VISUAL is hiring a Learning Programme Facilitator. In this role you will work with the Learning Curator to deliver a busy learning and public engagement programme, with specific responsibility for the weekly early years workshop, Little VISUAL.

Closing date for receipt of applications is Thursday 2 May 2024 at 5pm.

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 people. It is also about the process of making things, free experimentation, exploring materials and self-directed discovery. Art 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. Fundamental to our learning programme are our Early Years and family workshops. This position will be deeply collaborative with the rest of the team at VISUAL; learning and reflecting together through the exhibitions and giving access to all ages.

Duties and responsibilities

• Planning, designing, and delivering gallery-based art workshops in response to the exhibitions at VISUAL for early years visitors and their adults (aged 18 months to 4 years) for 1 day per week (use of a wide range of materials is encouraged).
• Documenting and reporting on learning projects as they are undertaken and completed following VISUAL’s evaluation framework.
• Maintaining some flexibility of hours for the delivery of gallery-based workshops for a range of age groups from early years to adults with the support of the learning team.

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 experienced and interested in delivering sensory learning activities, exploring materials through playful experimentation with early years children in the galleries.
• 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 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

• 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
• Artists with experience facilitating learning and public engagement projects are encouraged to apply

In the interview

• 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.

Fee will be commensurate with experience, one day per week will be guaranteed with great scope for further projects and hours. VISUAL is an equal opportunity employer and artists and facilitators with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Recent graduates are also encouraged to apply.

Please send a cover letter and CV to Clare Breen, Learning Curator at learning@visualcarlow.ie

Notes: CVs should be no more than 2 pages