Address Who We Are:
Frieze is the world’s leading platform for modern and contemporary art, dedicated to artists, galleries, collectors and art lovers alike. Frieze comprises three magazines – frieze, Frieze Masters Magazine and Frieze Week – and five international art fairs – Frieze London, Frieze Masters, Frieze New York, Frieze Los Angeles and Frieze Seoul. In October 2021, Frieze also launched No.9 Cork Street, a permanent space for visiting international galleries in the heart of Mayfair, London. Frieze is part of the IMG network. Endeavor is a global sports and entertainment company, home to many of the world’s most dynamic and engaging storytellers, brands, live events, and experiences. The Endeavor network specializes in talent representation through entertainment agency WME; sports operations and advisory, event management, media production and distribution, and brand licensing through IMG; live event experiences and hospitality through On Location; full-service marketing through global cultural marketing agency 160over90; and sports data and technology through IMG ARENA and OpenBet. Endeavor is also the majority owner of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), a premium sports and entertainment company comprising UFC and WWE. Who You Are:
Frieze seeks an experienced, well-connected, organised and efficient team player to join its VIP department. Based in London, the role is one of three regional Heads (EMEA, Asia and Americas), who are responsible for delivering VIP audiences to all Frieze events. Working closely with the Fair Directors, the Head of VIP, EMEA is responsible for the following in their region: defining and implementing Frieze’s VIP strategy; building, expanding and maintaining VIP relationships; planning and delivering an exciting programme of VIP activations and events. The main objectives of this role are to deepen Frieze’s networks, grow loyalty within VIP audiences and deliver quality attendance to our fairs globally. An established network of HNWI and institutions in the EMEA region, excellent communication skills and the ability to work independently are required for this position. This is a pivotal role in the team and a unique opportunity to dive into the deep end of the EMEA art scene while building a profile amongst the most influential personalities in the global art community.
Responsibilities Include But Not Limited To
VIP Relationship Management and Cultivation
- Formulate and execute strategies to deliver qualitative VIP attendance from the EMEA region to all Frieze Fairs;
- Ensure qualitative excellence of the VIP attendance for Frieze Masters, Frieze London, Frieze Sculpture, and associated events.
- Plan and deliver a comprehensive EMEA cultivation plan (events and one-to-one visits) to enable Frieze to deepen its engagement and loyalty within the arts collecting community and key VIP segments;
- Identify and build relationships with key private collectors, corporate collections, museum groups, curators, art advisors and other arts professionals in the EMEA region – this includes new groups that are not currently targeted by Frieze but have a collecting potential;
- Liaise with EMEA institutions, regional bodies and non-profit organisations year-round, encourage fair attendance and create Frieze Week itineraries for museum and other groups;
- Act as an ambassador for Frieze when attending important art events in the region including major exhibition openings and dinners, and key international art events including art fairs and biennale;
- Act as the main point of contact for VIPs in the EMEA region, maintaining the highest standards of excellence in VIP experience.
Gallery Relationships
- Engage with EMEA galleries involved in Frieze fairs to get familiar with their programmes and artists;
- Liaise with participating galleries regarding existing contacts and key collectors to ensure we get up to date information on collectors and that they attend Frieze fairs;
- Ensure key galleries are involved in Frieze’s programmes and invited to key events year-round;
- Make connections and introductions between VIPs and galleries year-round and at the fair, to create opportunities and drive sales for all participating galleries in Frieze fairs globally;
- Attend gallery openings and other events in the EMEA region to maximize networking opportunities and visibility of Frieze.
Data
- Actively support the processes by which VIP information is gathered, inputted, protected, segmented, updated and managed on Frieze databases;
- Expand and manage the VIP database by researching and cultivate VIPs, HNWIs, auction houses, active collectors, museum curators, arts professionals and key art world influencers. Feed information back to Frieze systems to ensure VIP intelligence and data is up to date;
- Working closely with the Data and VIP central teams, input in the VIP segmentation and passes allocation processes for Frieze London and Frieze Masters, ensuring smooth visitor flow and high audience quality throughout the fair.
- Take a central role in ensuring that Frieze’s VIP data is regularly cleaned, updated and complemented.
Communications
- Contribute to Frieze’s overall VIP communication strategy, maintaining efficient channels with our VIP audiences year-round and during fair week, advising on tailored VIP content for online platforms (website, social media, newsletters);
- Where required, input in specific VIP communications on drafting and sign off, including emails to VIPs, institutions and exhibitors.
- Advise on personal outreach for the Fair Directors year-round, in advance of and at the fair, making connections and introductions where relevant.
- Oversee smooth VIP pass allocation and delivery for Frieze London and Frieze Masters, and act as a personal point of contact for EMEA VIPs visiting our fairs globally;
- Manage contact with fair VIPs through VIP inboxes as required and ensure VIP desks manage VIPs onsite with the upmost profesionalism, always aiming to deliver an excellent and smooth experience for VIPs.
VIP Operations
- Put together and oversee the delivery of a compelling VIP Programme for Frieze London and Frieze Masters, in collaboration with key London institutions and galleries and to reflect the diversity of London’s artistic landscape;
- Work closely with the rest of the VIP team in London and globally, and with other key Frieze teams to ensure that all VIP Operations for the EMEA region are delivered smoothly, on time and on budget;
- With the Fair Directors, manage and track the VIP cultivation budget for the EMEA region, following strategic objectives and priorities;
- Working closely with the global network of Frieze VIP consultants, coordinate all aspects of planning and executing cultivation events, Frieze London and Frieze Masters VIP programme, and gathering/updating of VIP intelligence;
- Participate in regular catch ups with Frieze VIP consultants to ensure they are up to date with Frieze’s general activities and messaging around specific fairs;
- Put together and review lists for various Frieze events year-round to ensure relevant contacts are invited and to ensure top quality of attendance at all times;
- Oversee and manage VIP portals for Frieze London and Frieze Masters;
- Oversee and manage VIP tours for Frieze London and Frieze Masters, and for key contact travelling from EMEA to our fairs globally;
- Prepare and deliver FLFM pre-fair briefing for Frieze consultants, and for art advisors;
- Working cloesly with VIP, marketing and content central teams, oversee the production of Frieze London and Frieze Masters VIP collaterals;
- Support the hiring, management and development of staff where required.
Partnerships
- Work closely with the Partnerships team to ensure that Frieze partners’ requirements are fulfilled;
- Develop strategic engagement with partners’ VIPs, creating opportunities for introductions with galleries where appropriate;
- Support management of the relationship with hotel partners in London.
- You Will Have The Following Strengths
- Extensive VIP Relations or fundraising experience at a senior level within the visual-arts sector.
- In depth knowledge of the visual art sector with a wide network of existing contacts within the collecting community, HNWIs and visual arts institutions.
- In depth knowledge of current trends in collecting and the art market
- Organisation and strategic planning
- Experience working on events for HNWIs a plus
- We'd Also Love If You Have These
- A sociable, dynamic individual with the ability to build, connect audiences and leverage their network and expertise to grow communities .
- Strong analytical mind with high attention to detail
- People Management
- Experience working with relationship management databases
- Excellent diplomatic skills, along with high levels of discretion and confidentiality
- Calm under pressure
Our Diversity & Inclusion Statement
Frieze unites people in our love of the arts. We understand this can only be accomplished when we harness the entirety of our company and lead with a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion in everything we do. As a global company that drives culture, we are committed to practicing anti-discrimination including race, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability, together with artists, writers, and cultural practitioners from all backgrounds. There is still much work to be done to address systemic inequality and discrimination within the arts and culture industry, and we are dedicated to making progress to both within our own organization and the art world at large.
