Job Title: Programme Assistant
Contract: Freelance Contract, (6 month contract with possibility of extension), 2 days per week (Mon/Tues) with additional days during festival period 4-14 September
Pay: £110 per day
Reports to: Artistic Director (Rosy Naylor)
Closing date: 9th May
Interview date: 19th May
Proposed start date: 30th June
About Art Walk Projects
Art Walk Projects is an artist-led organisation founded in Portobello, a coastal suburb of Edinburgh, delivering programmes that reposition the relationship between artist, audience and community. We work collaboratively with artists and communities to create experimental, ambitious environmental place-centred art projects, often interdisciplinary in nature, embedded in local ecologies across north east Edinburgh, and delivered alongside an annual contemporary arts festival, Art Walk Porty.
Since 2015, Art Walk Projects has grown to encompass year-round projects that flow into the annual festival organised around a series of social and ecological practice artist residencies, walking programmes and community engagement projects based around Edinburgh’s north eastern coast. Often working with lost or under visited sites we consistently strive to engage communities, connecting people, place and partnership, exploring new terrains that have social or ecological relevance, whilst giving value and visibility to cultural practice on the edge of the city. Working without walls (office based in Craigmillar), our programme is delivered across a range of public realm sites and exhibition spaces. Our year-round activity embeds artists into local communities across the north east coast of Edinburgh connecting people and place.
About the role
Having recently been awarded multi-year funding from Creative Scotland, we are working to increase our capacity to deliver our upcoming programme of artist residencies and community engaged projects. This role will be key to supporting the realisation of these projects, working closely with the Artistic Director and Producer.
Our upcoming programme for 2025 will celebrate 10 years of the Art Walk Porty Festival, under the banner of SHOWGROUND, engaging with Portobello’s showground history through artist residencies, commissions and a variety of participatory art events leading up to and throughout the festival in September. Our longer term programme focuses on the health of place and coastal communities, developing new projects that engage with issues around environmental care, coastal change, care work, illness and medicinal plant ecology. We are keen to hear from applicants who have particular interest or relevant experience involving these subjects.
Ideally, the role will involve at least 1 day per week working in person at our office in Craigmillar with some scope to work from home with prior arrangement. In person support at events in North East Edinburgh and on occasion East Lothian will also be regularly required.
Key responsibilities and tasks:
Programme support and delivery
- Supporting the Artistic Director and Producer with the research, planning and realisation of projects.
- In person support at events as required.
- Assisting with liaison with artists and partners involved in the programme.
- Surveying of participants and visitors to events, actively seeking feedback from those engaged with the programme.
Community engagement:
- Helping to develop and coordinate the community programme, liaising with groups, partners and artists.
- Maintaining links to community engagement partners, actively seeking feedback and investigating opportunities for further collaboration.
Administration and reporting
- Providing administrative support for the organisation as required.
- Assisting with programme-related communications when required, including newsletters and website updates
- Contributing to all evaluation and reporting (to AWP Board and funders).
Festival delivery
- Supporting logistical planning for the delivery of the Art Walk Porty festival in September 2025.
- Being available to work the duration of the festival (4th to the 14th of September), supporting across the programme as needed.
- Assisting with volunteer coordination and management.
Person Specification
This opportunity would suit someone early in their career but with some previous experience working within contemporary art or community oriented projects. This role includes opportunities for learning and development, working with an established team who will provide guidance and support. The ideal candidate would be someone well organised, adaptable and collaborative in their working, with a strong interest in innovative approaches to contemporary art, engaging communities and climate arts.
How to apply
Please send a CV (maximum 2 pages) and cover letter (maximum 1 page), together with contact details of two referees to info@artwalkporty.co.uk. Please also complete our equality monitoring form, which can be found here. Responses to this form are anonymous and not linked to your application.
We are happy to receive applications in alternative formats such as video or audio recordings. The video/audio should be no more than 2 minutes long.
We encourage interested parties to apply even if they feel they do meet all the requirements listed above. We strongly encourage applications from people who feel they are currently or have historically been under-represented in the arts.
Please get in contact by emailing info@artwalkporty.co.uk if you have any questions about the role or application process.
This role is supported by Creative Scotland Multi Year Funding.
Top image: Murray Morrant Stool to Stool: Sand Making Vessel Workshop 2023