Curator

Deadline: All applications must be received no later than 12 noon on Wednesday 19 June 2019. Late applications will not be considered.
Interviews: Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview on Thursday 27 June 2019. 

Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) is an exciting, ambitious arts centre which offers a wide range of free exhibitions, theatre, music, cinema and live performances as well as creative learning and participation activities. Well-loved and well used, it’s a friendly place attracting a diverse mix of visitors. Our work also extends across the city to community settings inspiring new audiences to experience high-quality art experiences.

We are recruiting for a Curator to develop, curate and manage MAC’s busy exhibition programme and partnership projects. The ideal candidate will have direct hands-on programming and project delivery responsibilities, and experience of commissioning new work with an interest in collaborating with international artists, knowledge of presenting touring exhibitions and catalogue production. This post would favour a candidate who is interested in a cross-art form context, working alongside a wider arts team to devise seasons of work.

MAC creates accessible programmes and prides itself on its strong links to community activism. Our audiences are interested in issue-based work, though not exclusively.  We show a breadth of work with a focus on renowned British and international artists, these have included recent commissions and exhibitions by artists such as Peter Kennard, Barbara Walker, Jenny Holzer, Ben Venom, Andrew Jackson, Vanley Burke and Sahej Rahal. MAC partners with a wide range of national organisations, and recent touring partners have included Autograph, Artist Rooms and Hayward Touring.

Principal Purpose of Post

• To work closely with the Artistic Director/CEO, this role will research, plan and manage the relationships involved in the creation and programming of new and existing work and exhibitions in the visual arts including craft and digital; ensuring effective communication, financial and resource management is in place.
• To support the development and delivery of a dynamic participation programme in the visual and applied arts.
• To contribute to the development of MAC’s audiences and the resources available to realise our creative ambitions.

Responsible for

Freelance artists, associates and freelance curators, contract administration and technician support, volunteers and work placements/interns.

Key Responsibilities

Arts Programme

• Research, develop and curate content for MAC’s exhibition programme, approaching and liaising with artists, curators, partners, and other stakeholders.
• Lead on the curation and project management of exhibitions, commissions to include participatory, live and public art.
• Develop exhibition texts for gallery interpretation and marketing/press materials, and to oversee the edit, design and production of gallery interpretation.
• Work across the Arts Team to develop ideas for talks, symposiums and special events orientated around current debates in contemporary visual arts, and to collaborate with the Performances Programmer on live art commissions and performances, when appropriate.
• Be willing to participate as a facilitator/speaker or similar in the public programme, and to lead gallery tours or facilitate group sessions.
• Oversee exhibition administration working closely with the Senior Administration Manager to issue contracts, inventories and condition documents.
• Devise, monitor and maintain budgets, obtain estimates and process invoices.
• Work with the Technical Manager to develop exhibition layout plans and installation schedules and to prepare exhibits for transport.
• Maintain an awareness of contemporary visual arts practice and socially engaged practice.

Administration, Finance & Development

• The Curator will benefit from the support of the Arts team and Administrative Team, due to the nature of the post and demands within a busy programme, we expect this post-holder to be largely self-administrative.
• Work closely with the Artistic Director and Head of Finance to set annual core and project budgets.
• Directly manage and monitor the annual visual arts and project budgets as required, monitoring any relevant partnership led project budgets.
• Secure appropriate terms for the hire of toured-in exhibitions, ensuring that artists are paid appropriate fees and respecting national or local agreements in place.
• Contribute to documentation and archive, evaluation and monitoring systems at MAC.

Communication

• Contribute proactively to marketing activity and campaign planning, attending marketing meetings as required.
• Ensure the visual and applied arts programme contributes creatively to the PR and digital strategies and guidelines and within resources available.

General

• Participate in training and development activities as required and to assist with the training and development of colleagues as appropriate.
• Support the recruitment, induction and development of any freelance staff required including intern positions.
• Support any other duties which may be required from this post.

Hours of work will include weekend and evening work.

Weekend and/or evening work may be required on occasions for which time off in lieu will be given.

The role is based at MAC – regional, national travel will be required and some international travel is expected.

This position is not subject to an Enhanced Disclosure with CRB (see Criminal Records Bureau Policy & Procedure).

Person Specification

A person specification describes the areas of knowledge, skills and experience a person should possess in order to take up the post.

Essential

• Ideally have at-least three years’ experience of programming, curatorial and / or commissioning role with proven project management skills within a visual arts or crafts context, in a gallery capacity.
• Ability to plan, develop and manage high quality arts projects.
• A proven track record in working collaboratively with producers, freelance curators and artists and is familiar with working within site-specific contexts.
• Demonstrate a commitment to supporting contemporary arts practice with a solid working knowledge and current trends within the UK’s visual arts and crafts scene and beyond.
• Understand the potential digital technology holds within creative practice.
• Possess a working knowledge of technical and contractual frameworks relating to co-producing, commissioning and curating.
• Demonstrate an enthusiasm for working collaboratively with others across the organisation.
• Have delivered successful arts projects with non-arts partners.
• Ability to communicate to a wide range of stakeholders from diverse backgrounds and communities.
• Have a proven commitment to developing arts programmes which will reflect the variety and diversity of community interests in Birmingham.
• Have experience of developing and managing significant project and programme budgets.
• IT Literate with working experience of MS Office Suite.
• Have excellent written and oral communication and presentational skills.
• A self-starter, who can motivate others, is not afraid to ask questions and can hold a keen eye for detail in a climate of change.
• An adaptable team player, who is able to plan, negotiate and make decisions with high standards of personal organisation.
• Have a commitment to continuing professional development and improving their professional practice.
• Be committed to an equal opportunities policy for MAC

Desirable

• Experience of developing cross art-form projects.
• Knowledge of the international visual arts scene.
• Knowledge of current trends within learning and community development.
• Successful track record in arts related fundraising.