We are now inviting CVs for a new paid part-time role at Hidden Door, helping us to plan and deliver year-round support, knowledge-sharing opportunities, networking and mentorship for Hidden Door’s creative communities.

Hidden Door is a volunteer-led arts charity that organises the Hidden Door Festival, an alternative multi-arts festival set up to support and nurture new creative talent in Scotland. It transforms disused, neglected and unusual urban spaces in Edinburgh into temporary festival venues, which provide a platform for emerging creative practitioners working in a range of disciplines, visual art, theatre, music, dance, film and spoken word. 

As a small charity, our work is funded through ticket sales, sponsorship and fundraising, with all money going straight back into the festival and paying our creative contributors. The festival is mainly planned, organised and run by a team of experienced volunteers, but we are growing a small core team of paid staff to work on the festival and related activities all year round. 

Role purpose

Working with Hidden Door’s leadership team and Programme Curators to plan and deliver year-round support, knowledge-sharing opportunities, networking and mentorship for Hidden Door’s creative communities.

Main responsibilities

Community Engagement

• Foster Arts Community: Organise monthly events, including workshops, art surgeries, and artist talks, to promote inclusivity and collaboration across various disciplines within the wider Edinburgh arts scene.

Artist Development Programme

• Plan and Deliver Workshops: Collaborate with curators and partners to organise workshops and events, such as art surgeries and artist talks, for selected artists within the programme.
• Coordinate Mentoring: Facilitate cross-disciplinary mentoring sessions and workshops for programme artists
• Support Artists: Serve as the main contact for artist development activities, assist artists utilising HD space for artistic creation and rehearsals.
• Collaborate with MCP Team: Develop artist resources and archives to support portfolio growth for past, present, and future artists.
• Engage and Promote: Identify opportunities to re-engage past collaborators and develop paid opportunities, such as an annual art sale.

Person Specification

Values

• Enthusiasm for the arts and a commitment to nurturing emerging talent in Scotland.
• Dedication to fostering an inclusive arts community in Edinburgh.

Skills

• Effective collaboration with artists, curators, and volunteers.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient networking and relationship-building abilities.

Experience

• Experience in the arts sector, especially with emerging artists.
• Proven track record in planning and delivering events like workshops and talks.
• Experience or strong interest in mentorship programs.

More info

The role is offered as a £120 per day contract rate, for a total of 57 days.

Ideally the successful candidate would work 1 to 2 days a week (equivalent to 7 hours per day), or as agreed, between August 2024 and end of June 2025. We welcome flexible working and are open to the possibility of the role being a job share depending on circumstances. 

The festival and team are based in Edinburgh. The role can be conducted from home, or from Hidden Door’s office space if preferred. 

Please note: this role is funded until June 2025 via Creative Scotland’s Extended Programme Fund, enabling us to increase the support and development opportunities we provide to the creative community. We are awaiting the outcome of Creative Scotland’s Multi-Year Funding decisions, due in October 2024, before we can commit to any extension of this role and related activity.

How to apply

Please provide your CV outlining relevant experience, with a covering letter demonstrating your suitability for the role to hello@hiddendoorarts.org by Sunday 8th September.

Please note that interviews will take place w/c Monday 16th September.

If you have any questions or if you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments for the application or interview process please get in touch.