Artistic Director and Chief Executive

Belfast International Arts Festival; Belfast; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Belfast International Arts Festival seeks an Artistic Director and Chief Executive to succeed Richard Wakely. This pivotal role involves leading the largest contemporary arts festival in Ireland, fostering global connections, inclusivity, and showcasing diverse performances across Belfast.

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, and grow the annual celebration of contemporary performing arts.
• Curate programs and ensure inclusivity and diversity.
• Manage and represent the festival.

Job description

Join to apply for the Artistic Director and Chief Executive role at Belfast International Arts Festival.

Employer: Belfast International Arts Festival

Artistic Director and Chief Executive

Belfast International Arts Festival is seeking an Artistic Director and Chief Executive to replace Richard Wakely, who steps down at the end of 2025 after successfully leading the organisation and curating the programme over 13 editions. We want you to help us continue to lead, develop, and grow this exciting annual celebration of contemporary performing arts from home and abroad to audiences from across the city and beyond.

Belfast International Arts Festival is the largest international festival of contemporary arts in Ireland and one of the oldest across the UK and Ireland. Established in 1962 as Belfast Festival at Queen’s, reconstituted in 2015, and rebranded as Belfast International Arts Festival, it takes place every October and November across Belfast, at various indoor and outdoor locations, ranging from large-scale to intimate settings. Our values emphasize global connections, contemporary and interdisciplinary arts practice, community, collaboration, and access and diversity.

The festival is committed to being an inclusive employer and recruiting a workforce as diverse as the communities we serve. We welcome applicants regardless of how you identify or your background.

A full candidate’s information pack with application details is available on our website.

Application closing date: 5pm on Friday, 4 July

Seniority level

• Executive

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Design, Art/Creative, and Information Technology

Industries

• Performing Arts