Opportunity: Freelance Building co-ordinator The Bureau Centre for the Arts are looking for an individual to join our team as a Building Co-ordinator for 18 hours per week on a freelance basis. We are a small community-led art space where we all get involved in a bit of everything and share our creativity, ideas and a passion for the arts. We welcome someone who can primarily manage the building day-to-day (day / evening shifts), organise and promote events, liaise with the public, artists and partners and manage and comply with health and safety policies and procedures. 

The Building Co-ordinator’s primary role is responsibility for the day-to-day management of the building, ensuring that the public, staff, artists and partners find The Bureau a welcoming, inclusive and safe place to be. They will also play a key role in promoting and marketing the events programme through social media and in person. 

Employer: The Bureau

Hours: 18 hours per week ( usually 6 hrs per day Thurs - Sat unless required for occasional events happening on other days) Flexible shifts to be agreed within the team ie: day or evening

Fee: £20 per hour freelance fee 

Contract: 48 weeks- could be extended dependent on future funding (freelance)

References: All offers of employment are subject to receipt of two references.

Pension and National Insurance: Freelance practitioners are responsible for your own tax, NI and pension contributions, and PLI 

Location: The Bureau Centre for the Arts, 5 Exchange St, Blackburn.

Application Deadline: Sunday 27th September

Interviews: Week of Thurs 1st/ Fri 2nd October

Start Date: From October depending on notice and availability

About The Bureau Centre for the Arts

The Bureau Centre for the Arts is an Independent Grassroots Artist-led Organisation that ethically partners with Artists, Communities, Local Authorities, and other bodies in Lancashire, nationally, and internationally.

We have no core funding but rely on funding bids, donations and income from ticketed events, workshops and room hire.

We are led by a core of three directors and a changing team of freelancers, working together to create positive change in the town, based in The Bureau’s home on Exchange St.

The Bureau runs a full programme of multi-disciplinary events, exhibitions, workshops, activities and social groups over three days Thursdays to Saturdays.  

The Bureau Centre for the Arts CIC (not for profit) was set up on 10th March 2015 as an independent, grassroots, artist led, community Arts Centre to be a creative home and hub for the people of Blackburn.

For 11 years we have provided a space for arts activities, exhibitions, performances, music, cultural events and community participation.

We have regular weekly activities, plus exciting one off events that create a full programme of accessible arts experiences and opportunities for all to enjoy.

We offer a broad range of opportunities for people to engage in arts and culture, which is innovative, relevant to contemporary issues and to our surrounding communities.

We will support the existing creative community, welcome new collaborators and support people to reach their full potential .

We are a place for people from the different & diverse communities of Blackburn (particularly those who historically face barriers to participation) to experience, share and create art and culture.

The team are passionate about affecting change within the borough in terms of the arts available to people, people’s perceptions of what the arts are for, and the benefits gained by their engagement.

We are experienced socially engaged artists, educators and producers who work alongside other freelance artists and facilitators and an active team of local volunteers and work experience students.

We hold exhibitions of local and emerging artists’ work, and host theatre, poetry and music performances.

We have studio, workshop and meeting spaces to hire.

We are a place to meet, a place to connect, a place to learn, a place to experiment, a place to perform, a place to shine, a place to exhibit, a place to make a difference!

Ethos and operation

The Bureau is run by a collective of local freelance creative practitioners, collaborating to create a safe, engaging, creative community space with a broad range of activities and opportunities.

The organisation aims to be non- hierarchical, with the team of staff members sharing responsibilities, a flat pay scale, consensus decision-making amongst the team through WhatsApp and team meetings and a DIY culture and co-operative mindset.

We take a strong ethical stance both on the suppliers we use and the content we share, choosing to try to amplify the voices of those who find it harder to be heard; as well as the way we operate as an organisation..

We are still very much on our journey and are constantly seeking to refine and improve how we operate together.

Purpose of role

The Bureau Centre for the Arts are looking for an individual to join our team as a Building Co-ordinator for 18 hours per week on a freelance basis.

We are a small community-led art space where we all get involved in a bit of everything and share our creativity, ideas and a passion for the arts.

We welcome someone who can primarily manage the building day-to-day (day / evening shifts), organise and promote events, liaise with the public, artists and partners and manage and comply with health and safety policies and procedures.

The Building Co-ordinator’s primary role is responsibility for the day-to-day management of the building, ensuring that the public, staff, artists and partners find The Bureau a welcoming, inclusive and safe place to be.

