
FESTIVAL COORDINATOR

APPLICATIONS FOR THIS ROLE HAVE NOW CLOSED.
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO APPLIED.
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Puppets in Beverley Ltd. is looking for a highly motivated and experienced FESTIVAL COORDINATOR to help us deliver the 10th edition of Beverley Puppet Festival between March - July 2022.
Beverley Puppet Festival has become a firm fixture in the East Yorkshire events calendar and is a key event for puppeteers nationally and internationally. The public event will span 15th - 17th July 2022 and will include a programme of indoor and outdoor theatre performances for adults, children and families, workshops, networking events and community engagement sessions. The festival is made possible through funders such as Arts Council England and is run by non for profit organisation Puppets in Beverley Ltd.

Festival Coordinator - Job Description
Project: Beverley Puppet Festival 2022
Freelance employment period: March 2022 - July 2022 (24 days within this period)
Public festival dates: 15th - 17th July 2022 in Beverley, East Yorkshire
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Dates:
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1 day per week from w/c 7th March 2022 - w/c 4th July 2022. (18 days)
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12th - 17th July 2022 for immediate pre-festival preparation and event delivery. This period is not flexible and will need to take place in Beverley, East Yorkshire. (6 days)
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Location: Most of the preparation work can be done remotely but proximity to East Yorkshire is preferred (although not essential).
Fee: £3,000 (24 days @ £125 per day)
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Key roles: Volunteer coordination, trader coordination, arts administration, assistance with event management
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Deadline: Sunday 20th February 2022, midnight
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The Festival Coordinator will be supported by the Co-Artistic Directors to fulfil their role but our small team requires everyone to use initiative and take ownership of their responsibilities for the festival to be a success.
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VOLUNTEER COORDINATION
Puppets in Beverley relies on the generous support of volunteers to help deliver Beverley Puppet Festival. On average we engage 50 volunteers to help make the event happen.
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Leading the volunteer recruitment campaign to include social media posts, website listings, providing information to press partners, contacting community groups etc.
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Corresponding with volunteer applicants and filing/databasing their details
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Leading the creation of the volunteer schedule for the festival weekend and corresponding key information to volunteers
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Ensuring that all volunteers feel welcome and looked after, including paying attention to any volunteer access, health or dietary requirements in good time before the event
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Leading volunteer meet-and-greet sessions in the run up to the event, including distributing information about safeguarding, best practice and procedures
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Assist with preparing any materials that are needed for our volunteers, such as lanyards and information packs
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Managing the volunteers during the festival weekend itself. This will include checking in with volunteers throughout our festival performance areas, checking-in volunteers as they arrive and leave, ensuring volunteers have been fed and dealing with any volunteer-related issues which arise during the event.
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Assisting with collecting feedback from volunteers post-event to inform our evaluation
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We are passionate about ensuring our volunteers have a positive and fulfilling experience whilst donating their time to the festival. The Festival Coordinator needs to be positive, approachable, organised and have good people management skills.
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TRADERS & LOGISTICS
Beverley Puppet Festival relies on engaging a few key traders to present at the event. These range from food/drink outlets to craft stalls to fairground ride operators.
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Contacting potential local traders to seek interest in hiring a pitch at the festival
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Liaising with booked traders to ensure all requirements for delivery can be met (such as power outlets, set up times etc)
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Assisting with booking infrastructure elements for event delivery, such as portaloos and marquees
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Assisting with organising the 2022 Puppet Trail, which will see puppets hung up in local shops for audience members to find, to include contacting shops and local businesses to encourage participation.
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Assisting with general tasks in the run up to the event. This may include preparing artist packs, printing feedback forms, administrational tasks etc.
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Assisting with setting up the festival hub and venues. This may include putting up signage, preparing the box office, site decoration etc.
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DESIRABLE SKILLS
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Experience working within the arts / events / charity sector
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Experience with people management and coordination
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Good organisational skills and experience of working independently as well as in a team
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A visual and creative eye
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A ‘can do’ attitude
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A knowledge of the East Yorkshire region
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A First Aid certificate, driving licence and safeguarding training (not essential)
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HOW TO APPLY
Puppets in Beverley Ltd. is especially keen to hear from those who consider themselves from underrepresented groups within the creative industries workforce, including people with disabilities, those who experience racism and LGBTQIA+ people.
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APPLICATIONS FOR THIS ROLE HAVE NOW CLOSED.
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO APPLIED.
Please send a single-side A4 cover letter and CV to Kerrin Tatman at beverleypuppetfestival@gmail.com before 20th February 2022. Please include FESTIVAL COORDINATOR APPLICATION in the subject heading.
Interviews for shortlisted candidates will take place via Zoom in the w/c 28th February 2022.
Image credits: Header image by Les Gibbon