Cultivating spaces for extraordinary artists
Recruitment Q & A
This is a dedicated Q&A section on the website for questions about the Director (New Art West Midlands) role and the DASH Curator role.
We will update the content in response to incoming questions.
If you have any questions about these positions, please email: info@dasharts.org
Please include the position you are applying for in the subject header of your email.
To receive a link to the Q&A video please email us: info@dasharts.org
Questions Asked:
Q: What is the level of funding for core project/activity programme for the New Arts West Midland budget per year?
As part of DASH NPO, we were awarded £35K per annum for NAWM over 3 years (now extended to 4 years, subject to a successful application). This funding pays the NAWM director’s salary with a small % going to DASH admin. There is some resource for programme and possible match funding to Arts Council England (ACE) to extend the programme. Discussions with ACE have been positive, but there is more fundraising and development work to do.
Q: Is the funding expectation from the 6 university art schools still in place or will that need to be renegotiated as part of the NAWM Director post?
Heather has been consulting with the university partners and this does need to be re-thought with new discussions. Not because of lack of interest, more that the funding climate has changed post Covid and our university partners landscape has also changed.
At a national level, she has been developing potential partnerships with CVAN national, CVAN East Midlands, as well as Midlands Metropolitan University Hospital. All of which have expressed interest & warmth for the new NAWM Director to take this forward, once they are in post.
Q: I would like some clarification regarding the eligibility of non-UK citizens applying for these roles. I'm currently based abroad (South Africa) and do not have a British working visa or any form of work permit for the UK.
A: Unfortunately, we are unable to extend this offer to individuals who are not UK citizens due to visa restrictions. The salary for this position does not meet the required threshold for sponsorship and international hires under UK permit laws.
Q: I want to ask if the Curator position can be filled by an applicant who isn't physically based in the UK? I am a curator and oral historian based internationally (India) who works with cultural institutions in the UK.
A: To effectively fulfil the responsibilities of the DASH Curator or NAWM Director, it is essential to be based in the UK. The position requires travelling, networking and working in various locations across the West Midlands. The ability to engage directly with local artists, audiences, communities, art institutions and stakeholders is key to the success of the role.
The curator will be responsible for the ‘Future Curators Programme’, a residency programme for Disabled curators within visual arts institutions. This is a partnership with 7 organisations: Wysing Arts Centre, MIMA (Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art), John Hansard Gallery, Disability Arts Online, Arts Catalyst, Midlands Art Centre and Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange. Therefore, visiting our partners and building strong communications and relationships with members from those organisations is important.
Q: I saw that the working conditions were listed as flexible, hybrid, fortnightly team meetings in-person. What would the fortnightly working look like in practice? How will the split between working remotely and onsite be like?
A: DASH does not have a permanent base. At the moment, the team meets fortnightly for the day at the Ikon Gallery in Birmingham. The day can start from 10/10:30am and finish at 4/5pm, but this can change depending on what is happening or being programmed at the time.
This is an opportunity to gather and strengthen our relationships, foster trust and collaboration amongst team members. Face-to-face meetings often facilitate more dynamic and interactive discussions, enabling real-time problem-solving and decision-making processes that may be more challenging to achieve remotely and online. However, a member of our team is based in Greater Manchester, so sometimes, she join us remotely via Zoom/Teams to be part of our fortnightly meetings.
The split between remote and onsite working will vary according to our programme of work and adjust based on upcoming events. There may be busy periods with frequent visits to partner organisations and quieter times during the planning of projects.
We understand that travelling has its challenges and it’s different for each for each person depending on their personal needs, family circumstances or access requirements. DASH is constantly re-looking at we how we do things, so if our meetings doesn't suit one of the team members, we have to adapt and make changes.
Q: Please could you clarify the salaries for both roles, because they seem shockingly low!
A: Our part-time director job is £38,000 per annum, which means a salary of £22,800 for 3 days work, plus pension & holidays. Our curator job is £32,000 per annum, which equates to a salary of £19,200 for 3 days work, plus pension & holidays. We bench marked our salaries across the arts sector and they are fully flexible in terms of when these hours are worked.
In some of our social media adverts, we decided to say what you would you actually get paid, as we thought that would be the clearest! It’s not normally done this way, and this is a helpful comment as other people might also be thinking the same.
Q: In terms of access requirements, the information that you said you will send is already filling a lot of my needs however, please could you send information on the dress code for the interviews with visual examples.
A: We do not have a dress code at DASH, we are happy wearing jumpers/t-shirts and jeans, and sometimes a smart dress or jacket might make us feel good.
We want you to be happy, comfortable and relaxed if you are called for interview.
The link to this DASH blog post will give you an example of how we dress when we have a team meeting.
Q: Candidates have the option of submitting the second part of their application in writing, by film / audio (noted re. max 7 mins) or by collage, and I wanted to ask if there is a preference from your side, as recruiters?
A: We do not have a preference. We want you to be able to express yourself in whichever way is most accessible for you.
Q: Where will the fortnightly DASH team meetings take place?
A: The NAWM Director and DASH Curator will be expected to meet in person once a fortnight, which involves travelling to the Ikon Gallery, 1 Oozells Square, Brindleyplace, B1 2HS, where our team meetings take place. The closest train stations are Birmingham New Street, Snow Hill and Moor Street, which are all a 20-25 min walk.
For more info on how to get to the Ikon Gallery visit the website.
Q: For my CV, is it OK to include more information about my relevant experience?
A: Of course! It's absolutely fine to include more information about your relevant experience on your CV. In fact, providing details about your past roles, projects and achievements is your opportunity to showcase your strengths and experiences. Feel free to highlight the aspects that are most relevant to the person specification. Just be mindful to keep it concise and limit your CV to no more than 3 pages to ensure it's easy to read and doesn't overwhelm the readers. If you have any further questions or need assistance with formatting or content, please don't hesitate to ask!
Q: Is the second part of the application (proposal) about responding to the questions asked?
A: Yes, as well as a written CV, we are asking applicants to respond to three questions. You can answer those questions using one of these formats:
- A written proposal (max. 1000 words)
- A film (max. 7 mins)
- An audio recording (max. 7 mins)
- A visual collage or drawing*
*Please email a digital photo of your collage/drawing or WeTransfer your audio recording or film. We are unable to accept submissions in the post.
Q: If I make it to second interview stage, is there chance to discuss how the presentation takes shape?
A: DASH will provide Interviewee Info packs with clear instructions to help candidates feel comfortable and prepared, minimising unexpected elements during the interview process. The packs will include details about the interview panel members, and we will offer technical support (both online and in-person) such as: testing audio/video/internet, helping you set up and doing a presentation run through (if needed).
Q: Could you please clarify if the curator role is open to individuals with dyslexia?
A: This role welcomes individuals with dyslexia, as well as those from protected characteristic backgrounds who have encountered barriers and discrimination that has hindered their ability to realise their full potential in employment.
DASH defines neurodivergent individuals as those who have neurological differences that may affect the way they process information, interact with others or navigate the world. This includes conditions such as: autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, dyspraxia, Tourette syndrome, and other neurodevelopmental conditions.
Thank you and Good Luck!