Director of Glasgow International

GLASGOW INTERNATIONAL

FESTIVAL DIRECTOR  

£40,000 fee per annum (4 days per week)

Based on a freelance consultancy contract

 

Introduction

Glasgow is widely recognised as an important centre for visual art production in the UK, with the outstanding international success of the city’s artists resulting in significant interest in the city among the international art world.

Glasgow International is Glasgow’s festival of contemporary visual art, showing newly commissioned work and work new to Scotland. The Festival provides a unique locally and internationally respected offer to the cultural scene in Scotland, taking place over 18 days in April/May every two years.

Glasgow International aims to show the best of contemporary visual arts, involving international artists and local artists working at an international level. The festival crucially supports the strong local visual arts scene and reflects this in its programme, creating an overall balance of timely and relevant international and local practices.

Glasgow International aspires to take a lead in championing innovation and excellence, both in the making and presentation of work and to promote Scotland nationally and internationally as a beacon of excellence in and for the visual arts.

Glasgow International is a project based within Glasgow Life, managed by Glasgow Arts and supported by our key funders: Creative Scotland, Event Scotland and Glasgow City Marketing Bureau. For further information visit: www.glasgowinternational.org and www.glagsowlife.org.uk

We are looking for a dynamic and exceptional individual to support the development of this unique Festival over the next 2 (and possibly 3) editions, and in particular presenting an exhilarating and internationally respected programme of visual art for Glasgow International in 2018 and 2020, with a view to curating the festival in 2022.

Fee: £40,000 p.a. Four days a week.
Contract: Freelance Fixed Term April ’17 – Oct ’20 (and up to 4 years). Possible extension to 2022 to be agreed separately.

Managed by Head of Arts, Glasgow Life
Office based at Trongate 103.
All applicants MUST be eligible to work in the UK.

If you require any specific further information on the Director’s role please contact by email in the first instance: Sarah McCrory, current Director, at sarah.mccrory@glasgowinternational.org

CONSULTANCY PROFILE

• You must be passionate about the visual arts, about Glasgow, about audiences, and about the place of art in an international context.

• You must be an outstanding leader within the visual arts sector, with experience of curating exhibitions and ideally festivals.

• You must have exceptional and entrepreneurial drive and commitment, a strong personal network within visual arts in the UK and internationally, and a desire to work in collaboration with colleagues within Glasgow Life and the independent sector, as well as make your mark on the UK cultural sector.

• You must have an uncompromising attitude to artistic quality, a confident and dynamic creative vision, a clear sense of how to attract an audience, and the ability to think and act strategically at all times.

• You must have experience of delivering excellence on budget and on time, and be tireless in your pursuit of sustainable growth and innovation.  You should have a track record in income generation – commercial, public funds and trusts and foundations.

• You must have outstanding communication skills on all levels, and be able to problem solve innovatively and collaboratively.

CONTRACT DELIVERABLES

• Deliver an outstanding festival – on budget and inline with our mission and vision*;

• Act as spokesperson and representative of the Festival on all key matters relating to the festival, ensuring effective relationships both internally and with external partners/organisations;

• Lead on artistic direction for Glasgow International including deciding on key themes or ideas which will steer the next edition, and programme strands including the Director’s Programme, ‘Open Glasgow’ (initiative for individual artists’ projects conceived for Glasgow International), Supported Programme (organisations who receive some support from Glasgow International) and Across the City (the rest of those included in the festival);

• Engage with and contribute to Glasgow Life’s contemporary visual arts strategy

• Lead on the recruitment of temporary festival staff, and management of current team, including the Festival Manager, Curator, Festival Co-ordinator, and external contractors (design, PR, and marketing).

• Present an on-budget final programme, to the Advisory Group and Chair – agreed at key stages in the Festival’s development – having involved and responded to sector contributors and key identified audiences in the Glasgow International Plan.

• Oversee the PR and marketing campaigns, and the design and production of the festival guide.

• Oversee the Festival Manager to ensure positive management of relationships within all areas of Glasgow Life required for the effective delivery of the programme (Arts, Museums, Finance, Admin, Events, Development etc).

• Liaise and collaborate with all festival venues and the independent arts sector; Guest speakers/selection panels etc.

• Work closely with Festival Manager, Chair and Glasgow Life to ensure the Festival has necessary resources through fundraising and income generation, supporting entrepreneurial initiatives (e.g. Glasgow International Editions) and oversee the reporting requirements for these.

• Ensure Festival Manager is able to deliver coherent financial management accounts; contribute to funding bids and lead on building key strategic Glasgow International relationships with sponsors and trust funds, in line with GL policy.

• Develop and maintain strong partner relationships with venues, funders, partners and artists.

• Work closely with the Festival Manager and Glasgow Life arts staff to ensure an innovative approach to learning and audience engagement is central to the Festival’s approach, as identified in the Glasgow International Plan.  Identify opportunities for Glasgow International learning programmes, talks and events and oversee their strategic Glasgow International development and direction;

• Speak publically at openings and events.

*Please note this document will be made available to short listed candidates prior to interview.

 

PROCESS

We are inviting submissions to a two stage process. Each stage will be scored as part of an overall assessment against the above profile and deliverables.

Stage 1: Written Submission

We are inviting submissions as follows:

1.A statement (maximum 1200 words) that outlines:

What interests you in Glasgow International and this role, and how you would maintain and develop the present success and position of the festival over the next 4 years.  Please discuss how you would add your personal vision.

2.A broad statement (max 600 words) of your general curatorial/leadership approach and how it relates to the local visual arts sector in the development of the Glasgow International Festival.

3.An expanded CV / biography (maximum 1000 words) which evidences your competencies in the following:

• Excellent artistic vision and leadership, demonstrated in your experience of role in relation to supporting artists and art organisations to fulfil their creative potential

• A commitment to engagement with the public in your programming, education and marketing and in supporting artists and arts organisations to do this

• Good practice in the governance and management of your organisation, including your financial management.

• Experience of fundraising and income generation.

• Demonstration of implementing best practice in equal opportunities policy and plans for widening access to ensure inclusion in your artistic programme.

4. Details of two Referees

Should you wish to request draft terms of contract in advance of your submission please email  info@glasgowinternational.org.

Stage 2: Interview
Stage two will be a structured interview with shortlisted candidates, to be held on Friday 17^th March 2017.

Completed Submissions:

Please email your submission with ‘GI Director’ in the title to info@glasgowinternational.org 5pm Friday 3 March 2017.  Submissions will be reviewed from the 3^rd March and shortlisted candidates will be informed by the Friday 10^th March 2017.

Submission Timetable:

Stage 1
Submission of written documentation*                       Friday 3^rd March 2017
Shortlisted candidates informed                                   Friday 10^th March 2017

Stage 2
Interviews with shortlisted candidates                        Friday 17^th March 2017

 

*If you have not heard from us by 10^th March 2017 then your application has not been successful.