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Position:
Program:
Role type:
Location:
Salary:
APY Arts and Culture Field Officer
Tjanpi Desert Weavers
Contract 1st March 2016 – 30th November 2016, Full time – 38 hours per week
(potential for on-going contract).
Alice Springs, with extensive travel to NPY region communities
$54,102 - $66,657 (dependent on experience) Total earning potential: $70,378 $84,578
About Us
Tjanpi Desert Weavers (Tjanpi) has established a national reputation for artistic excellence, innovation,
cultural integrity and quality in fibre art through its program of activities and services.
Tjanpi Desert Weavers was initiated by NPY Women’s Council in 1995 in response to an expressed need by
Anangu women for meaningful and culturally appropriate employment. Since 1995, Tjanpi (meaning ‘dry
grass’) has evolved into a vital and dynamic Indigenous social enterprise of NPY Women’s Council and enables
women on the lands to earn a regular income from selling their fibre art. More than 400 Aboriginal women
artists across 350,000 square kilometres of the Central and Western Desert region of Australia come together
on country to create beautiful, intricate and whimsical fibre art.
Tjanpi holds a number of exhibitions throughout the year in public institutions and with commercial galleries
both nationally and internationally and retails its work to wholesale outlets across Australia.
About the role:
The Arts and Culture Field Officer role is responsible for encouraging and supporting the production of art
works by fibre artists on the APY by facilitating a regular workshop program of arts development both to
consolidate current practice and to introduce new ideas and techniques, provide a regular presence to
distribute materials and purchase artworks directly from fibre artists, including engaging in feedback on quality
practice, increasing the professional and artistic profile of fibre artists on the APY Lands, liaising with fibre
artists and other stakeholders in the development of special projects and cultural events.
More specifically, you will:
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Be mindful of the exhibition needs of the Enterprise throughout the calendar year and facilitate the
creation of works for specific shows.
Liaise with sales and marketing team on product lines and supply.
Provide artists with relevant advice and feedback on their arts practice, money story, and governance
matters and promote an awareness of marketplace expectations and conservation issues.
Negotiate product development including the introduction of new techniques and materials.
Source, order and supply art materials to fibre artists and remote outlets.
Be responsive to joint and group projects and nurture relationships with Art Centre Managers with
APY Lands Art Centres.
What we are looking for:
• Previous experience working/teaching in an arts practice environment.
• Demonstrated time management and organisational skills including the ability to set priorities and
work with limited supervision.
• Excellent cross-cultural communication skills and proven ability to work with Aboriginal people as part
of a team and with the wider Tjanpi Desert Weavers staff.
• A demonstrated commitment to empowerment and facilitating artistic/cultural and economic
development.
• Highly developed written and oral communication skills.
• Desirable - Knowledge of Aboriginal art market
What’s on offer:
We can offer you the opportunity to work alongside a dedicated and skilled group of people who are
committed to working within the NPY Lands for the benefit of Aboriginal people in the region. The work can be
challenging but the rewards are significant.
This role will see you develop close, working relationships with Indigenous women to support their artistic
practice. In the process you will gain valuable insights into Indigenous lives, Indigenous arts and Indigenous
culture as well as working in remote, beautiful parts of this Country.
You will be a part of an award-winning social enterprise that has a national profile and is driving artistic
practice in new and innovative ways. If you have the passion, drive and willingness to learn, we can provide
you with the support you need to achieve success and drive your arts teaching career forward.
*The remuneration package on offer is equivalent of $70,378 - $84,578 which includes base salary, 9.5%
superannuation, 5 weeks annual leave with 17.5% leave loading, salary sacrifice tax benefits to increase your
weekly take home pay, and retention bonus.
We are committed to building a respectful and inclusive workplace, appointing the best person for the role,
supporting diversity. All information will be held in the strictest of confidence.
To find out more about this position, please contact the People and Workplace Service team on
recruitment@npywc.org.au or visit http://www.npywc.org.au/recruitment/ for more information about our
recruitment process and what it’s like to work for us.