Director Information Pack

DIRECTOR INFORMATION PACK

Introduction p. 2

The Role p. 4 The Person p. 7 Terms and Conditions p. 8 Application Process p. 9

Image: Sir Peter Blake, Everybody Razzle Dazzle, 2015. Photo: Mark McNulty

INTRODUCTION – ABOUT LIVERPOOL BIENNIAL

Founded in 1998, Liverpool Biennial is the UK biennial of contemporary art presenting a free festival of newly commissioned contemporary art from around the world in the context of Liverpool and the region. It is underpinned by a programme of research, education, residencies and commissions. Taking place every two years across the city in public spaces, galleries, civic buildings, museums and online, it has commissioned over 340 new artworks and presented work by over 480 renowned artists from around the world. Artists featured in our last ten editions include Doug Aitken, John Akomfrah, Yael Bartana, Mohamed Bourouissa, Lara Favaretto, Nicholas Hlobo, Yayoi Kusama, Taus Makhacheva, Philippe Parreno, Superflex, Ai Weiwei, Betty Woodman and Franz West.

Haegue Yang, Long Neck Woman Upside Down, 2016. Installation view at Tate Liverpool. Photo: Roger Sinek © Tate Liverpool

In 2018, celebrating 20 years of presenting international art in the city and the region, the 10th edition of the Biennial ran for 15 weeks, showcasing 44 artists from 22 countries across 16 sites, responding to the theme Beautiful world, where are you? Curated by Sally Tallant (outgoing Liverpool Biennial Director) and Kitty Scott (Carol & Morton Rapp Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at Art Gallery Ontario) it invited artists and audiences to reflect on a world of social, political, environmental and economic turmoil.

The 2018 programme included more than 80 performances, talks, films, family and educational events and also featured a film programme curated by Agnès Varda.

Liverpool Biennial 2018 was a highlight of Liverpool 2018, a year-long programme which has showcased the city’s culture and creativity 10 years on from its year as European Capital of Culture. Biennial audiences were invited to explore the histories and stories evoked by objects and artefacts from the city’s collections and architecture, from the encaustic-tiled

Minton floor in St George’s Hall, and masterpieces at Walker Art Gallery by artists including George Stubbs, David Hockney, Augustus John and Joseph Wright of Derby, to a rare complete album of The Birds of America by John James Audubon at the Central Library, the Harda Totem pole at World Museum, and the Civic Silver in the Town Hall. The 2018 edition also included the 60th annual John Moores Painting Prize, the Biennial fringe which this year featured over 250 new works and more than 100 individual events across the six boroughs of the region, Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2018, and This is Shanghai – an exhibition of contemporary artists from Shanghai, presented by Culture Liverpool with Open Eye Gallery. On 24 October a new large-scale public work by Ugo Rondinone was unveiled at Liverpool’s Royal Albert Dock, outside Tate Liverpool. Commissioned by Liverpool Biennial with Tate Liverpool, and supported by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, the 10-metre high sculpture, Liverpool Mountain, comprises fluorescent coloured rocks, stacked vertically. It is Rondinone’s first public artwork in the UK and is part of his Magic Mountains series. It joins other major, permanent public artworks commissioned by Liverpool Biennial such as Peter Blake’s Everybody Razzle Dazzle ferry, Jaume Plensa’s Dream and Antony Gormley’s Another Place on Crosby Beach.

Liverpool Biennial is underpinned by an extensive education and participation programme which is integrated into all our work. The Biennial commissions artists to make work together with people of all ages from diverse communities. This year round programme is key to how Liverpool Biennial builds and maintains audiences whilst strengthening national and international partnerships. Formal networks and partnerships such as the International Biennial Association (IBA) generate co-commissions, organisational improvements, opportunities for staff development, and heighten the profile and status of Liverpool Biennial.

Ugo Rondinone, Liverpool Mountain, 2018. Installation view at Royal Albert Dock Liverpool. Photo: Rob Battersby

THE ROLE

DIRECTOR The Director has overall responsibility for the artistic vision and management of Liverpool Biennial, for the development and implementation of its Biennial festivals and other artistic output, as well as for its organisational and financial sustainability. Reporting to the Chair, the Director is tasked with aligning the organisation behind its strategic vision, and for growing and developing its reputation locally, nationally and internationally whilst strengthening existing partnerships and developing new ones. They will work closely with the Board of Trustees, the Executive Director, other senior staff and curators.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Artistic Direction

• Develop, articulate and lead the team to deliver an innovative, exciting and ambitious artistic programme of exceptional quality in line with the Biennial’s vision, its business plan, and within given resources

• Take responsibility for all aspects of the Biennial programme including exhibitions, commissions, public programmes, publications and education and ensure that these are integrated and leading the field nationally and internationally

• Build commitment to the Biennial’s vision and strategy with the Board, staff, partners and funders and align all Biennial initiatives and programmes with the vision

Leadership and Strategy

• Work with the Board, the Executive Director and the staff to develop and deliver an effective business plan

• Ensure that the Biennial achieves its stated aims and objectives

• Take overall responsibility for the regular review and monitoring of outcomes and impacts against the business plan, and all its key performance indicators

• Take lead responsibility for the overall shape and branding of the Biennial festival, for the definition and co-ordination of its constituent parts, and for its effective integration into other local, regional and national marketing initiatives

• Ensure that all aspects of the Biennial are representative of its communities. The Director will be expected to keep equality, diversity and inclusion at the top of their agenda, and ensure that the Biennial’s agreed Equality and Diversity Policy is implemented and legislatively compliant

• Advocate on behalf of the Biennial to politicians, funding bodies, corporate sponsors, the press and media, conferences etc. ensuring that it maintains the highest possible profile amongst local, regional, national and international funders and decision

makers, ensuring its inclusion on relevant artistic, cultural, political, place-making and regeneration agendas

