POSITION: Senior Artist & Venue Coordinator
LOCATION: Adelaide Fringe & FringeWORKS
START DATE: 15 September 2025
END DATE: 30 June 2026 (role is likely to be extended year round)
REPORTS TO: Artist & Venue Manager
EMPLOYMENT: Full Time
SALARY: $70,000 - 72,000 per annum (pro rata), plus 12% superannuation
POSITION SUMMARY
The Senior Artist & Venue Coordinator is a systems thinker, will have a practical approach and hands on attitude. The role requires high level administration skills, with the ability to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously, communicate effectively and complete their work to a high standard in a busy environment. The role comprises a vital component in an agile team, implementing and growing Adelaide Fringe’s strategies and practices to actively move beyond the minimums in pursuit of a better experience for artists and venues.
The role provides guidance and offers team training on processes, and offers trouble shooting on key team projects applying a deep level of understanding of our festival landscape and stakeholders. The role will also support the Artist and Venue manager in guiding the team to deliver on goals, managing workloads and project progress.
The Senior Artist & Venue Coordinator will be responsible for the facilitation and management of the Adelaide Fringe Awards Program. This includes recruiting and managing a team of judges, liaising with Awards Partners, supporting in generating income through partnerships and new award opportunities for artist, and pushing for all eligible shows in the Fringe awards program to be seen by a judge.
The Senior Artist & Venue Coordinator is an integral team member in the development and implementation of the artist and venue registration (AVR) and ticketing platform (FringeTIX), distribution and systems strategy of Fringe Fund grants and provides support to other members of the Programs and Development Department.
About Arts Unlimited, the Adelaide Fringe Foundation
The Adelaide Fringe Fund distributes donations received into the Fringe Foundation, Arts Unlimited, to artists, venues and producers participating in the festival. We encourage bold ideas to take shape, aim to elevate diverse voices, and support all forms of expression that enrich our festival offerings. The Fringe Fund aligns to our ambition of being the most inclusive Festival in the world. The aim of the Fringe Fund is to remove the financial barriers for artists and venues to participate in Adelaide Fringe, as well as opportunities to collaborate with creative organisations to develop works—both opportunities contribute to the diversity of the Fringe program and development of audiences across all genres.
Adelaide Fringe Awards program
The Adelaide Fringe awards program recognizes outstanding events presented during the festival, with both weekly and overall festival awards. Judges, comprised of arts industry leaders and lovers, assess events across various genres, announcing weekly winners on social media and through eNews. These weekly awards highlight "must-see" events, while the end-of-festival awards celebrate the best of the entire program. Winning artists receive a "Weekly Winner" laurel to use in their marketing.
About Artists & Venues
The Artist & Venue team liaise with and provide support to Adelaide Fringe registered Artists and Venues and encourage participation from community locally and globally. This includes facilitating Artist and Venue registrations, planning and delivering professional development and information sessions for Artists and Venues, planning and producing artist and venue resources and events, managing artist and venue communications, producing the Adelaide Fringe Guide along with a host of other programs and opportunities to strengthen the Adelaide Fringe experience for artists and venues.
ORGANISATIONAL RELATIONSHIP
Department: Programs & Development
Supervises: Interns, Volunteers
Internal Liaisons: Director & CEO, Executive Directors, all Adelaide Fringe Managers, Volunteer Coordinator and other Adelaide Fringe staff as required
External Liaisons: Adelaide Fringe registered producers, artists and companies.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Artist and Venues
* Locate and encourage available venues suitable for Adelaide Fringe performances, installations and exhibitions, and in doing so, establish and cultivate ongoing stakeholder relationships with venue operators, managers and owners
* Liaise and support artists, presenters and venues to participate in the Adelaide Fringe
* Contribute to the development and implementation of the online artists’ venues registration platform (AVR), including development delivery, acceptance testing, training and support and review
* In conjunction with the Artist & Venue team produce a range of artist and venue resources both printed and digital, including but not limited to AVR resources, New Venue Handout, Artist Magazine, FringeWORKS Artist Guide, FringeWORKS Facebook page and Electronic Direct Mail
* Support the preparation of the Adelaide Fringe Guide (print publication) including, preparing raw data, editing and proofing in conjunction with Marketing and Partnerships teams
* In conjunction with the Artist & Venue team implement and manage communication with artists and venues including identifying new communication methods and tools
* Advocate, prepare and plan for more diversity within our active participants.
* Have a good understanding of the venue landscape, accessibility requirements and the needs of our artists and audiences with a lived experience of disability
* In conjunction with the Artist and Venue team investigate opportunities to support artists during the Festival to ensure their best possible success including identifying new communication methods, resources and tools. Including but not limited to leading the Focus Group to collect feedback and stakeholder needs.
* Ensure accurate data guides decision making processes and detailed annual statistics on artist and venue participation at the completion of each Adelaide Fringe are reported
Fringe Fund
* Lead the Fringe Fund strategy, including best practice, logistics and timelines, delivering the build and administration of the Artist Fund online applications process, draft MOU’s for recipients, ensuring requirements are met through an acquittal process.
