Art Centre Studio Coordinator (readvertised)

About Us

Utopia Art Centre is 100% Indigenous owned and community directed. The Art Centre supports emerging and established artists. It provides a space for intergenerational learning and cultural expression in the Homelands. We’re keeping our generations stronger, through knowledge on our land.

 The Utopia Art Centre operates from within the Urapuntja Aboriginal Corporation. The Corporation is a not-for-profit administrative body, located 250kms northeast of Alice Springs along the Sandover Highway, and is responsible for the delivery of municipal services to the Anmatyerre and Alyawarra speaking people living on the Angarapa and Alyawarra Land Trusts. The Corporation provides these services to a population of approximately 1000 permanent residents.  It has an office complex, maintenance depot, Stronger Communities for Children program centre, art centre and accommodation facilities within the community.

Utopia Art Centre works across 16 remote homelands. Utopia has a diverse history with artists gaining international recognition for batik in the 1980’s before transitioning to painting. Many senior artists have travelled and exhibited across the world, including the famed Emily Kam Kngwarreye. The bold brushwork and expressive colour that set Utopia artists apart has been continued by the younger generation of children and grandchildren painting today.

Utopia Art Centre artists are represented in major exhibitions such as NATSIAA, Tarnanthi, Revealed and Desert Mob, as well as other public and private collections and participate in many national art fairs such as DAAF.

 About the Opportunity

The Studio Coordinator supports the Art Centre Manager in the delivery of high-quality arts and cultural programming for the artists of the Utopia region.  They will assist in the delivery of activities that generate social, creative, and commercial opportunities for the Utopia Art Centre’s artists.

Benefits

We have dedicated team members, comprehensive benefits, conditions and pay. Our greatest asset is our Aboriginal Traditional Owners and our Aboriginal staff, who provide guidance and support in every aspect of our service.

The Corporation offers some of the most comprehensive employment benefits in Australia:

Salary

·        Base Salary Art Studio Coordinator – $75,000 pa plus superannuation

·        Yearly salary review

·        Paid travel allowance (as required)

·        Comprehensive salary packaging which may include everyday living; meals and entertainment; mortgage and loans; electronic devices; novated leasing and superannuation

Conditions 

·        6 weeks annual leave per annum

·        Additional remote area leave per annum

·        Professional development and 2 weeks study leave per annum

·        Paid relocation assistance

 Free Accommodation in Arlparra 

·        Comfortable 2 bedroom fully furnished house (shared) situated in the township of Arlparra

·        Free mobile broadband and landline phone service

·        Free utilities including power and water

·        Fenced yard (pets permitted) 

Duties

·        Coordinate appropriate cataloguing and documentation of completed artworks, using the Stories Art Money (SAM) database software, and document artists’ biographical details

·        Coordinate freight and packaging of artworks

·        Assist with customer service, sales on site, off site, and in events and art fairs

·        Assist with the preparation and production of promotional material as required

·        Assist with marketing Utopia Art Centre and its artists nationally and internationally through relevant exhibitors, sales, prizes and curatorial opportunities

·        Update social media pages

·        Assist the Manager with day to day operational and administrative aspects of the Art

Centre as directed, including correspondence, business documentation, stock control,

retail and wholesale sales, reporting, financial admin, conservation and archiving,

·        maintenance of equipment and facilities and other tas Develop good working relationships with artists and staff

·        Encourage Aboriginal employment, and support, train and mentor Aboriginal staff

·        Respect and encourage maintenance of Indigenous language, culture and tradition and observe any applicable protocols

·        The Studio Coordinator may be required to relieve the Art Centre Manager during extended periods of leave.

Arts and Cultural Support

·        Work with the manager to facilitate the delivery of high-quality art and art enterprise services to Utopia Homeland artists

·        Support the artistic and professional development of artists

·        Respect existing Traditional Law, cultural leadership frameworks and protocols, and adhere to the UAC Code of Conduct

Artist Management and Support

·        Provide artists with social support when required such as driving them to and from home if required and appropriate

·        Support and mentor Arts Workers.

·        Upskill workers in studio and administrative tasks

Studio Operations

·        Maintain the art space, equipment, materials and facilities in accordance with professional and occupational health and safety standards, including coordinating stocks

·        Provide artists with art materials and other studio-based support, including canvas preparation and mixing paint

·        Process artwork sales and assist with the transportation of works & materials

·        Coordinate, participate in and document events & cultural activities, such as artist bush trips

·        Document artworks with the SAM database platform, maintaining accurate and up-to-date records

Sales and Marketing

·        Maintain the art centre’s online presence (website & social media) in consultation with the Manager

·        Help to facilitate professional development and training through the co-ordination of and participation in exhibitions, projects, festivals, forums, conferences and other programs and events

Administration

·        Provide administrative support to the manager, including marketing, project management, funding submissions, file management, strategic planning, correspondence and board meetings

Any other duties as directed by the Manager

Selection Criteria

To be considered for the Studio Coordinator role with the Corporation you must address the following key Selection Criteria:                   

·        Tertiary qualifications in visual arts or equivalent work experience in an arts or related industry with a strong understanding of different art forms, techniques, and materials.

·        Demonstrated experience in facilitating the creation of artworks with artists. This includes understanding their vision, providing guidance, and helping them overcome creative or technical challenges.

·        Experience in studio coordination including preparation of materials, sound knowledge of colour theory, and mixing colour, artist development and care and conservation of art works.

·        Strong interpersonal, oral and written communication skills, including high level cultural competency and the ability to communicate in an intercultural, multi-disciplinary environment.

·        Ability to work in a team and perform in a high-pressure environment, responding to situations in a flexible, practical, culturally appropriate way.

·        Demonstrable understanding of the Australian and international art markets as they apply to the Aboriginal art industry

·        Arts marketing skills; highly developed aesthetic sense and ability to critically assess art; experience in exhibition co-ordination

·        Proficient IT skills, and proven administrative, written and oral communication skills

·        Current manual driver’s license, 4Wheel Drive experience or the ability to undertake a 4WD training 

Desirable

·        Remote area living experience

National Police Clearance (within 3 months), NT Ochre Card (working with children) check and Open drivers licence are mandatory for these roles

 How to Apply

Please provide a covering letter with responses to each of the selection criteria along with your resume detailing your previous experience and qualifications, with two referees.

 Your application should be addressed “Utopia Art Centre Studio Coordinator Position Confidential’ and submitted to  Lisa@accountsplusmore.com.au or contact 0438718480 for further information.

Applications must be received by 9am Monday (AEST) July 14th 2024.

Applicants that do not address the selection criteria will not be considered.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.

Please familiarise yourself with the Utopia Art Centre website at https://www.utopiaartcentre.com.au