The NewBridge Project Gallery is currently closed.
We are looking for a dynamic Programme Director to lead on the development, delivery and direction of our public programme, and who is excited to work in collaboration with emerging curators, artists and local communities to produce an ambitious programme of contemporary art.
Salary: £27,000
Hours: Full time role, 5 days a week (equivalent to 40 hours)
Start date: January 2022 or as soon as possible
Deadline: Tuesday 16 November, 5pm
We are looking for a Programme Director to develop and deliver a public programme that is artist-led and experimental in its approach and produced with and for artists and local communities. We aim to create a programme that reflects the diversity of contemporary art practice, is responsive to the environment within which it exists, that builds solidarity, and that places community-centred, experimental, collaborative and socially conscious programming at its heart.
As well as stand-alone projects and commissions, we explore broader themes over long periods – these inform each other, as well as the way we develop our public programme and organisation.
We believe in many voices being represented through NewBridge’s programme and we work with a Programme Committee to enable new narratives, methodologies and approaches to emerge across our programme, helping to diversify the curatorial voice. Members of the committee work alongside the Programme Director to research and develop their curatorial ideas as part of our commissions and exhibition programme.
We want to continue the important work we are currently doing with local communities through nurturing our existing relationships and taking time to build new ones. We work annually with a group of co-investigators — community researchers who provide feedback or ideas on our programme and/or the context or theme of a project. Through their work we gather insights from a range of perspectives, informing our future programming and helping us to prioritise issues important to those we work with.
The NewBridge Project seeks to be an inclusive organisation, and we want to ensure that all aspects of our work reflect diversity and support equality of opportunity.
We encourage applications to complete our Equal Opportunities and Diversity Monitoring Form which helps us to to determine the effectiveness of our Equal Opportunities Policy, and Equality and Diversity Action Plan. Your responses will be treated with full confidentiality, and if there are any questions you would rather not answer, then just tick ‘prefer not to say’ or skip to the next question.
How to Apply
All applications must be sent to applications@thenewbridgeproject.com with the subject heading Programme Director Application.
Please read the job pack carefully before applying (download above) – the job description and skills outlined should help you to make a strong application.
We have a number of different ways to apply for this role. You can do this through:
If you require any adjustments to the recruitment process, then please contact us directly so we can discuss how to support you in your application.
Selection process
Applications will be assessed by at least two members of the NewBridge team and Board and we assess applications using a matrix based on the answers given in your statement or audio/video application. Further details can be found in the job pack
Equal Opportunities & Diversity Monitoring information may be taken into account at final shortlisting stage to help us achieve our diversity and inclusion goals. This is part of our commitment to taking positive action to achieve equality of opportunity throughout our recruitment process.
Interview
Interviews will be held on Monday 29 or Tuesday 30 November. Please indicate in your application if you cannot make either of these dates.
If you are shortlisted for interview, we will contact you via telephone or email, giving full details of the time, date and who you will be meeting at interview. We will be holding all interviews in line with current COVID requirements. More details will be provided closer to the time.
We will also provide you with the main questions you will be asked in advance, though we may ask some follow up questions during the interview.
Getting in touch
If you’re thinking of applying for the role but still have some questions, we are holding an Online Open Day on the afternoon of Wednesday 3rd November, where you can sign up to have a short chat with Director Rebecca Huggan about the role. Please sign up for a slot here.
Once your appointment is confirmed we will email you a zoom link, or we will request a phone number to reach you by telephone if you’d prefer.
We are also happy to answer written questions via email, please send your query to applications@thenewbridgeproject.com with the subject heading Programme Director Query. Please don’t leave it too late with any questions though, so we can make sure we have time to get back to you.
The NewBridge Project is supported by Arts Council England, Newcastle Culture Investment Fund, Newcastle University’s Institute for Creative Arts Practice and the North of Tyne Combined Authority.
