Artistic Director

Title: Artistic Director / CEOReporting to:  Voluntary Board of DirectorsLocation:  This is a remote working position, and the Director can be located anywhere in Ireland. Flexibility to travel around Ireland is a key requirement of the position. Status: Full-timeSalary: Commensurate with experience region 48,000 euro per annumClosing date: 5pm, Friday 22 August 2025Please submit a copy of your CV and a letter of application outlining your suitability for the role no later than 5pm on Friday 22 August to festivalinavanapps@gmail. comPlease note that it is intended to hold first interviews for the position the week of 1 September.

 ABOUT FESTIVAL IN A VANEstablished in 2020 as a mobile live arts event, Festival in a Van brings free, live performance to your door. A trad session at your window, a classical concert on the green, or actors proclaiming in the garden, the van tours nationwide, bringing the magic of live performance to communities across Ireland. Able to drive anywhere and everywhere, Festival in Van focuses on meaningful engagement with communities who are important to reach, who might face barriers to attending traditional venues.

Across all programmes, there is a strong emphasis on community building and integration, wellbeing and belonging, supporting and platforming local artists, and utilising the arts as a tool for social transformation. The van has been transformed into a mini-mobile venue, equipped with a stage, a set, lights, sound equipment, and a two-man technical crew. We create performances in places like parks, housing estates, refugee communities, care homes, rural town squares, and more; making fun arts experiences part of life for everyone.

Supported by Creative Ireland and the Arts Council, and led by a team of arts professionals, Festival in a Van is bringing live performance to a neighbourhood near you. In 2025 we: Delivered the third iteration of Songlines, funded by the Arts Council, Wicklow Arts Office, and Monaghan Arts Office, which set out to cultivate an experience of connection, affirmation, and empowerment for residents living with dementia and cognitive impairment.

Created a collaborative, joyful concert experience with adults living with enduring mental health challenges in Galway and Dublin through the second iteration of The Jukebox Project funded by the Arts CouncilIn partnership with Creative Fingal and Fingal Community Development Office, toured Sounds Like Summer: Fingal Festival in a Van, to 12 locations across Fingal, which ranged from housing estates to refugee accommodation to youth groups, with a focus on belonging and creative placemaking.

In partnership with Sligo Baroque Music Festival, are co-delivering the Sligo Youth Opera, which supports young people in Sligo to devise, write, rehearse, and perform their own 20-minute opera, funded by the Arts Council. In partnership with Narrative4, NIYF, and RCity, are co-delivering Living Legends, which connects teenagers from Belfast and Limerick through the power of storytelling, funded by Creative Ireland. With the artist Geoff Finan, are delivering What Makes a Man, a series of spoken word workshops for young men in Oberstown Youth Detention Centre. Funded by the Arts Council with support from DCC Libraries.

In 2024, we employed 105 local artists across the country, and reached more than 4,000 people, with a significant focus on engaging with audiences who often experience barriers to accessing the arts. The work of Festival in a Van has a strong social mission, addressing isolation and inclusion and responding to the social needs of end users.  THE ROLE - DIRECTORThe individual we seek is multi-skilled, flexible, adaptable and adept at rising to the occasion.

As the sole employee of the company, working with a core team of freelance professionals, the role brings with it responsibility for finance and budgeting, producing and scheduling, ideas generation and collaboration with a wide range of partners and end users. The responsibilities of the role include, but are not limited to:

 Arts ProgrammingPlanning and implementing Festival in a Van’s touring programmeMaintaining a focus on community engagement and collaborationBooking and liaising with artistsLiaising with venues and locations FinancialBudgeting and financial controlBookkeeping (Proficiency with Quickbooks is an advantage)Processing payments Funding and StakeholdersIdentifying funding opportunities and making application to public and private funding bodiesDeveloping and maintaining relationships with funders and stakeholders including:

Creative Ireland, Arts Council, Local Authority NetworkDeveloping and maintaining relationships with partner networks for example festivals, social care networksReporting Programme developmentInitiating new ideas for tours and partner networksResponding to new social and community needs with Festival in a VanDeveloping strands for Private Hires TeamWorking with the Crew and Freelance ProducerAs necessary working with PR, Web developer, Social Media team GeneralWeb and social media management, promotion of events where necessaryMaintaining schedule of Board meetings, and reporting to BoardWorking with Accountants to ensure all Company legal and other requirements are met, including insurance, company returns etcWorking with freelance crew to maintain the VanAnd other responsibilities as may be required from time to time or are necessary to deliver the mission.

 THE PERSONThis role is suitable for someone who has experience in socially engaged arts / not-for-profit environments. In a previous role you may have engaged with excluded communities/ have a background in the charity or not-for-profit sector/ have come from local government/commercial sector but want to be part of meaningful changes on the groundThe person appointed will have: Programming events experience and a broad knowledge of the landscape of music, theatre, arts and performance. Experience of working within a socially engaged context is a significant advantage.

A minimum of two years’ experience of financial management in an organisation or projectDemonstrated capability to identify and source funding and deliver projects to a high standard on budgetDemonstrated administrative ability and problem-solving skillsDemonstrated production and technical knowledge in event management sufficient to deliver on the FIAV toursAbility to imaginatively maximise private sources of income including hiresStrong critical thinking skills, ability to find creative solutions and to be adaptable while working collaboratively with diverse artists, partners, and audiences across multiple sectors.  Personal qualitiesIt is essential that the person appointed can demonstrate initiative and be a self-starter.

The Director will work closely with a small team of freelancers and will direct and manage the work of the organisation. The ability to interact with, build, and maintain relationships with a wide range of individuals and organisationsFlexibility and adaptability combined with the ability to maintain focus on the mission of FIAVA commitment to equality and an awareness of how the arts contributes to inclusion. A flair for making the most of opportunities. Festival in a Van is an equal opportunity employer.

People of colour, disabled, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and others who may contribute to a rich diversity of perspectives and ideas are especially welcome and encouraged to apply. If you do not have all the prerequisites, but feel you have a significant amount of experience relevant to the role, we would still love to see your application. Please forward your application no later than 5pm on Friday 22 August to festivalinavanapps@gmail. com