Job description:

Line managed by: Head of Creativity and Communications
Works closely with: Arts at the Old Fire Station and Crisis colleagues, and Freelance
Technicians.
Line Manages: Exhibitions Technical Coordinator
Salary: £16,800 for 3 days a week, (£28,000 fte)
Budget Responsibility: Exhibitions and Create budgets
Fixed term contract from early July 2023 to the end of February 2024.

Main duties and responsibilities
Key purpose
Under the supervision of the Head of Creativity and Comms:
• To deliver/curate exhibitions programmed by the substantive postholder
• To programme future exhibitions and workshops.
• To lead on all aspects of the Visual Arts Programme across the Old Fire Station
ensuring a high-quality visual experience for all visitors.
• To develop the programme to animate different spaces across the building, online
and beyond the building as the organisation develops its offer
• To develop a wide range of offers to the public to be creative themselves and to
make those offers inclusive of Crisis members and others facing tough times.
• To ensure all exhibitions and events in the Visual Arts Programme are fully supported
technically to a high standard.
• To lead on providing support for visual artists and makers.

Main duties and responsibilities
• Represent and promote the organisation across relevant visual art and community
networks.
• Research, programme and install dynamic exhibitions in the Upper and Lower
Galleries, and the Café.
• Work closely with artists and project partners to curate exhibitions and provide
interpretation for the public
• Provide mentoring support to artists/makers and seek innovative ways of supporting
their professional development
• Test different ways of using gallery spaces to maximise participation, innovation and
income generation.
• Seek out community partners, and lead on visual arts outreach.
• Format information panels and labels for exhibitions
• Programme and oversee the public workshop offer, alongside the Creative
Engagement and Learning Coordinator.
• Find ways of involving Crisis members in as many ways as possible in all areas of the
Visual Arts Programme to increase participation and the development of skills and
confidence
• Oversee the work of volunteers, placements and trainees
• Develop and manage partnerships with external organisations and individuals to help
deliver and market the programme
• With support of the Head of Creativity and Comms, ensure marketing campaigns for
the Visual Arts Programme are planned and well implemented including press, print
and social media campaigns
• Ensure all financial transactions relating to the exhibitions and workshop programme
are properly recorded in line with financial procedures.
• Ensure all those involved in delivering or supporting the Visual Arts Programme (paid
and unpaid) are properly inducted into the organisation and building, are supervised
and appraised and receive support, training and professional development
opportunities.
• Promote excellent customer service at all times, to artists and the public.
• Contribute actively to the strategic development of the organisation through the
Planning Group: assist with decision making and complete actions as agreed by the
group; support the development of a reflective transparent inclusive culture that
encourages good quality decision making

What we are looking for
Essential – If you have all of these, please apply.
• An understanding of the contemporary visual arts sector
• Proven track record of supporting artists, through mentoring and fundraising
• Experience of managing budgets
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written)
• Good IT skills, including knowledge of Outlook and Excel
• Ability to learn how to use new software as required
• Excellent organisational, problem solving and practical skills
• Ability to work with limited supervision and use own initiative
• Availability to work on weekdays and to a flexible pattern including occasional
evenings and weekends
• Ability to work under pressure, as part of a team
• Ability to work alongside vulnerable people and artists
• Good attention to detail
• A willingness to undertake appropriate training
• Ability to work with the public
• Energy and enthusiasm to take on new unfolding projects
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends

Desirable – if you don’t have all (or any) of these, don’t worry. We can teach you.
• An understanding of the contemporary visual arts scene in Oxford
• Knowledge of exhibition marketing and publicity
• Experience working with vulnerable people
• Experience of working on community-based projects involving multiple people
• Experience of improving organisational systems

General
• As an equal opportunity employer, we recognise the diversity shortcomings of our
industry and are committed to driving change and supporting employees to provide
an inclusive workplace.
• We expect staff to have a commitment to unlearning discrimination in order to
become a more inclusive organisation
• We recognise the major impact that climate change is having on our world. We work
as an organisation and with partners in the city towards a low-carbon sustainable
Oxford. All staff are expected to share this responsibility and support this work.
• All staff are expected to be able to support and supervise volunteers and trainees on
placements, including Crisis members as part of our Training Scheme
• The Old Fire Station requires an open, creative and flexible approach to the work.
This job description is a guide to the nature of the work required. It is not fully
comprehensive or restrictive. This job description will be reviewed with the post
holder annually.
• The post-holder will be expected to carry out the duties of this post in line with the
Old Fire Station’s policies and procedures and in line with all relevant insurance, legal,
health and safety obligations.
• The post holder will have input into artistic and business planning and strategies, as
part of an inclusive practice,
• We are a small team, and all staff are expected to support work across the
organisation in a practical way, not just in their own area.

Conditions of service
• 22 hours per week
• There is an annual leave allowance of 25 days (pro rata) plus Bank Holidays, some
days need to be taken at specified times during the year.
• Additional work-related travel expenses (not including travel to and from the office)
will be payable in line with the relevant conditions and rates agreed.
• This role is a maternity cover, fixed term contract from early July 2023 until end of
February 2024.

How To Apply
Application deadline: Tuesday 6th June 2023, 10am
Interviews: Monday 12th June 2023

Please e-mail recruitment@oldfirestation.org.uk with a covering letter and a CV.
We are keen to learn more about the barriers to inclusion and it would be really helpful if
you could fill in the demographics monitoring form on the website. This is anonymous and
is for us to assess how well we are doing in terms of attracting applications from people who
experience discrimination (ie. Racism, disability or class among others)

What to include in your covering letter:
Here are some questions that might help you with your covering letter:
• Let us know what attracted you to the job. Was it the organisation, or the role itself
or some combination of factors?
• Let us know how your interests, knowledge and skills match the job description and
person specification
• If you have been on a course, had some formal education or training that you think is
relevant to the post, let us know about it.

Your CV will cover your work and/or voluntary experience, but it can be helpful in the
covering letter to show how you think these experiences would be useful in this role.

If you are invited to interview you will be asked for the following information:
• Two references
• Details of any convictions of a criminal offence other than a spent conviction
• How we can help you to feel comfortable at an interview (for example do you need
level entry to the interview room, prefer a particular pronoun).