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Desperate Men Theatre Company need a
Festival of Desperation Co-ordinator.
From a date to be decided until 18th October 2010
Fee: £3,000
Arts event organiser / administrator with experience of working on arts festivals.
To be based at Desperate Men’s Bristol office.
The event will be taking place in a number of spaces outdoors and indoors across
Bristol to celebrate Desperate Men’s 30th birthday.
To liaise with the company and take responsibility for all aspects of co-ordination for
the festival including –
 Artist liaison – performances, accommodation, food etc.
 Venue liaison
 Liaison with Bristol City Council – outdoor spaces
 Co-ordination of stewards and all aspects of health and safety/risk
assessment.
 Co-ordination of press and publicity
Full job description available from:
office@desperatemen.com
Deadline for applications – July 7th 2010
Interviews will be on the morning of 16th July
For further information about Desperate Men: www.desperatemen.com
Feel free to call 0117 939 3902 and speak to Richard or Jon.
Epstein Buildings, Mivart St, Easton, Bristol BS5 6JL
Tel 0117 939 3902 Email office@desperatemen.com
www.desperatemen.com
Job Description – Festival of Desperation Co-ordinator
Desperate Men are one of the UK’s most experienced artist-led outdoor arts
companies, creating original, challenging, and accessible street theatre.
Desperate Men also work as creative producers, integrating ideas and
concepts with practical development for arts projects across the UK. Their
work encompasses large scale outdoor and mid-scale street shows and
indoor theatre, as well as educational and health initiatives, intercultural
explorations, neighbourhood events and special projects. Risk-taking and
innovative, the company enjoys wide respect from peers and promoters for
combining contemporary themes and topical content with a provocative,
passionate yet convivial style.
Since 1980 the company has expanded and grown. Recent work saw the
company in Portugal, Hong Kong and Shanghai with a piece celebrating
Darwin’s bicentenary.
The company ethos is all about connection and engagement with people and
audience. Through theatrical interventions and comic interaction we connect
with all sorts of people - ordinary and extraordinary - in all sorts of places.
Outdoor arts and street theatre has been at the heart of the company’s work
for thirty years because we feel it especially reaches audiences whose
understanding and experience of art and culture may be lacking; or whose
access to the arts, for one reason or another, may be diminished or has made
them feel excluded.
The Festival of Desperation is intended to not only celebrate the company’s
30th birthday but to offer an opportunity for other artists to interpret and
present their understanding of what it is to experience ‘desperation’, and to
engage in meaningful discourse with artists and public alike about ‘content’ in
outdoor and indoor performance.
The Festival will take place on the 15th, 16th and 17th October 2010 in venues
and outdoor spaces across the Bristol.
The post will involve meticulous logistical organisation, creative planning and
excellent interpersonal skills.
Employer:
Job Title:
Locations:
Responsible to:
Fee:
Period of contract:
Purpose:
Desperate Men Theatre Company
Festival of Desperation Co-ordinator
Desperate Men offices, Epstein Buildings, Mivart
Street, Easton, Bristol, BS5 6JL and various
spaces around Bristol
Jon Beedell (Artistic Director) and Richard Headon
(Creative Producer) of Desperate Men.
£3,000
TBC until 18th October 2010
In consultation with Desperate Men to co-ordinate
all aspects of the Festival of Desperation.
Summary of priorities –
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To liaise with invited artists re: performance times and places,
accommodation, food etc.
To liaise with various venues in Bristol re: contracts, times etc.
To liaise with Bristol City Council re: outdoor spaces.
To co-ordinate production staff, technicians, stewards and all aspects of
health and safety/risk assessments.
To issue all contracts for artists, freelancers, casuals and volunteers.
To establish and maintain insurance policies, permissions and licences for the
Festival.
To co-ordinate press and publicity.
To contribute to the full evaluation of the project.
To attend and contribute to planning and other relevant meetings with
Desperate Men.
To ensure good communication with all parties at all times.
Person Specification
Essential Skills, Experience and Attributes:
 Relevant experience in the field of festival co-ordination
 A collaborative attitude and ability to work within a small, committed team with
people from a variety of walks of life and levels of authority
 Proven project management and leadership skills.
 Excellent communication skills and attention to detail.
 Flexibility, commitment and ability to multi-task.
 Excellent time management skills.
 Strong IT skills.
 A passion for the arts.
 A sense of humour
Desirable Skills, Experience and Attributes:
 Live in, or be able to travel easily to, Bristol
 Knowledge of Desperate Men and outdoor arts in the UK
 Experience as a practitioner in the arts
If you wish to apply then please send your current CV and a letter explaining
why you think you think you are the person for the job.
Time Frame
Application deadline: July 2nd 2010
Shortlist selected and contacted: July 9th 2010
Interviews: July 16th 2010
Start date: TBC