- SALARY: A day rate of £220 – 250 is available, depending on experience (Equivalent fee for 210 days is £46,200 – £52,500)
- CONTRACT: Freelance, 210 days total between 1 September 2024 – 31 October 2025.
- DEADLINE: 28th July 2024, 11.59pm
We’re looking for a Freelance Production Manager to manage, co-ordinate and advise on all technical, production and health and safety aspects of the exhibition programme including the fabrication of new artworks, exhibitions and events.Apply now
Reports to: Director of Programme & Partnerships
Responsible for: Select External Contractors
MAIN DUTIES
Exhibition Planning / Artwork Production
- Production Management of Liverpool Biennial’s 2025 festival programme across new commissions, loans, live works and public programme events from planning, delivery, maintenance and deinstall.
- Support the Programme Manager and Assistant Curators to co-ordinate and facilitate the fabrication of new works for exhibition within LB2025, liaising directly with artists to ensure delivery within time and budget, and that sustainability and accessibility are prioritised throughout.
- Procure, contract and daily management of suppliers and contractors including (but not limited to) art handlers, technicians, fabricators, structural engineers, AV and technical equipment suppliers.
- Support the Guest Curator and Programme Team in deciding the placement of artworks and exhibition build, ensuring feasibility of installation, health and safety and accessibility requirements are all adhered to, and that sustainability is prioritised throughout.
- Liaise directly with venues and exhibition locations to agree exhibition build and installation / deinstallation plans including (but not limited to) layouts, schedules, health and safety considerations. For found venues, ensure lighting, power, fire safety, artwork safety and any other H&S considerations associated with using an empty building are implemented safely and appropriately.
- Lead on obtaining all associated licenses needed for installation / deinstallation including (but not limited to) planning permissions, highway occupation, road closure / traffic management, equipment usage etc.
- Draft, collate and distribute risk assessments, method statements and any other H&S related paperwork in advance of any work taking place, and take responsibility for ensuring measures are always implemented and adhered to on site.
- Manage production & technical budgets including adhering to procurement procedures, negotiating costs with contractors and suppliers and supporting the Programme Manager and LB artists by costing projects.
- Support Programme Team on the loan and registration of borrowed artworks, including (but not limited to) inputting to loan agreements, liaising with lenders and ensuring any agreed exhibition conditions are upheld where necessary.
- Support Programme Team on international shipping of artworks, including (but not limited to) commissioning crating or packing of works, ensuring fabrication deadlines are communicated and upheld, co-ordinating intake of artworks to venues and safe storage of crates.
- Work closely with the Programme Manager, Assistant Curators and other members of the wider Liverpool Biennial team to support and advise on any technical or production related queries they might have.
Exhibition Installation / Deinstallation
- Co-ordinate logistics for installation and deinstallation, construction, and AV requirements for all exhibitions, facilitating, supervising, and supporting appropriate external contractors whenever necessary.
- Lead on the production and technical aspects of all live or hybrid event delivery, including performance works, public programme and learning programme, as well as supporting with set up and stage management where required.
- Devise installation and event set up schedules, ensuring that appropriate staff and contractors are fully briefed and equipped to deliver them.
- Facilitate and provide support to any art handlers and technicians while working onsite during exhibition and event installation and deinstallation, including regular briefing sessions, unpacking/repacking of artworks and handling heavy or dangerous works.
- Troubleshoot any technical difficulties, ensuring that the Director of Programme & Partnerships and the Programme Manager are kept fully informed of progress and any problems.
- Ensure correct Health and Safety procedures are in place and adhered to for the installation of artworks and their display, including supervision of external/freelance contractors and reporting any incidents immediately to the Director of Programme & Partnerships, and ensuring that artworks are installed and secured in a safe manner.
- Ensure Government Indemnity Scheme (GIS) compliance and best practice guidance is followed when necessary.
- Ensure high production values across all activity.
Maintenance of Exhibitions
- Support the Front of House Manager by inputting to and delivering parts of the training of our Front of House team, and other staff as required.
- Liaise with artists to agree maintenance processes for individual works, create a maintenance instruction document and ensure appropriate numbers of staff are briefed and trained to undertake this maintenance.
- With the support of the Programme Team, maintain the condition of works or arts and the galleries and ensure that all AV/technical installations and equipment are always in proper working order.
- Support the Programme Manager to draft and update risk assessments associated with the public exhibition of artworks.
General / Administrative
- Liaise with artist representatives, arts institutions, and funders where required.
- Liaise with all Biennial departments to secure a smooth flow of information.
- Convene, attend and record meetings as required.
- Organise and attend site visits and research trips.
- Process exhibition-related invoices as required.
- Draft and update project schedules and planning documents to help ensure deadlines are realistically set, clearly communicated and projects are delivered in good time.
- Attend training and professional development opportunities as required.
- Work within the context of Liverpool Biennial’s Equality and Diversity policy, Code of Conduct, Sustainability Policy and other policies in delivery of internal and external service and treatment of employees alongside all other Company policies and the Staff Handbook.
- Work occasional evenings and weekends as necessary.
- Any other duties which may be from time to time allocated, commensurate with the nature and responsibility level of the post.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential:
- Minimum 4 years in arts production
- Demonstrable project management and production management experience
- Experience of budget management
- Ability to prioritise workload, and work to tight and changing deadlines
- Ability to work across multiple projects simultaneously
- Knowledge of legal requirements and best practice approaches to health and safety both for arts venues and off-site projects
- Art handling / condition checking experience
- Excellent communication skills, written and verbal
- Ability to thrive within a team environment including demonstrable experience of working well with a diverse range of artists, contractors, and individuals
- Demonstrable proficiency in use of Microsoft Office Suite
- Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion
- Commitment to environmental sustainability
Desirable:
- Working in an international environment
- Working on multi-disciplinary projects, including public realm installations and live performances
- Working on hybrid or born-digital projects
- Working in a non-gallery setting
- Knowledge of Liverpool City Region, and Liverpool Biennial
- Use of design or editing software such as SketchUp, Audacity, Final Cut Pro, etc.
- Full UK Driving License
Download the Job Information Pack below