About the Opportunity
Since 2005, CuriousWorks has been shaping Australia’s cultural future by empowering the next generation of arts and cultural leaders to create an innovative, accessible arts and media scene.
We are a vibrant ensemble of next gen artists, storytellers, media makers and mentors from Western Sydney, working with our own communities and across Australia.
We run year-round creative programs with, for and by young people from diverse communities. Through deep, long-term engagement and inclusive art-making, CuriousWorks produces powerful, cultural artworks that engage at the grassroots.
About the Role
This is an exciting and rewarding opportunity to lead and transform a respected Australian arts organisation supporting emerging artists and young people from Western Sydney. The Organisation is working toward goals set out in its 2020-2024 Strategic Plan. The role represents a significant professional opportunity for the successful candidate to develop and execute a Strategic Plan for the Organisation for 2025- 2028 and to influence the Organisation’s leadership and management structure.
We are particularly seeking people from diverse backgrounds who have strong ties with Western Sydney and understand the power of the arts to create positive change through storytelling. The successful applicant will have a strong record of achievement in a senior executive or leadership role in a creative arts (or similar) organisation, including the capacity to:
- develop and deliver an artistic vision at an organisational level;
- to communicate the vision with confidence and passion to our artists, communities, funding bodies, donors and other stakeholders;
- create and deliver work across artform; and
- to work collaboratively with artists, communities and partners.
We are keen for all interested people to apply if they feel that they have a mix of skills and experience which would suit Curious Works and are motivated to assume a leadership position.
Desired Skills and Experience
- Artistic: experience in developing, delivering and communicating an artistic vision and building and delivering artistic development programs;
- Leadership: leadership qualities, evidenced by experience in a similar role, in the arts or similar sector including board and board reporting and leadership of staff; experience in training, mentoring and building leadership capacity in others;
- Strategic: strategic skills preferably in an arts or similar industry environment;
- Program delivery: experience in successfully delivering programs and services that respond to a company’s strategic goals;
- Relationship management: industry relationships and the ability to identify, build and foster high level partnerships and relationships with government, funding bodies, donors and other stakeholders, including demonstrated success in writing, managing and acquitting grant applications and business development and fundraising skills;
- Operational - administrative, planning and communication skills and financial management and budgeting experience.
Key Responsibilities
- Providing strong, inspirational and high-profile creative leadership to enable the company to achieve its artistic and strategic objectives as set out in our 2020 – 2024 Strategic Plan;
- Leading the design and implementation of the 2025-2028 Strategic Plan;
- Develop and oversee initiatives that contribute to the ongoing growth of the Organisation’s financial resources and leads to ongoing sustainability including securing core funding;
- Oversee recruitment and supervision of staff, and foster an organisational culture that attracts and retains high calibre staff;
- Playing an active role in fundraising and strategic partnership development, including arts and screen funding bodies, research
partners, and philanthropists; - With the board and other staff being responsible for ensuring the Organisation adheres to sound financial practices and policies, and is compliant with all relevant legislation;
- All other duties associated with a role of this nature.
Reporting to: Board
Remuneration: $100,000 - $125,000 depending on experience
Location: Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, Casula NSW
Applications Due: 9 December 2022
Please submit a current CV and a 1-2 page cover letter telling us about yourself and describing your skills and experience with reference to the role to applications@curiousworks.com.au
