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Creative Director – National Videogame Museum / The BGI
Salary: £40,000
Hours: 40 hours per week
Term: Permanent
Location: National Videogame Museum, Castle House, Angel Street, Sheffield, with some flexible working
Closing date: 12:00 am 17 September 2021
Description
The BGI, charity number 1183530, is looking for an experienced curator with a track record of delivering exhibitions with significant digital components to be its new Creative Director. They will drive the creative vision for the Curatorial, Collections and Learning Programme at the National Videogame Museum as well as other BGI projects and festivals. They will define the Museum’s exhibition programme, complete museum accreditation and report directly to the CEO.
The BGI’s mission
The charity’s mission is to educate the public about the art, science, history and technology of videogames through running a museum, provision of education and research. Our independent and diverse team of staff, trustees and advisory board works to:
● Create unique interactive exhibitions about games culture
● Inspire thousands of schoolchildren in engaging workshops
● Reveal careers in the UK’s fastest growing creative industry
● Encourage everyone to play and make games
Working at the BGI
We’re an ambitious, committed and diverse team working to create an innovative programme including our museum, events, festivals and our award-winning learning programme. We craft fun and educational experiences that change the lives of our different communities, with a particular focus on disadvantaged and under-represented groups. We’re passionate about our art form but knowledge of videogames is not essential.
We’re committed to creating a diverse and flexible working environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, disability, gender or sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief. We can provide materials in alternate formats on request. Our offices are wheelchair accessible.
Role overview
The Creative Director will oversee the Curatorial, Collections and Learning Programme at the NVM, as well as contribute to wider BGI programmes such as our festivals. They will set the creative vision for the BGI as a whole, joining the Executive Board, representing staff at
the Museum Advisory Board and reporting to the Trustee Board.
Accountabilities
I. Define and lead the charity’s Curatorial, Collections and Learning Programme (‘Programme’), delivering an innovative, high quality and exciting programme, including exhibitions and collection development, and museum accreditation.
II. Ensure the Programme team delivers the charity’s forthcoming strategy.
III. Work with the Director of Visitor Experience to ensure the Museum delivers high levels of audience satisfaction and visitor growth.
Responsibilities
Programme development and delivery
1. Develop the strategic vision and educational goals for the Programme, working with the Programme & Collections Manager who manages the team day to day, the exec board and the trustees to deliver the charity’s strategy.
2. Oversee the Programme team’s development and delivery of the Programme including exhibitions, collections, workshops and events.
3. Complete the NVM’s museum accreditation with Arts Council England and ensure the appropriate standards are maintained in future years.
4. Work closely with the Director of Visitor Experience and the VE team to ensure that the Programme team caters to the NVM’s current and future audiences and communities.
5. Take overall responsibility for the Programme team’s expenditure and costs, liaising with the finance team.
6. Work with the CEO and fundraisers to identify and bid for funding opportunities, growing the Programme team accordingly.
Thought leadership
7. Be the charity’s public voice for games culture in arts and games industry fora, writing and speaking about our work.
8. Work with our curators and future collections team to develop the Programme team’s public profile.
9. Encourage and identify opportunities for research of the Collection, developing the Museum’s reputation for academic excellence.
10. Develop the Videogame Heritage Society, increasing its impact and reach.
11. Create and deliver new ways of telling the stories of people whose lives have been transformed by games.
People management
12. Line manage the Programme & Collections Manager, assigning their goals including planning exhibitions, monitoring and reporting, staff training and annual appraisal.
13. Lead the Programme team, setting vision, deliverables and benchmarks for the programme.
14. Define and communicate values, strategies, and objectives; work with the Programme Manager to build a team culture of delivery, innovation and communication.
Stakeholder management
15. Report to the Trustee Board on the Programme, amending and updating based on their directives.
16. Lead Museum Advisory Board meetings, consulting them on the Programmes and agreeing policies and schedules, working with the Programme & Collections Manager.
17. Attend and represent the Programme at the charity’s Executive Board.
18. Work closely with the Director of Visitor Experience and the VE team to ensure a collaborative approach to the marketing and delivery of the Programme, monitoring and impact surveys, including publication of the interpretative schedule well in advance.
19. Work with the Chief Executive and fundraisers to provide information for grant proposals and reports.
Who you will work with
The Creative Director will work closely with the following members of the team:
● Report to the CEO, who founded and leads the charity.
● Director of Visitor Experience, whose team operates and markets the NVM day to day.
● Chair of Trustees, who leads the Trustee and Museum Advisory Boards.
● Programme & Collections Manager, who leads the Curatorial, Learning and Tech teams day to day.
Essential criteria
Qualification: None
Knowledge: Museum/exhibition design and curation; museum accreditation; strategic development in museums or a related industry (heritage/arts/creative); fundraising and/or working to funder guidelines; project and budget management;
Experience: Long-term experience leading in museums, heritage and/or creative arts; development and delivery of high impact, multi-strand educational or public-facing projects; hybrid digital/offline exhibitions; learning programmes in museums; audience development;
strong experience of line management.
Skills: Creative skills; strategy development; excellent communications skills; leadership and motivation; negotiation; multi-tasking and prioritisation under pressure; self-starter; creative problem solving and adaptiveness; working within a small team in a creative industry.
Desirable criteria
● Experience of videogames such as videogames development, technology and history
● A professional museum qualification such as (but not limited to) Museum Studies, Heritage Management, Associateship of the Museums Association.
● Charity or independent arts organisation experience
● Management and leadership training
● Experience of working at a senior leadership level
● Experience of presenting to and writing for the media
How to apply
Applications should be emailed in the form of attached cover letter and CV to [email protected] with the subject: Creative Director Application [your full name].
Applications without a cover letter may not be considered.
The deadline for applications is 5pm 17 September 2021.
We offer interested candidates the opportunity for an informal conversation or informal hosted visit to the National Videogame Museum with the current Exec team. Please email [email protected]
Initial interviews will be held by video call within 3 weeks. We are expecting to undertake 2 rounds of interviews for this position.
How we interview
● All candidates and applications will be considered and responded to within a reasonable time frame.
● We encourage all candidates to apply and will make the interview process accessible according to different candidates’ needs.
● We will typically shortlist 3-5 candidates from the list of applicants.
● We will provide interview questions in advance.
● We will interview via video call.
● Video interviews will be conducted using Google Hangouts which allows captioning.
● Interviewers will give their pronouns during the introductions.
● We will tell shortlisted candidates why we shortlisted them for interview
● After the interview, we will provide feedback to unsuccessful candidates within a reasonable time frame.
● We may conduct second round interviews with 1-3 candidates before offering one the role.
● The BGI’s probationary period is 3 months.