If you’re interested in addressing the imbalance of access for those with certain need, we’re looking for Freelance Access Officer to work 23 days over summer 2019.
Appetite and Wild Rumpus have received funding from Without Walls consortium to recruit a Freelance Access Officer over the summer, ending just after our summer festivals.
If you’re interested in addressing the imbalance of access for those with certain needs then see the job description below and more details on how to apply.
Freelance Access Officer
Employed by: Wild Rumpus and Appetite c/o Partners in Creative Learning
Reports to: Wild Rumpus Creative Producer and Appetite Project Director
Bases: Appetite/New Vic Theatre (Newcastle-under-Lyme) & Wild Rumpus (Scholar Green)
Term of contract: Fee of £3,450 – 23 days @ £150 between May and September 2019 (15 days at Wild Rumpus and 8 days at Appetite), including attendance at Just So Festival (16th – 18th August) and Big Feast (23rd & 24th August)
Overview of the role:
Appetite and Wild Rumpus are looking to recruit a Freelance Access Officer to develop access initiatives and help them build a more inclusive and accessible environment at Just So Festival and The Big Feast.
This post would suit an ambitious candidate with an extensive knowledge and understanding of the issues and barriers that people with disability face when accessing the arts, particularly outdoor events.
The post will require to work both at the Wild Rumpus base (Scholar Green) and at the New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-under-Lyme (approx. 15 days at Wild Rumpus and 8 days at Appetite between May and September 2019). Ideally the post-holder would need to be able to attend the Just So Festival (16th-18th August) and Big Feast (23rd-24th August).
Role and Responsibilities
Working closely with the Wild Rumpus Creative Producer and Appetite Project Manager, the post holder will be responsible for offering advice and support on the development and delivery of creative access initiatives, ensuring both festivals are proactive in reaching d/Deaf and disabled audiences. It will be the post-holder’s responsibility to:
- Devise practical strategies and solutions to tackle identified or existing access issues
- Liaise and facilitate collaborations with local d/Deaf and disabled groups
- Help identify short- and long-term access initiatives to raise accessibility at both events
- Offer advice to festivals in promoting their events’ accessibility in marketing materials (e.g. festival’s website, brochure etc)
- Alongside the Wild Rumpus and Appetite staff, supervise the effective use of a small Access Fund which will be available to develop strategic activities
- Contribute to the preparation of advocacy materials and evaluation reports as required to fulfil the expectations of funders and stakeholders; identifying outcomes and recommendations for the future
- Devise and implement appropriate systems for monitoring and evaluating any specific access initiatives
Person Specification
Essential
- Strong understanding of the issues and barriers that people with disabilities face when accessing arts events, particularly outdoor festivals
- Experience of working with local d/Deaf and disabled groups
- Knowledge of existing access toolkits and any other resources
- Interest in arts / outdoor arts
- Ability to work independently and proactively
- Willingness to work some evenings and weekends as required
Desirable
- Understanding and knowledge of access and disability policies in the UK
- Experience of offering support and guidance to arts organisations in the area of access and disability
- Driving license and access to a car
Timings
Closing date: May 28th, 5pm
Interviews: June 3rd at Ashbank Farm, School Wood, Lunts Moss, Scholar Green, Cheshire ST7 3QJ
Start date: As soon as possible, ideally by June 17th. We envisage most of these dates to be balanced towards the start of the contracting period.
Apply
If this sounds like the job for you please apply with your CV and a covering letter via Wild Rumpus’ website here.
If you have any questions about the role, please contact Anais on anais.biaux@wildrumpus.org.uk
Accessibility
We promote diversity and equal opportunities. If you experience or anticipate any barriers within the application process, or require help to make an application or access information, please contact Anais on anais.biaux@wildrumpus.org.uk and we can make any necessary adjustments.
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About Wild Rumpus
Wild Rumpus exist in a space where arts and culture meet the natural environment. Working from the Whirligig, 4 acres of woodland in Cheshire, we create experiences which inspire curiosity and design events that immerse audiences in incredible stories and moments of wonder.
Wild Rumpus CIC is a social enterprise producing large scale outdoor arts events, most often in wild natural landscapes. We believe that when audiences engage together in the highest quality arts in the great outdoors, something quite amazing can happen.
We produce extraordinary worlds, taking audiences out of their day to day lives into magical and enchanting places which can inspire, create moments of wonder and have a lasting impact.
We provide the environment where audiences can immerse themselves in incredible stories and believe that families deserve access to the highest quality art.
Alongside producing large-scale events, we’re working with performers, producers and programmers to shape a cultural environment where excellent outdoor work thrives.
As a not-for-profit community interest company, all of Wild Rumpus’s profit goes back into its arts programmes, developed to support emerging artists, create pioneering schemes for volunteers, and host creative adventures for families of all shapes and sizes.
www.wildrumpus.org.uk | www.justsofestival.org.uk
About Appetite
The Appetite programme aims to get more people in Stoke-on-Trent to experience be inspired by the arts. It is supported by funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England and is led by the New Vic Theatre in partnership with Partners in Creative Learning, 6Towns Radio and Staffordshire University. Appetite is also supported by Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
www.appetitestoke.co.uk | @AppetiteStoke
Appetite is part of the Creative People and Places programme, initiated and funded by Arts Council England. Creative People and Places is about more people taking the lead in choosing, creating and taking part in art experiences in the places where they live. There are 21 independent projects, each located in an area where people have traditionally had fewer opportunities to get involved with the arts.
www.creativepeopleplaces.org.uk
This post is funded by Without Walls, a consortium of festivals and organisations dedicated to raising the profile of the UK outdoor arts sector, promoting artistic excellence and supporting innovative new work for the benefit of artists and audiences.
