch=True&MenuID=&VacancyID=120