* Seek and support funding opportunities to increase Fringe Fund outputs, in collaboration with private, philanthropic and government agencies.
* Support the Philanthropy and Development team in telling the story of the Fringe Fund impact, with quotes and data made available for grant acquittals, donor acquisition and an annual Donor Impact Report
* Annually assess acquittal data and feedback to track progress and identify areas for improvement
Adelaide Fringe Awards
* Deliver end to end planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of Adelaide Fringe’s awards programs. This includes managing the entire awards lifecycle, from initial concept to post-award support, ensuring the awards contribute to Adelaide Fringe’s strategic goals
* Recruit, train and troubleshoot for 200+ volunteer judges, coordinating online ticketing portal, reviewing judges capacity and obligations, selection, and recognition
* Support the Adelaide Fringe events delivery team in delivering an Awards Ceremony (broadcast) that celebrates excellence in our overall program and awards
* Grow the awards program through seeking new partnerships and opportunities to collaborate on awards that celebrate excellence and align to Adelaide Fringe’s vision
* Ensure all Award deliverables are facilitated including laurels, prize money and connections
* Support the Adelaide Fringe marketing team in marketing strategies to promote the awards recipients increasing program visibility.
* Annually assess surveys, ticketing data and feedback to track progress and identify areas for improvement
Team Dynamics
* Act as an ambassador for the organisational culture and values ensuring they are upheld and embedded
* Observe and follow all Work Health and Safety regulations and safe working practices
* Work closely with the Artist & Venue Manager to supervise and manage the greater Artist & Venue Team.
* Adelaide Fringe is committed to continuous improvement, this includes identifying opportunities to enhance program effectiveness, efficiency, and impact through ongoing evaluation improvement.
* Recruit, train and administer Artist and Venues Interns annually, contributing to strategy and reflecting on outcomes and opportunities
* At times where the Artist & Venue Manager may be travelling or unavailable lead the team culture and deliverables by collaborating and communicating in project conversations and conflict resolution.
Whilst this position description is a summary of the job and lists its key tasks, it is not a definitive list of all the tasks to be undertaken. Tasks can vary from time to time at the discretion of your Manager. To deliver services effectively, a degree of flexibility is needed and the employee may be required to perform work not specifically referred to above.
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA
* Demonstrated experience working with community, and a broad range of stakeholders
* Experience using online systems, CRM’s and data management
* Good knowledge of Adelaide Fringe – who we are and what we do. Understanding types and differences in Artist’s works presented in Fringe
* Exceptional people skills, with the ability to interact, liaise and communicate effectively and easily with a broad range of people in a professional and ethical manner.
* Skills in program/project management, including facilitation, planning, development, monitoring and evaluation
* Computer literacy in word processing, spreadsheets, scheduling, database and internet/email software, and the ability to create, update and maintain efficient and effective records management systems.
* High-level planning, time management and problem solving skills.
* Collaborative working style with the ability to work with a team and in a hands-on capacity.
DESIRABLE CRITERIA
* Demonstrated experience in event co-ordination, and delegate logistics within a conference or marketplace setting.
* Previous experience working in a Performing Arts environment is preferable.
* An understanding of national / international performing arts touring circuits and festival programming.
* Familiarity and knowledge of other major events, festivals and venues that relate to the programming of arts.
* Developed written skills and ability to coordinate the preparations of submissions and reports– including applications for funding and grants.
* Demonstrable interpersonal skills and a proven ability to develop genuine long-term relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, via email, telephone and in person.
* Comfortable with occasional public speaking and direction of participants in public spaces.
* Have a C class drivers licence.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
* Passionate, articulate and knowledgeable
* Innovative thinker with the ability to translate ideas into actions
* High level of attention to detail
* Self-reliant and self-motivated
* High level of organisational planning and problem solving skills
* Professional, good-humoured and solution-oriented, even in high-pressure situations and with competing deadlines.
* Patient, amiable and good humoured
* Models respect in all actions
VALUES
It is required by all staff to embrace the Adelaide Fringe values:
* Creative
* Adaptive
* Persistent
* Collaborative
* Passionate
MANIFESTO
It is required by all staff to embrace the Adelaide Fringe Manifesto:
1.We believe in challenging artists to be brave and audiences to be braver. Be brave with us.
2.We believe that we can inspire audiences to take risks, be inspired and DO IT AGAIN!
3.We believe in collaboration and that we can only push creative boundaries and innovate if we work together.
4.We are committed to cultural diversity, inclusivity, acceptance and continuously educating ourselves and others.
5.We believe in the cultural, social and economic force of the Fringe and the Arts.
6.We believe the Fringe is an important driver for South Australia – it drives outcomes for artists, venues, communities, businesses and the state.
7.We are committed to delivering a Fringe that offers the best possible experience to artists, venues and audiences.
8.We believe in the WOW! … a festival should transform a place and can transform your mind.
9.We are committed to minimising our impact on the environment and maximising our social impact on peoples' lives.
10.We listen and we are committed to continuous improvement