The Manager is responsible for the management of all aspects of Pormpuraaw Art and Culture Centre, including arts and artist support, administration, financial management, servicing an Aboriginal governing body, marketing/sales/promotion, funding, and cultural development/maintenance.

Key responsibilities are to:

• Support and encourage the development of artworks.
• Mentor artists and assist their vision for cultural maintenance and development.
• Supervise a small team.
• Build and maintain relationships with the Pormpuraaw community, artists, other community stakeholders as well as with the national art sector.
• Identify, secure and manage grant funding.
• Manage a range of annual art exhibitions (CIAF, Darwin Art Fair and Tarnanthi).
• Ensure the effective administration of the Centre, including payroll, budgets, stock control, sales, and SAM software.
• Communicate sensitively and effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people in accordance with community protocols and customs. This includes providing support for the elected Board.

The Art Centre Manager role is a unique opportunity to experience living in a remote community and work alongside artists to help develop their practice and support the Art Centre to grow.

The salary package includes accommodation, a relocation allowance, five weeks annual leave and 15 days of remote area leave per annum.

Pormpuraaw is a small Aboriginal community with a population of 750 people, located on the Gulf of Carpentaria, 700 kilometres and a nine-hour drive northwest of Cairns. The word Pormpuraaw means entrance to a house in Mungkan and Thaayorre Language. It is a remote and beautiful place located between two large river systems. During the wet season it becomes an island surrounded by water and can only be reached by plane.

Pormpuraaw Art and Culture Centre was established in 2011 as a not-for-profit enterprise and has since become the heart of Pormpuraaw community. Pormpuraaw artists have become world renowned for their works utilising recycled materials and ghostnets. The artists are strongly influenced by their connection to country, their clans, totems and stories passed down by elders. Other mediums used to share these stories include paintings, editioned prints, wood carvings and our two self-published books.

Pormpuraaw Art and Culture Centre provides:

• A safe, creative and educational activity space for artists and community members.
• Studio space, materials for painting, sculptures and print making.
• Opportunities for employment and earning independent income.
• A Keeping Place for culturally and historically important arts, artefacts, film, photographs, documents and language.

The Art Centre is strongly supported by its artists and governed by an active and representative Board of Directors. There are currently two positions at Pormpuraaw Art and Culture – the Manager which is full time and Assistant Manager which is part time.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Essential

• Arts administration experience.
• An understanding of the contemporary Aboriginal art sector.
• Ability to work, live and communicate in a remote, cross-cultural environment and to negotiate complex social and cultural issues.
• Curatorial skills, with a proven ability to assess works of art, nurture artistic talent and provide structured and sensitive feedback to artists.
• Ability to manage a business, including staff management, financial administration and efficient office procedures.
• Flexibility, ability to multitask and work in a high-pressure environment.
• Proficient IT skills.
• Current manual drivers’ licence and the capacity to travel in remote areas.

Desirable

• Understanding of copyright and intellectual property issues.
• Understanding and experience with Story Art Money (SAM) software.

The successful applicant will be required to obtain a National Police clearance and Working with Children clearance (on acceptance of position, and conditional to contract offer).

A position description is attached.