Sound Summit is looking for a creative, energetic and highly organised individual to work with the MusicNSW Creative Director , Eliza Sarlos, on the 2009 Sound Summit Festival.
Sound Summit exists to give musicians, producers, composers, promoters and fans the opportunity to interact, reflect and collaborate, building communities around what they do and exploring how they do it. The festival explores the depths and reach of independent, innovative music in Australia. Sound Summit is part of the This Is Not Art festival that happens annually for 5 days over the October long weekend. It is held in Newcastle, NSW, along with Electrofringe, National Young Writers Festival, Critical Animals and, for the first time in 2009, Crack Theatre Festival.
The Sound Summit Festival Directors Responsibilities include;
• Researching, curating and programming festival events (panels, workshops, performances and screenings)
• Managing event logistics
• Liaising with artists, festival partners, TINA.org, staff and volunteers
• Developing and maintaining creative and sponsorship partnerships with other national organisations
• Writing and acquitting grant applications to secure funding
The Ideal Candidate Would Have
• Excellent written communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work both in teams and in a close creative partnership
• Ability to function under pressure
• Attended Sound Summit and have an understanding of the nature of TINA
• Knowledge of independent music and the music industry in Australia and the broader international landscape
• Awareness of emerging practices and artists operating “beneath the radar”
• Previous experience with event organisation, irrespective of scale
• Passion and interest in furthering development of the Australian music community
• Commitment to building communities and networks
The position requires regular trips to Newcastle for TINA meetings, as well as to liaise with curators, managers and technical staff.
Further Information About Sound Summit
Since 2000, Sound Summit has given electronic and hip hop musicians, producers, composers, labels, promoters, industry and fans a chance to perform, discuss, learn, teach, interact and argue in front of an audience of like minded peers in an environment that allows for the global exchange of ideas, techniques and trends. In 2008 the festival dropped its genres and broadened its scope, inviting independent artists from around Australia and internationally to idea-share, skill-share and brain dump.
Sound Summit will continue the ethos of skill development, knowledge sharing as well as providing performance/networking opportunities for young artists and industry practitioners as it makes up an integral part of This Is Not Art, which in 2009 will be held from October 1 – 5, in Newcastle, NSW.
Sound Summit is part of This Is Not Art – Australias largest annual gathering of young media
makers, musicians, artists, writers and commentators. This is Not Art is run by the Octapod
Association and comprises a series of simultaneous festivals including Electrofringe, the
National Young Writers Festival, Critical Animals and the Crack Theatre Festival.. This is Not Art occurs annually for 5 days over the October long-weekend in Newcastle, NSW.
The position is not required to reside in Newcastle, however regular trips to Newcastle are required for TINA planning meetings, plus building networks with other local organisations and businesses. Electrofringe operates in a flexible and mobile manner, with Co-Directors communicating via electronic media (email and Skype) plus coming together for regular face-to-face meetings.
While the Festival Co-Directors earn a stipend for their work, this is intended as an honorarium only and covers a small fraction of the time, energy and hard work required to make Sound Summit possible. The position is primarily focused on supporting Australias creative music community, and offers to the successful applicant an exceptional career opportunity through experience and network building.
Please visit the websites for information on last years programming:
www.soundsummit.com.au and www.thisisnotart.org
Please Submit
• A short biography (max 2 paragraphs)
• A Curriculum Vitae (max 2 pages)
• A statement (max 3 pages) addressing the following
1. Your experience/involvement with music in Australia
2. Your knowledge of broader independent music activities internationally and locally
3. Your experience/involvement with Sound Summit or TINA
4. What themes/ practices / initiatives you would like to showcase as part of the
festival – (your vision for 2009)
5. Your experience of organising and promoting events or artists’ initiatives.
Deadline: COB Monday 16th March 2009
Enquiries: Eliza Sarlos | eliza@musicnsw.com | 0410 343 352
Submission Instructions
Please submit all applications as Word, RTF or PDF documents by email to eliza@musicnsw.com with SS2009 CO-DIRECTOR APPLICATION in the subject line.
Interviews to be conducted in late March 2009. Decision announced directly, with the position commencing immediately.