Seeking director

Would you like to work at the intersection of visual arts, heritage, and nature? Does nurturing lasting international, multidisciplinary, and local collaborations excite you? Are you well-versed in the latest developments in contemporary art, and do you have a broad and individualized network in that sense? And are you capable of being a mentoring leader for a close-knit and diverse team? We are looking for someone like you!

Kunstfort bij Vijfhuizen, Island for Art and Heritage in the Netherlands is a unique art and heritage institution 20 kilometers from Amsterdam. In recent years, the Kunstfort has experienced a new blossoming period. Its artistic prominence has been honed and exhibitions and policy are of an international scope. In addition, the attention given to heritage, design, and architecture is more closely integrated with the visual arts programming. Likewise, embedding itself locally has become a key part of the Kunstfort’s activities. Its team has expanded and responsibilities within the organization have become more specialized. A Curator of Learning was recently appointed to further connect the program, heritage, education, and internal engagement as well as outreach.

Kunstfort is seeking an imaginative and amenable:

Director (24 hours)
The director carries the Kunstfort by formulating artistic and business policy, setting creative strategies in the areas of team management, programming, education, and communication, and acting as both its public face and the head of the entire fort island. The director acknowledges that the Kunstfort is an atypical place which thrives on original ideas and is a pleasant leader who allows colleagues to cultivate their personal qualities. The director takes the island’s ecology as a practical and thematic guideline, has a sense for different stakeholders and occupants, and is enthusiastic about the programmatic and organizational connection with both the art world and the field of heritage, in particular regarding the forts, polder, and water defenses. In line with the artistic vision, the director must demonstrate the skill of being a capable business manager and ensuring financial administration processes. The director formulates the program, writes the policy, leads the team, maintains internal and external (grant) relations, and handles funding applications. The director is interested in and has sufficient knowledge of working with national and local governments and will deepen their affinity with the politics, history, and (cultural) infrastructure of Haarlemmermeer and Haarlem.

The position can be filled by a director, curator, or other intermediary, but the committee is also open to applications from artists, creatives, and makers with relevant management experience. Although the current director held an individual appointment, applications from collectives with a structured internal organization are also welcome.

Profile
–You carry a sense of responsibility, are understanding, energetic, and conscientious.
–You have a suitable educational background and/or relevant work experience.
–You have leadership experience and are able to inspire colleagues.
–You are skilled in supporting and guiding artists in their process, and familiar with varied artist practices.
–You are committed to the societal dialogue on diversity and inclusion, and have clear views on decolonization and accessibility in the arts sector.
–You wish to actively participate in the networks of which the Kunstfort is a part (art, region, forts, sustainability).
–You have a basic command of written and spoken Dutch, and your English is good.
–You are willing to commit for a longer period of time.

Candidates with the following skills/characteristics are preferred:
–Well-acquainted with the arts and culture sector both internationally and in the Netherlands, including the funding landscape.
–Experience in working with volunteers.

What do we offer?
–A combined directorship and curatorship at an important arts platform in a large outdoor location within the Randstad which has growing (inter)national visibility and long-term subsidy agreements. 
–A leadership position with plenty of room to flourish in an extraordinary environment with a flexible yet close-knit team.
–On an already existent basis, steering the further development of the Kunstfort and its collaborations and public reach.
–A salary of 2400 EUR gross is offered for a 24-hour workweek, in accordance with the Guideline for job and wage structure for presentation institutions for visual arts (April 2019, De Zaak Nu).

Accessibility: the fort and the ground floor of the Genieloods are wheelchair accessible, but the office and the island peninsula – which form an important part of the heritage – are less accessible for now.

Organization
Kunstfort bij Vijfhuizen includes the fort island and surrounding area of approximately seven hectares, which encompasses various partners: a restaurant, local residents, volunteers, tour guides, studio tenants, artists-in-residence, bee meadows, and (military) landscaping. The office consists of 10 employees, freelancers, interns, and the entire organization involves around 30 volunteers. The working structure is horizontally oriented. The staff makes efficient use of fluid working methods, collaboration, and digital resources.

The Kunstfort is actively involved in achieving a healthy sector and subscribes to the Fair Practice Code, the Cultural Governance Code, and the Diversity & Inclusion Code.

In the interest of a smooth transition, current director Zippora Elders will remain involved with the Kunstfort until Spring 2022. The main programming has been covered until the summertime and a general multi-year plan is in place. This includes budgeting proposals as well as organizational management and human resources, plus a new HR handbook with guidelines covering diversity and accessibility.

A longer version of the vacancy with specified information on the job description and procedure can be found here. We are aiming to begin the new directorship by May 1, 2022 at the latest. 

Interested?
Please send a letter with your motivation (max. 2 pages) and CV no later than February 6, 2022, to sollicitatie@kunstfort.nl, citing “Application for Director.” Any questions may be addressed to irene@kunstfort.nl. Do you only partly see yourself in this job posting, or have doubts as to whether the position is right for you? Please contact us and we will gladly explain and assist you in your consideration. 

Employment agencies are expressly requested not to respond to this advertisement.