VISUAL is looking to hire a Learning Programme Facilitator.

Working with the Learning Curator to deliver a busy learning and public engagement programme, with full responsibility for a weekly young people’s project (ages 15/16 years).

Closing date for receipt of applications is Wednesday the 17^th August 2022 at 5pm.

About VISUAL

VISUAL is one of Ireland’s leading contemporary art spaces situated in the heart of Carlow. At VISUAL we have a year-round learning programme for all ages. It includes early-years art classes, family art workshops, primary school tours and workshops, leaving cert tours and workshops, masterclasses, online learning projects, adult workshops and artist’s talks. We believe art is a tool to empower young people. It is also about the process of making things, free experimentation, exploring materials and self-directed discovery. Art can help children and young people to think through ideas in an expanded way and to bring the whole body into their learning. It teaches us all to be inquisitive, persistent, imaginative, disciplined and collaborative.

Through our learning programme we aim to empower children, young people and communities in decision making and to develop new projects in partnerships that benefit our community. A key aspect of our new learning programme is the VISUAL Collective. This group of young people (15/16 years old) come together over 10 weeks to explore what it means to work in the arts through workshops and conversations with professional artists.

Duties and responsibilities

• Planning, designing, and delivering gallery-based art workshops in response to the exhibitions at VISUAL for all ages and abilities for 2 days per week (use of a wide range of materials is encouraged).
• Full responsibility for management of the VISUAL Collective, a programme for young people (ages 15/16 years) exploring contemporary visual and performing arts practice. This includes developing and delivering weekly workshops, liaising with artists, managing budgets, and planning an exhibition of the Collective’s work.
• Documenting and reporting on learning projects as they are undertaken and completed following VISUAL’s evaluation framework.
• Taking initiative to research and develop approaches to public engagement in Carlow.
• Maintaining some flexibility of hours for the delivery of gallery-based workshops for a wide age group from early years to adults with provision for some weekend work.

Essential Qualities and Experience

• You must demonstrate confidence and fluency in researching and mediating contemporary visual and performing arts to diverse audiences from early years to adults.
• You must be committed to engaging diverse audiences and making museums and galleries more accessible.
• You must have experience in facilitating arts projects with young people and be guided by a passion for supporting young people and giving them agency in decision making.
• You should be able to articulate your approach, frame your values and give some insight into how you facilitate workshops for diverse groups.
• Demonstrate experience of bringing a learning or public engagement project from start to finish and describe the impact of this programme
• Demonstrate a knowledge of learning, public engagement, and participative art practices in Ireland and internationally
• Capacity to work as part of a team or to be self-directed, as necessary
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Excellent administration and project management skills
• Excellent computer literacy

Desirable Qualities and Experience

• Experience in event production is very valuable
• Ability to manage a workload flexibly within a busy programme of learning events
• Strong interpersonal skills that demonstrate an ability to make good internal and external working relationships

In the interview

• Artists with experience facilitating learning and public engagement projects are encouraged to apply.
• You’ll be asked to speak about learning and engagement projects you have developed and delivered.
• You’ll be asked to demonstrate the impact that projects you’ve delivered have had on the people/context you worked with.
• You’ll be asked about what you think the function and value of a learning programme in a contemporary gallery is and describe how you would meet these ambitions.

Important

This is a contract for service, you must be registered as self-employed/sole trader with tax clearance

The role will consist of 2 days per week from September – December 2022

@ €200p/d = €6000

Please send a cover letter and CV to paula@visualcarlow.ie

Notes: CV’s should be no more than 2 pages