Programme Curator

Main Duties

We are looking for someone to join our team as a Programme Curator. This is a varied role with the opportunity to get involved in a young project space as it evolves and develops its identity.

Staffordshire St is a new independent Community Interest Company supporting arts and cultural events in South London. The project comprises an event space and artist studios committed to giving opportunities to people to develop their work and build educational and collaborative exchanges.

Purpose of the role: To curate, plan and implement a varied exhibition programme alongside the Programme Coordinator and Steering Committee to create a diverse and engaging arts and cultural centre. To support artists and collaborators to produce high quality exhibitions and events. To build relationships with press and media contacts. To build a database of collectors and manage the sales of artwork. To be responsible for regular administrative tasks including budget management. To write various funding applications. We are looking to hire someone who will help facilitate and promote our programme going forward. We are looking for a proactive and dynamic individual with effective communication and organisational skills. Someone who is personable and keen to work with a variety of people, happy to work independently as well as amongst a team. Someone with experience in a similar position and has interest in running arts and cultural events in London.

Skills and Experience Required

Responsibilities:

• Working closely with the Steering Committee, Programme Coordinator and Administrator to implement and manage the running of an arts and culture programme.
• Curatorial oversight of artistic contributions and events programme to work toward the successful delivery of the exhibitions. Overseeing the whole programme
• Ensure that the exhibitions achieve the maximum reputational impact, harnessing the momentum of all initiatives across the organisation.
• Project manage and deliver the existing exhibitions programme.
• Write copy for press releases, audience interpretation panels and handouts for exhibitions and projects in a tone in line with target audiences.
• Managing annual and exhibition budgets
• Contribute to and develop the public programme
• Write funding applications, manage funding reporting requirements and research funding opportunities for the exhibition programme.
• Manage, maintain and build relationships with high-profile artists, collectors, press, galleries, technicians, photographers and other suppliers, cultural institutions and peers across the creative industries.
• Development and mentoring with partners including support writing funding applications, references and exhibition development.
• Drive the commercial strategy and generate sales, negotiating and liaising with clients and collectors.
• Collaborate with Programme Coordinator to curate exciting, audience-appealing exhibitions and events that reflect Staffordshire St’s work, including opportunities to partner with other leading organisations and to exhibit work in other places and spaces.
• Support Staffordshire St’s culture and values and in particular demonstrate a commitment to diversity, inclusion and environmental sustainability.
• Manage and update calendar, timelines and scheduling for all exhibitions
• Undertaking other duties as reasonably required

Requirements

• Applicants must have a substantial prior curatorial experience, including a track-record of curating successful exhibitions.
• Experience of project managing complex and multi-stakeholder exhibitions, including installation teams and technicians.
• Strong commercial track record with experience of driving a sales strategy and developing client/collector relationships.
• Knowledge of contemporary art and experience of working with contemporary artists, galleries, collectors and clients.
• Experience of curating and delivering a public programme of talks, panels and events within the creative industries, including confident delivery of introductions, interviews and panel moderation.
• Budget management experience.
• A self-starter, capable of troubleshooting creative solutions to issues as they arise and motivated to deliver outstanding results.
• A clear communicator, comfortable with working independently and across teams and using logic/evidence and influence rather than authority to drive outcomes.
• Strong organisational and administrative abilities
• Superb written communication including emails, critical writing, copywriting and editing
• Experience in writing funding applications
• Ability to manage time carefully and schedule priorities