They will also play a key role in promoting and marketing the events programme through social media and in person.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Play a key role in ensuring that the building is fit for purpose and compliant with all appropriate regulations (e.g. premises licence and building control) and that all the public spaces are ready for use.
• Lead on building operations and staffing ensuring timely set up for events and workshops.  
• Liaise with Directors, Freelance Practitioners and Artists who are visiting or working in the building.   
• Liaise with the public, artists, partners and staff ensuring The Bureau is a welcoming, accessible and a safe place to be. 
• Manage the day-to-day maintenance and cleanliness of the building liaising with any relevant organisations around repairs. 
• Act as the responsible person to ensure the effective and safe operation of The Bureau Centre for the Arts in accordance with its policies and procedures, such as First Aid, Fire Safety and Safeguarding.
• Coordinate and support volunteers work placements and Interns, including induction and ongoing training.  
• Assist in developing relevant building operational policies / procedures and to ensure that these are effectively implemented. 
• Overseeing daily box office operations and ticket sales and money handling.
• Promote events, exhibitions, and workshops via social media, websites, email newsletters, and local press. 
• Maintain accurate records, manage general office administration, provide data and feedback to evaluate project outcomes for funding reports.  
• Communicate with the Team and be involved in discussion and decision-making around programming, staffing and budgeting as an equal member of the collective and an integral part of the organisation; this could be through a combination of team meetings, WhatsApp chats and team socials.
• After a training and transfer period, take responsibility and a proactive approach to how the role develops whilst consistently meeting the needs of the day to day running of the organisation
• Working within the ethos of the organisation 
• Work with the team to develop the clear communication of why we do what we do, how we operate and what we deliver as part of an ongoing process.  

This is a Fluid and dynamic role that responds to the needs of the organisation.  The Role is managed through the collective endeavours of the team; therefore, there is no traditional line management structure for this role.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

We are looking to build a long term relationship with the right person who really understands who we are, how we operate, and what we want to deliver, and values what we do, and will become a key part of the collective driving the organisation forwards.

We are looking for applicants who share our values, demonstrated through education, voluntary roles, previous employment & work experience, or through personal projects.

We are looking for someone with passion for creating positive change and exploring alternative ways of working, with energy and drive to make things happen.

Essential Skills

• Experience of building management and day-to-day responsibilities.  
• Experience within a customer-facing environment.
• Excellent administration & organisational skills.
• Excellent communication skills 
• A general understanding of relevant health & safety legislation and its impact in a public building.
• Financially numerate, with the ability to manage money handling effectively. 
• A working knowledge of IT, including email, Google Docs and other systems. 
• Identifying with and subscribing to our underlying ethos
• Have or be keen to develop your hospitality and interpersonal skills that create a welcoming environment for all.
• Have a genuine passion for connecting communities and enabling access to the arts 
• Have social media proficiency to help promote activities and engage with the community online
• Be confident to be on-site before and after opening hours to help with building set up/ clear up and some caretaker responsibilities
• Be prepared to attend and input to team meetings
• Have or be willing to undertake training in First Aid, Safeguarding, Fire Safety Awareness and any other training relevant to the business

Desirable Skills

• Experience of working in an arts centre environment.
• Experience of acting as a fire warden and/or first aider.
• Experience of managing budgets. 
• Experience of event management.
• Experience of Social Media and Marketing. 
• Experience of making successful funding applications.  
• A practical hands-on approach and collaborative attitude.
• Understanding of and commitment to equal opportunities. 
• Contribute your own ideas and suggestions. At The Bureau, we foster an open idea-    sharing culture where everyone's views are valued.
• Communicate with confidence, warmth, and be an engaging presence when interacting with others
• Share our commitment to being an ethical and environmentally responsible organisation
• Bring a collaborative mindset and passion for contributing to an organisation that creates positive social impact through community engagement and the arts
• Embrace all opportunities to learn. With support from the team, you will shape your role to its full potential
• Value community engagement, ethical choices, collaborative team working and access to the arts for   all.

We are committed to the Arts Council England’s Creative Case for Diversity and recognise the inequalities within the sector.

We recognise that diverse perspectives drive creativity and innovation.

We are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive team that reflects the communities we serve in Blackburn with Darwen.

Therefore, we encourage applications from candidates who reflect the diverse nature of the local communities we serve in Blackburn with Darwen and across Lancashire, especially those likely to be underrepresented in the current cultural workforce.

We include anyone and everyone and welcome people on an equal basis.

If there are any ways in which we can support you during the application process or if you require any further information, please contact Kerris through Curator Space or call into The Bureau for a chat.

To Apply

To apply, please submit the following information to via CuratorSpace by Sunday 27th September

• Covering letter detailing why you are interested in this role with The Bureau Centre for the Arts and what you’d like to achieve (be concise - no more than two sides of A4)
• A copy of your CV
• References: Two educational / professional references required
• If you'd prefer to submit your cover letter in an alternative format, we’re happy to receive it as a video, blog,audio recording, or any format that works for you!

We encourage creativity, so feel free to get creative with your approach too!

Please note- as an organisation, for creative and environmental reasons we are ethically opposed to the use of AI, please don’t submit applications using AI.