Call out for Operational Committee Members
Deadline: 8th of December 2022, midnight.
EMBASSY Gallery is looking for a new freelance operational committee member to join us from January 2023.
EMBASSY is an artist-led organisation based in Edinburgh that seeks to support early career artists, through the facilitation of exhibitions, commissioning opportunities, events and a public facing programming. EMBASSY was established in 2004 and since then has been run by a rolling non-hierarchical committee. In September 2022, EMBASSY updated its governance structure, in order to make changes to allow the role of the operational committee to be fairly paid. The gallery is now seeking to continue its legacy of DIY and collective organising, whilst working under a more sustainable and accessible structure.
The operational committee takes responsibility for curatorial projects and all aspects of running the gallery. Being on the committee is an opportunity to work with a range of people, commission the production of work and host dynamic events. We work collaboratively to support one another to develop new skills and take the lead on projects. Previously EMBASSY has hosted exhibitions, residencies, workshops, international exchange, projects and performances.
EMBASSY is a non-hierarchical working environment, and as such, the operational committee must seek a shared responsibility in all areas of work to ensure a collective involvement in decision making. We describe EMBASSY as a ‘learning environment’ in which together we give and receive support to one another and the practitioners we work with. EMBASSY is a non-hierarchical working environment and future projects can be led from personal curatorial interests.
The operational committee are expected to work to their strengths and comfort levels, therefore certain committee members may focus on certain tasks – i.e taking responsibility for publication design, or other administrative duties.
Responsibilities include programming, installation, administrative tasks, accounting, curation, writing text for copy, processing invoices, and artist liaison. This is an non-exhaustive list, and various duties may arise in response to the varied programming EMBASSY presents.
This position is currently funded until December 2023 with a weekly fee of £162 (£13.50 per hour for 12 hours per week). Work is completed flexibly, with certain activities taking place in person in the gallery location, with elements of remote working. Operational committee members are expected to support one another’s working patterns, and its working structure can be adjusted to account for different working styles, access requirements, and additional caring or working responsibilities. In-kind additional work may be required for the planning and delivery of programmed activities.
To apply, please send a short statement (no more than 1 A4 page) explaining your motivations for joining the committee. We’re interested to hear how you imagine the future of EMBASSY, and your desire to join an artist led initiative. You are also welcome to include an optional link to an artist’s website or instagram. Please include details of where you are located in your applicants. Priority will be given to those based in Edinburgh.
EMBASSY won’t be seeking the most ‘qualified’ applicant, as we wish to work with someone who has a passion for collective arts organising and aspires to use their tenure to develop their own personal skills and work on projects that feel meaningful. EMBASSY particularly encourages applicants who experience barriers to other forms of paid art worker roles, or feel underrepresented in the arts. We don’t see the role as a career ‘stepping stone’ rather artist-led spaces as valid and fundamentally important positions within the ecosystem of the art and cultural sector.
EMBASSY is committed to equality and accessibility. We treat all committee applications equally regardless of ethnicity, religion, disability, martial status, pregnancy or maternity status, social background, age, gender identity or sexual orientation. Applicants are not required to have an art school background, nor any formal qualifications.
Applications are also welcome in an alternative format should this be more accessible to you. Video/ audio applications should be no longer than four minutes in length, and can be emailed to embassygalleryedinburgh@gmail.com. Please write ‘COMMITTEE MEMBER OPEN CALL’ in the subject line.
Applications will be reviewed by EMBASSY’S current operational committee, with external support provided by researcher, artist, and activist Hussein Mitha.
All applicants will be contacted by the 11th of December, with a shortlist of candidates invited to interview. Interviews will take place via zoom on the 16th of December, with final decisions communicated by the 19th of December. EMBASSY will be taking on one new committee member, who will begin the role in January 2023.
Any questions, please contact us via email at embassygalleryedinburgh@gmail.com
We look forward to hearing from you!
Warmly,
Lauren, Georgia, and Maria x EMBASSY