FORMAT Festival Programme Co-Ordinator

Arts Council England; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 14,000; Part time

Job summary

Arts Council England is seeking a Festival Programme Co-Ordinator for FORMAT27, a fixed-term freelance role running from October 2026 to April 2027, based across Derby. The role focuses on planning and delivering the FORMAT launch weekend, plus supporting the wider festival programme with artists, venues, volunteers and partners.

The candidate will lead on coordinating exhibitions, talks, markets and portfolio reviews, while ensuring an engaging visitor experience and compliance with

Qualifications

• Experience coordinating arts or cultural festivals, events or projects.
• Excellent planning and organisational skills, able to manage multiple priorities.
• Strong communication and collaboration with partners, venues and volunteers.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate planning, logistics and delivery of FORMAT27 festival events.
• Oversee launch weekend, exhibitions, talks, markets and reviews with partners and venues.
• Manage travel, accommodation, technical requirements and on-site operations.
• Support production planning, budgeting, contracting and programme administration.
• Contribute to marketing, ticketing, KPI monitoring and reporting to Arts Council England.

Skills

Project management

Communication

Festival coordination

Budgeting

Tools

Microsoft Office

WordPress

Adobe Creative Suite

Social media

Job description

Tue, 04 Aug 2026">published - Tue, 04 Aug 2026

Job Summary

QUAD and FORMAT International Photography Festival are seeking an experienced and ambitious Festival Programme Co-Ordinator to join the team on a fixed-term, freelance contract from October 2026 to April 2027.

Job Description

Fixed Term Freelance Fee: £12,000 (60 days during the period from 5 October 2026 to 30 April 2027). Payment in three installments based on delivery milestones as agreed on point of contract.

The Festival Programme Co-Ordinator will play a key role in the planning and delivery of FORMAT27, the UK's largest biennale festival of photography and related media, taking place across Derby from 11 March to 11 April 2027.

Working closely with the FORMAT/QUAD team and project partners, the primary focus of the role will be the planning, co-ordination and delivery of the Festival launch weekend, the flagship moment of FORMAT27. Bringing together exhibitions, artist events, talks, public programmes, the FORMAT Photobook Market and International Portfolio Review, the launch weekend is the largest and busiest period of the festival and will welcome artists, delegates, partners and audiences from across the UK and internationally.

Alongside the delivery of the launch weekend, the Festival Programme Co-Ordinator will support the wider festival programme, working collaboratively with artists, partners, venues, volunteers and suppliers to ensure the successful delivery of events and an excellent experience for audiences and participants. The postholder will also contribute to project administration, reporting and evaluation.

The Festival Programme Co-Ordinator will work closely with the FORMAT/QUAD Programme Team, including the QUAD CEO, QUAD/FORMAT Producer and QUAD/FORMAT Curator, alongside the QUAD Finance, Marketing, Technical and Operations teams, volunteers, interns and a wide range of festival partners. The successful applicant will be an organised and proactive project co-ordinator, with excellent communication skills, experience of delivering cultural events, and the ability to manage multiple priorities within a fast-paced festival environment.

Job Requirements

The role requires experience coordinating arts or cultural festivals, events or projects, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, budgets and deadlines while working with artists, venues, partners and suppliers. Candidates should have strong project management, organisational and communication skills, be confident managing logistics, hospitality, volunteers and live events, and respond effectively to operational challenges. Knowledge of photography and lens-based media, audience engagement, accessibility, technical production, Arts Council England funding and sustainable working practices is desirable. Proficiency in Microsoft Office, collaborative tools, social media, and ideally WordPress and Adobe Creative Suite is expected. The successful candidate will be proactive, collaborative, adaptable and committed to delivering inclusive, high-quality cultural events, with relevant qualifications or equivalent experience.

Job Responsibilities

The Festival Programme Co-ordinator supports the planning, coordination and delivery of FORMAT27, with a focus on the festival launch weekend. The role oversees event logistics, including the Photobook Market, International Portfolio Review and exhibitions, while ensuring venues provide a high-quality visitor experience. Responsibilities include coordinating artists, speakers, partners, suppliers and volunteers, managing travel, accommodation, technical requirements and operational documentation, and responding to on-site challenges. The role supports production planning, risk assessments, contracting, budgeting and programme administration, while contributing to marketing, website updates, ticketing, project evaluation, KPI monitoring and Arts Council reporting. Working collaboratively across multiple venues, the post ensures festival activities are delivered efficiently, sustainably and in line with organisational policies.

• Job Title: FORMAT Festival Programme Co-Ordinator

Access Requirements
We support and provide adjustments for people with disabilities – if you have a disability and need help with the application process or would prefer to send your application in an alternativeformat (such as filmed application, or audio only)please contact us on the email above.

About FORMAT International Photography Festival