Visual Arts Co-ordinator and Curator

We're looking for a Visual Arts Co-ordinator and Curator for the National Eisteddfod for a period of 12 months, with the possibility of a second year.  This position is open to individuals or a team, to deliver both aspects of the role as one.

Background

Y Lle Celf is a national celebration of the visual arts and architecture in Wales, a shop window for the art world and an important attraction on the Eisteddfod Maes.  This is the Eisteddfod’s visual arts gallery and it is one of the most popular buildings on the Maes, attracting up to 40,000 visitors during the week. The gallery is home to the work of some of Wales’ leading artists. We are looking forward to resuming the work of organising Y Lle Celf for the Eisteddfod in Llŷn and Eifionydd this year.

Contract: 12 months, part time (flexible hours)

Ffi: £20,000

Base: Home based, with on-site working in Boduan, near Pwllheli at the end of July / August as we build and curate Y Lle Celf and during the festival (5-12 August)

Visual Arts Co-ordinator responsibilities

• Responsibilities

• Service and attend meetings of the Eisteddfod’s Visual Arts committees (Llŷn and Eifionydd and Rhondda Cynon Taf);
• Facilitate the work of the Open Exhibition and Architecture Exhibition Selectors and act on their decisions in collaboration with the Visual Arts Curator;
• Administer the Young Artist Scholarship and the Architecture Scholarship; 
• Work closely with the Selectors on the curating of displays for Y Lle Celf;
• Prepare and produce Visual Arts material for publication;
• Work closely with the Curator of Y Lle Celf to establish a comprehensive interpretative programme to accompany the exhibition – be this a team of guides, artist films, text to accompany the exhibition, children/family activities etc;
• Collaborate and liaise with partners, such as the Design Commission for Wales and the Royal Society of Architects in Wales, as well as Welsh galleries and outside Wales, with a view to developing new partners;
• Work collaboratively and co-ordinate with departmental sponsors and partners such as the Josef Herman Institute of Art;
• Identify new sponsors and sources of additional funding;
• Create and foster relationships within the Visual Arts in Wales and beyond;
• Promote the Eisteddfod’s Visual Arts activities on social media working closely with the promotion and marketing team;
• Work closely with the Eisteddfod’s artistic team to develop the Visual Arts programme of the Festival, including possible events in Y Lle Celf, and art on the Maes;

• Personal Skills

• Experience of working in the Visual Arts sector;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills; the ability to communicate effectively;
• Ability to work with people from a wide range of organisations or backgrounds;
• Computer skills, especially MS Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) and the internet, including social media;
• A flexible approach to work and the ability to adapt to a changing workload;
• Ability to work on your own initiative as well as part of a team;
• Be flexible and able to respond to opportunities, solve problems, deal effectively with partners;
• Experience of working with a range of stakeholders and partners;
• Experience of administrating and co-ordinating committees, as well as raising funds for projects;
• A confident Welsh speaker.

Visual Arts Curator responsibilities

• Plan, design, prepare and install the Y Lle Celf Exhibition at the Ceredigion National Eisteddfod 2023 in collaboration with the Visual Arts Co-ordinator;
• Advise and assist with the layout of the exhibition, design the exhibition, prepare work at the Eisteddfod Store in Llanybydder, select and order audio-visual equipment, materials for display of work etc, liaise with relevant Eisteddfod technical staff on overseeing the professional workforce and liaising with artists, and participate in a follow-up review;
• Facilitate the work of the Open Exhibition and Architecture Exhibition Selectors and act on their decisions;
• Work, as outlined in the timetable agreed with the Visual Arts Co-ordinator, on setting up the exhibition by Wednesday 2 August and be ready to open to the public on Saturday 5 August.
• To be on hand othroughout the festival to resolve any problems;
• To be available to dismantle the exhibition and return artwork on Saturday evening 12 August until Wednesday 16 August 2023 for clearing, sorting, storage etc;

• Personal Skills

• Experience of curating visual artwork in professional galleries, i.e. planning, designing, preparing and installing Visual Art Exhibitions;
• Good communication skills and therefore the ability to communicate effectively to carry out the work; 
• The ability to work in an easy and organised manner with a wide range of people;
• Relevant computer capability;
• Good organisational and collaborative skills;
• A flexible approach to work and the ability to adapt to a changing workload;
• Ability to work on your own initiative as well as part of a team;
• Flexible and able to respond to opportunities and solve problems, dealing effectively with partners and a variety of artists;

If you would like any further information about this role, please contact: elen@eisteddfod.cymru 

Closing date: Friday 13 January 2023, 12:00.

Interviews will be held: w/c 23 January 2023, on Zoom