Whitstable Biennale is a festival of contemporary visual art. We work closely with early career artists to develop ambitious and experimental new work in film and performance.
We are looking for someone to select, curate and manage a performance programme for Whitstable Biennale 2018.
The festival will be held over 10 days in June 2018. The performances should take place mainly over the four weekend days of the festival. They should utilise indoor and outdoor venues in the town (previous venues include shops and pubs; halls and huts; Library and Museum spaces; beach huts; boats, the beach and harbour; shipping containers; tents and gazebos). The programme could be a small number of new works, or a larger number of more ad hoc performances, or a mix. There will be a set of equipment available (projector, screen, speakers), but we are particularly looking for works that are live, involving direct contact with artists, and not equipment-heavy.
You don’t necessarily need curatorial experience. We are looking for someone with the right balance of knowledge, energy and a DIY attitude. Some experience of running your own projects is desirable.
We love works that are intimate and engage audiences in immersive ways, but we attract large audience numbers and the programme needs to be balanced so that people aren’t left queuing or shut out too much.
Artists who have created performance-based works for us over in recent years include: Emma Hart, Evan Ifekoya, Richard Layzell, Katrina Palmer, John Walter, Ben Judd, Lucy Pawlak, Marcia Farquhar, Louisa Fairclough, Jesse Jones, Hannah Lees, Das Hund, Cara Tolmie and Angus Braithwaite.
We have £6,000 total fee to carry out the following between August 2017 – July 2018:
- Research, develop and project manage a programme of performances
- Support, develop and enable new works through conversation with artists, working with any external collaborators and partners
- Provide artist images and write/edit copy to support press and comms
- Work with WB to locate and secure venues
- Plan the activity from start to finish
- Hands on project management during the festival
- Manage the budget
- Brief/manage any volunteers and invigilators before/during the festival
- Manage/oversee any tech/installation
- Problem solving attitude
- Experience of working with contemporary visual artists
- Experience of working to tight budgets
- Strong commitment to equality of opportunity and diversity
- Some experience of H&S and risk assessments (we can train you)
- Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines
- Positive and enthusiastic approach
- Confident with basic AV equipment
We are still confirming the performance budget, but it is likely to be around £6,000. This needs to cover all costs relating to the programme including equipment (beyond the set of projector/screen/speakers), venue, install, travel costs for you and the artists. Applications can be from an individual, or more than one person (but one person will need to be the main contact on a day to day basis).
During the festival, WB will organise and pay for accommodation for you, the artists and support staff, within a limited budget. WB will support some project management.
As a freelancer, you will need to provide your own computer. You will manage your own time and can work from anywhere, but we work from an office at the University of Kent in Canterbury that you will be able to use.
Deadline for applications is midday, Thursday 13 July. Please send us a one page outline of ideas and a CV. You don’t need to have confirmed all the artists at this stage. Email applications to Catherine Herbert, catherine@whitstablebiennale.
Full job description and terms
Interviews held at University of Kent, Canterbury, on Monday 31 July.