Association of British Orchestras

Artist Development Manager

National Centre for Early Music £25k-£30k (£15k-£18k pro-rata) according to experience Closing date 10 July 2023
We're looking for a highly motivated Artist Development Manager with experience of working with early career musicians, who has a passion for widening access to creative careers. As Artist Development Manager you will play a crucial role at the NCEM which has the development of emerging musicians at our core. We’re seeking dynamic and collaborative candidates with excellent communication and inter-personal skills who will be able to build rapport with young people and partner organisations.

In your role you will manage our key artist development projects – the NCEM Young Composers Award (annual), the International Young Artists Competition (biennial) and the New Generation Baroque Ensemble. You will work closely with the Artistic Director to ensure our work with young artists and participants is of the highest quality and links into our overall artistic vision. As the International Young Artists Competition is biennial, this offers time and opportunity to create and develop relationships with musicians, Conservatoires, Universities and Festivals across the UK and beyond. You will be supported by the Director of Finance and Operations and delivery teams, and a highly engaged Board of Trustees.

Key responsibilities:
1. Delivering the NCEM Composers Award from design stage to premiere, involving:
- Concept design, publicity and distribution, and application process
- Liaison with ensemble, BBC R3, composer-mentor, and young composers
- Preparation for the award day and livestream, and premiere

2. Delivering the International Young Artists Competition
- Communication with young artists, conservatoires & universities across UK & beyond
- Liaison with judges, artistic advisers, mentor, competition partners and prize-givers
- Design of application process and competition launch
- Preparation for shortlisting and competition week
- Arranging prize-winners recording (in association with Linn Records) and concert

3. Liaison for New Generation Baroque Ensemble
- Attending regular meetings with BBC R3 and RCM, and maintaining liaison between partners and ensembles
- Generating interest from UK based young ensembles in the scheme
- Supporting the scheduling for the current New Generation Baroque Ensemble
- Organising NCEM residencies & performances, plus annual workshops at RCM

4. New Commission Opportunities for Young Composers Alumni
- Sharing new commission opportunities with NCEM Young Composers Alumni
- Liaison with composer, and partner ensemble re contract and performance

5. Liaison for The Minster Minstrels, the NCEM’s early music performance ensemble for school-aged children, run in association with York Music Centre.

6. Build and develop relationships with musicians, conservatoires, universities and festivals across the UK and beyond, sharing NCEM’s development opportunities, advocating for the NCEM and identifying and exploring new opportunities for emerging young early music ensembles and composers.

7. The NCEM engages with diverse artists in a range of genres reflecting the diversity of our community and has developed an inclusive mindset within our teams in order to welcome people from a wider range of backgrounds to the NCEM. This role will involve continuous development of our projects and increasing communication with wider communities to ensure that NCEM engages with a wider range of voices, ensuring that our work is inclusive and relevant for the cultural industry and those seeking to engage with it. This will involve working alongside the NCEM Directors, developing opportunities and seeking funding to enable their fruition.

Place of work
The normal place of work is the NCEM in York, but we welcome conversations around work schedule and place of work, noting that the role requires being at the NCEM regularly for meetings, plus various key dates within each project (eg Composers Award – each May, International Young Artists Competition – July 2024, 2026 etc, appropriate residencies and performances etc). There will be occasional travel within the UK and potentially in Europe.

Schedule of work
This is a Part Time role, eg 3 days per week or 24 hours per week. We will consider a range of flexible models and invite applicants to propose their preferred working pattern. The project nature of the role requires some flexibility in working hours. The NCEM operates a Time Off in Lieu (TOIL) system.

To apply, please read the full job description, and then either:
• send a copy of your CV and a covering letter (including details of two referees) to Cherry Fricker, Director of Finance & Operations either by post to St Margaret’s Church, Walmgate, York, YO1 9TL or via email to cherry.fricker@ncem.co.uk
• submit a video/audio recording explaining how you meet the personal specification, including relevant experience and details of two referees

Application timeline:
Deadline for applications is Monday 10th July (5pm)
First interviews will be held on Thursday 20th July
Second interviews will be held on Thursday 27th July

Contact details

cherry.fricker@ncem.co.uk
01904 632220
National Centre for Early Music
St Margaret's Church
Walmgate
York
YO1 9TL

Annual Conference

The next ABO conference will take place in Gateshead,
hosted by The Glasshouse ICM, from 5-7 February 2025.