We are looking for a professional and experienced Visual Art Curator for the National Eisteddfod for a period of 3 years.

Background

Y Lle Celf is a national celebration of the visual arts and architecture in Wales, a shop window for the art world and a major attraction on the Eisteddfod Field. It is the Eisteddfod's visual arts gallery and is one of the most popular buildings on the Maes, attracting up to 40,000 visitors during the week. The gallery is home to the work of some of Wales' foremost artists. We are looking forward to resuming the planning and organisation of Y Lle Celf for the next three years, starting in Wrexham 2025.

Terms

Contract: 3-year, part time contract

Fee for work: £12,000 per year based on flexible hours work pattern as follows:

  • January – February [around 2 days for familiarisation and preparation]
  • Mar – Jul [around 2 days a week]
  • 01 – 14 Jul [around 3 days a week]
  • 15 Jul – 15 Aug [in the region of 24 days of work to include some weekends at the festival]

Location: Working from home with a period working on-site at the Eisteddfod during mid-July / early August as we begin building and curating Y Lle Celf, as well as running it at the time of the festival (2-9 Aug 2025 – Wrexham and 1-8 Aug 2026 - Pembrokeshire).

Accommodation will be arranged by the Eisteddfod for the Curator if they do not live locally - for the preparation week on the Maes (festival site), during the festival week and for the clear-up work etc

Visual Arts Curator Responsibilities

Curating and running Y Lle Celf exhibitions

  • Facilitate the work of the Selectors for the Open Exhibition and the Architecture Exhibition and collaborate and act on their decisions. (From the 2026 National Eisteddfod you will also be the Curator with a role as selector, i.e. there will be two guest selectors, and the Curator will be the third selector for the Open Exhibition);
  • To be the first point of contact for the successful artists and architects selected to gather and collate information required for the Open Exhibition and Architecture Exhibition;
  • Collaborate with the Coordinator to arrange contracts with the artists;
  • Working with the Y Lle Celf 'Couriers' (a courier and packing company will have been appointed for the Wrexham Eisteddfod) and the artists to arrange the safe transportation of artworks to/and from Y Lle Celf;
  • Plan, prepare and install Y Lle Celf Exhibitions annually in collaboration with the Eisteddfod Technical and Artistic team; including agreeing a timetable with the technical team to ensure at least 8 full days allocation for installation leading up to the Eisteddfod;
  • Advising and assisting with exhibition design, preparing work at the Eisteddfod Storage in Llanybydder, selecting and ordering audiovisual equipment, materials for exhibiting work etc., liaising with relevant Eisteddfod technical staff on the overseeing of the professional workforce, liaising with artists, and taking part in a follow-up review;
  • Develop the accessibility, diversity and inclusivity of the Lle Celf Exhibition to include environmental considerations; including labels, use of QR codes, vinyl signage etc.);
  • Collaborate with the Competition Manager to arrange the winners’ presentation ceremony on the main Pavillion Stage, and facilitate (with the coordinator) any press / media requirements;
  • Be on hand over the festival period to resolve any issues;
  • Be available for the dismantling of the exhibition and the returning of the artwork at the end of the festival for approximately 4 days – to clear, sort out, store and pack the artwork etc;
  • Work closely with volunteers and stakeholders in running of Y Lle Celf during the week of the Eisteddfod (the Coordinator will be assisting with the work).

Professional Engagement

  • Creating and building relationships on behalf of the Eisteddfod in the field of Visual Arts in Wales and beyond;
  • Collaborate closely with the Competitions Manager and the Promotions and Marketing Manager to promote the opportunities/prizes @YLleCelf;
  • Developing the partnership between the Eisteddfod with partners, such as the Design Commission of Wales and the Royal Society of Architects in Wales, as well as the galleries of Wales and beyond, and finding renewed partners from year to year.

Y Lle Celf's Artistic Programme

  • Collaborate closely with the Coordinator who will be liaising with the local committees regarding Y Lle Celf artistic programme leading up to and during the Eisteddfod week;
  • Collaborate closely with the Coordinator and artistic team of the Eisteddfod to develop the Visual Arts Programme for Y Lle Celf, to include events such as workshops, panel discussions, and multi-media events in Y Lle Celf and throughout the Eisteddfod Maes. The Coordinator will manage the programme.

Promotion and Marketing

  • Work closely with the Eisteddfod's Promotion and Marketing Manager. A schedule of important dates will be agreed between the Curator and the Marketing Manager in order to prepare specific content at the right time as the Eisteddfod approaches, including promoting the Opening;
  • Collaborate closely with the Coordinator and a professional Editor to prepare Visual Arts material for publication e.g. for a press release, catalogue etc. (The Coordinator will be responsible for organizing the translation, design and printing of the catalogue);
  • Collaborate with the Co-ordinator to arrange the documentation of Y Lle Celf (e.g. films and photographs)

Sponsorship and Budget

  • Identify and prepare grant applications - and agree on targets with the help of the artistic team;
  • Work closely with the Director of Finance and Operations / Artistic Director on budget forecast and management.

Personal Skills

  • Use of the Welsh language, whether fluent, basic understanding or/and a commitment to learning the language;
  • Experience working in the Visual Arts;
  • Experience of curating visual artwork in professional galleries, i.e. of planning, preparing and installing Visual Art Exhibitions;
  • Good communication skills and therefore the ability to communicate effectively for getting the job done;
  • Ability to work as a freelance as well as working closely as part of a team;
  • Ability to work effortlessly and methodically with a wide range of people including stakeholders and partners;
  • Relevant computing capacity;
  • Good organisational and collaboration skills;
  • A flexible approach to work and adaptability to changing workloads;
  • Flexible and able to respond to opportunities and solve problems, dealing effectively with diverse partners and artists.

The Eisteddfod will assist the Curator by:

  • Holding an initial meeting to establish a close relationship with Eisteddfod staff members – facilitating the work and discussing responsibilities as part of a team; sharing a wider timetable in preparation for the Eisteddfod, e.g. timeline for the work involved – selecting the gold medal winners, preparing information for the Programme, agreeing the layout of Y Lle Celf, packing and clearing of Y Lle Celf;
  • Share folders/ provide a password for google drive/ one drive – to access relevant Eisteddfod documents;
  • Refreshments will be provided in a food tent for staff during the week of installation of Y Lle Celf, and during the festival itself;
  • There will be wi-fi on the Field for staff, and an IT Manager will install a remote desktop file on the Curator's laptop.

If you would like further information about this role, please contact Mererid Velios on: yllecelf@eisteddfod.cymru

Alternatively, we ask that you provide an up-to-date CV along with a letter stating why you are interested in this role, and what excites you about it – by email to: elen@eisteddfod.wales 

Closing Date: Wed 18 December 2024, 17:00.

Interviews will be conducted: Thursday 9, Friday 10 January 2025, over Zoom
 

Closing date: 18/12/2024
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