• Lead and develop strong and productive relationships with Arts Council England, Liverpool City Council, and other key partners in the city and city region

• Develop, manage and optimise existing partnerships within contemporary art, public bodies, communities, academia, and civic networks, locally, nationally and internationally

• Lead a process of continuous evaluation to result in an improved organisation and programme

• Support the Chair in Board development and appointments

• Set the standard for behaviour which is professional, supportive, positive and focused on excellence

Financial and Operational Management

• Take overall responsibility for risk management, finances and income generation, ensuring that the Biennial is solvent, legislatively compliant, effective, efficient and financially sustainable

• Support the Board and executive team to deliver effective governance

• Ensure that the Biennial’s marketing and communication strategy supports all areas of the programme, audience development, research and advocacy work

• To act as signatory to major funding agreements and take ultimate responsibility for income and expenditure, associated budgets and accounting systems

• Work with the Executive Director to strengthen the culture of financial management across the organisation ensuring ambitious but realistic income targets, effective finance and cost control systems, and accurate regular monitoring and reporting

• Work with the Executive Director, the Director of Development and the Board to strengthen financial reserves

• Work with the Director of Development to develop and deliver the fundraising strategy across trusts and foundations, corporate bodies, private individuals and other grant giving bodies

• Act as Secretary to the Board and make recommendations for its development: the appointment of Board Members, structuring of Board business, Sub-Committees etc.

• Together with the Executive Director, act as primary contact with Charity Commissioners, Companies House etc.

Education and Research

• Foster a culture of research and development to underpin the work of the Biennial and nurture the team to participate in thinking and writing about contemporary art in the organisation, the city and beyond

• Contribute to, and participate in, conferences and publications nationally and internationally ensuring that Liverpool Biennial continues to lead the field in public practice and research

• Working with the Education Curator, ensure that the education programme is integrated within the Biennial’s stated aim to meet the needs of Liverpool’s diverse communities

People Management

• With the Executive Director and HR Consultant, review and plan staffing levels, in response to changing needs, and recommend an appropriate organisational structure to the Board

• Oversee the appointment of all staff in a fair, equitable and effective manner in keeping with prevailing legislation, best practice and Biennial policies

• Ensure that all staff have agreed job descriptions, development plans and performance management objectives allied to the business plan, and that these are reviewed annually

• Work with the Executive Director and HR Consultant, to ensure that all members of staff have a well-developed understanding of their measurable contribution to the aims and objectives of the Biennial

• Work with the Executive Director and HR Consultant to ensure that staff wellbeing is given appropriate priority and that the organisation offers appropriate support and pastoral care to all employees

• The Director is responsible for the senior management team including the Executive Director, the Director of Development, Head of Programmes and the Education Curator. Direct line management may be reviewed according to operational need.

THE PERSON

The Director will embody the Biennial values which are in all aspects creative, professional, collaborative, positive and cooperative. They will have proven senior level experience in the field of visual contemporary art and a passionate commitment to making art accessible to the widest possible audience. They will also have a well-developed network with considerable international reach.

Candidates will have:

• A passion for visual arts, with the ability to demonstrate visionary flair and creativity as well as an appetite for innovative, ambitious and challenging projects, accessible to all

• Excellent knowledge and understanding of twentieth century and contemporary art and proven experience of successfully commissioning and co-commissioning public art with a detailed understanding of the processes involved

• Substantial experience in conceptualising, leading and managing the delivery of large-scale multi-site exhibitions or projects

• Proven experience of senior stakeholder management and multi-partnership working

• Demonstrable leadership, people management, motivational and communication skills with the ability to build, influence and lead effective teams and deliver through others

• Resilience and stamina to work in a busy and demanding role with substantiated experience of dealing with a wide variety of complex issues at any one time

• The capacity to develop and deliver a programme which balances the demands of artistic quality and commercial viability

• Ability to think strategically and work with a combined analytical and creative approach

• Proven academic research skills, ideally with experience of producing successful publications on time and within budget

• Excellent communication skills, including public speaking, advocacy and ambassadorial skills

• Experience of talent development both in terms of colleagues and artists

• Proven fundraising and income generation skills

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Salary: Competitive

Hours of work: 37.5 per week

Annual Leave: 25 days plus public holidays

Probation Period: 6 months Notice Period: During probation period 1 month either side After probation period 3 months either side Other Benefits: Contributory pension scheme, cycle to work scheme, childcare vouchers, free parking

Silke Otto-Knapp, A series of images following one from the other Eine aufeinander folgende Reihe von Bildern, 2018. Installation view at Bluecoat. Photo: Thierry Bal

APPLICATION PROCESS

To apply for this exciting and challenging role please submit:

• A letter of application, no longer than 2 sheets of A4, setting out your aptitude and experience in relation to the essential skills required • A full curriculum vitae • The names and full contact details of three referees. References will not be sought without prior agreement and only if you are invited to and confirm attendance at interview.

Please send your submission to [email protected] by the deadline below, using the email subject Director Application 2018. We only accept online applications, however if you have any queries please contact our HR Consultant, Jane Howard by email at [email protected] or by telephone on 07736 646 623. If you would like to discuss the role further before applying, either with the Chair, the outgoing Director or the Executive Director, please notify Jane Howard via email.

Application deadline: Wednesday 9 January 2019, 12pm First interview date: Friday 18 January 2019 (Liverpool) We expect some candidates to be invited for a second interview on a date to be confirmed week commencing 28 January 2019 in London.

Mohamed Bourouissa, Resilience Garden, 2018 and Granby Gardening Club, April 2018. Photo: Pete Carr