Job Specification Artistic Manager, Kirkgate Arts Kirkgate Arts' mission is to enrich life in West Cumbria, through diverse and innovative arts and community experiences. Our organisation owns and runs the Kirkgate Centre - a former Victorian school, now a multi-use community facility. The Centre delivers a lively range of arts and entertainment events all largely volunteer run. Our programme has a strong emphasis on broad community engagement. Kirkgate Arts also delivers Arts Out West, the rural arts touring programme for West Cumbria, which supports local communities in staging high quality arts events in 25 village and community halls across the area. JOB TITLE: Artistic Manager, Kirkgate Arts SALARY: 24,000 27,000 according to qualifications and experience ROLE: To increase opportunities for arts participation in West Cumbria by coordinating the artistic programme at the Kirkgate Centre and our rural touring programme, Arts Out West. REPORTS TO: General Manager, Kirkgate Arts CONTEXT: The role will be based at the office of Kirkgate Arts, the Kirkgate Centre, Cockermouth, CA13 9PJ, but working throughout West Cumbria. The position is a fixed term contract, commencing March 2015 (date to be agreed), terminating on 31 March 2018 (end of current funding agreements with Arts Council, England). The Artistic Manager will share and promote the aims and aspirations of Kirkgate Arts in striving to achieve excellence, diversity and inclusivity in the delivery of performing and visual arts in West Cumbria. SUMMARY OF MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Programming To develop and deliver an excellent, balanced programme of performing and visual arts for Kirkgate Arts by: developing a high quality programme of arts activities in communities throughout West Cumbria monitoring the quality of performers and artists engaged by Kirkgate Arts monitoring the quality of audience experience at venues used by Arts Out West and at the Kirkgate Centre working collaboratively with the Community Engagement Officer and other staff and the programme sub-groups to foster new creative strands of work
scheduling the Kirkgate Arts programme, using information generated by the programme subgroups and close liaison with agents and performers researching and furthering new arts opportunities, artists and performers facilitating the programme subgroups as required Strategic Development To develop and realise a strategic vision for the artistic programme within Kirkgate Arts and to identify opportunities for new partnerships with artists, community groups and others by: developing opportunities for mentoring and showcasing new talent and new work seeking opportunities to further develop and expand the scope and range of activities working in collaboration with Highlights Productions (for the Highlights & Arts Out West Touring Partnership as an NPO) to deliver a joint business and audience development plan, monitoring performance, collecting data and reporting as required ensuring that Arts Out West is represented on appropriate regional and national bodies, such as the National Rural Touring Forum and the Northern Consortium of Rural Touring Schemes facilitating and servicing regular meetings of the Arts Out West steering group ensuring that Kirkgate Arts fulfils funders remits, including the Arts Council, Cumbria County Council and Copeland Community Fund. identifying and developing opportunities for synergies between the Kirkgate Centre and Arts Out West to benefit Kirkgate Arts as a whole Fundraising and Income Generation To secure funds for future programmes and activities by: contributing to the development and management of a fundraising strategy developing new and existing partnerships to match funding to activities identifying new funding streams and securing bids advising and directing Arts Out West promoters to possible sources of funding Marketing and Administration acting as a spokesperson in the media for Kirkgate Arts managing the Arts Out West administrative and financial duties of the Finance and Administration Assistant through agreement with the General Manager managing assigned administrative duties associated with the Kirkgate Centre issuing contracts and letters of agreement with performers, artists, agents and (for Arts Out West) local promoters ensuring that information and publicity materials are produced, then widely and effectively distributed contributing to the management and development of an effective website presence for Kirkgate Arts contributing to the use of social media networking sites to promote the profile of Kirkgate Arts managing Arts Out West dedicated promoters website
Finance managing the budget and maintaining accurate financial records in a form required by funders and Kirkgate Arts reporting to the Kirkgate Arts Board and the Board sub-groups as required monitoring and reporting to funders, partners and Kirkgate Arts Board in the forms required and on time recommending ticket pricing for performances to the General Manager and relevant Board steering groups Line management providing line management of specified staff as required (currently subject to review) Supervision, development and training of volunteers Technical developing and delivering appropriate training for promoters and volunteers as required providing support to and coordinating the activities of volunteers involved in programming liaising regularly with Arts Out West promoters ensuring that sound engineers and band champions are available where required managing equipment belonging to Arts Out West through the maintenance of an asset register; and arranging for the use of this equipment by promoters and volunteers on request ensuring that the technical demands of programmed artists and performers can be met by Kirkgate Arts equipment at the point of issuing contracts, budgeting accordingly should additional equipment and/or staff be required Communication ensuring clear and effective lines of communication with volunteers, other staff members and directors General undertaking training as appropriate carrying out any other duties as reasonably requested by the Kirkgate Arts Board taking appropriate responsibility for the health and safety of employees, volunteers and the public at all times
Person Specification: Artistic Manager, Kirkgate Arts Qualification/ Training/ Competence Relevant Experience Knowledge Skills ESSENTIAL Educated to Degree Level or equivalent qualification in an appropriate subject/vocational area A minimum of 2 years management experience in the arts Proven experience of successful fundraising Experience of programming arts activity in small venues. Experience of collaborative arts projects. Broad knowledge of performing arts Understanding of needs and issues surrounding rural communities. Understanding of arts funding. Ability to work both independently and as part of a team Experience of negotiations, particularly of artists contracts Ability to work in partnership with other organisations and providers Ability to encourage, enable and guide volunteers. Excellent interpersonal skills Ability to direct, develop, influence and sustain effective partnerships, networks and multiagency working. Excellent personal organisation and strong analytical and presentational skills, verbal and written. Excellent communication skills, including the use of social networking sites DESIRABLE A good level of education and the ability to prove competence in relevant areas of work Experience/knowledge of: small-scale arts activity preparing fundraising bids and reporting back to funders budget management for small organisations contracting service providers project evaluation motivating and enabling volunteers in the arts Knowledge of marketing, P.R. and audience development. Knowledge and understanding of the education sector. Good sense of humour
High level of competence in use of Microsoft Office Suite and social networking media Special Circumstances Ability and willingness to undertake out-ofhours and weekend work. Car owner. Ability and willingness to travel throughout Cumbria and beyond. Commitment to equal opportunities