Summer Work Placement Program
Drop Deadly Gorgeous, Midsumma Festival 2020. Photo by Suzanne Balding
Midsumma's Summer Work Placement Program
Gain professional industry experience and develop your network in the arts and events community. Be a part of the delivery team for one of Australia’s largest LGBTQIA+ cultural festivals. This is an opportunity to refine and learn skills in a professional environment that is vibrant, supportive, and fun.
The positions are short-term non-paid work placements open to students and non-students in the areas of Programming and Artists/Event Coordination, Arts Administration, Project and Major Event Delivery, Marketing, Design and Communications, Ticketing and Presenter Services and Production and Operations. A $500 honorarium will be offered to successful applicants.
To apply, please read the individual role descriptions (below) and complete the online form for that role. You can apply for more than one position.
The Summer Work Placements commence between AUG AND NOV 2023 and run until LATE FEB 2024.
Placements are full or part time, with hours increasing over the duration of the festival period (21 Jan – 11 Feb 2024). Some of the hours during the festival period will occur outside of standard business hours.
Start date and hours are negotiable however, it should be noted that the roles are designed to provide experience of a professional full-time cultural role within a festival environment.
These roles are suited to:
- University student/enrolled in a course
- People changing careers (at any age)
- Anyone returning to the arts/entertainment industry after a break
Requirements: Basic knowledge of, or willingness to learn Microsoft Word, Excel, Dropbox and Gmail. Some areas of these roles will require the capacity to manage some physical labour and work in an outdoor environment.
If you have any questions about the program, the roles or questions on the application process, please email [email protected]
Positions Availbale
Midsumma Festival is seeking applications for the following positions.
Please ensure you complete the form for each role you are interested in. You may want to apply for more than one role.
MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Reports to Marketing & Communications Manager
Dates: September - February. Contact time will be 2-3 days a week.
Applications for this role will close on 11 Aug 2023
This role offers a combination of hands-on, practical work and detailed marketing tasks, with opportunities to gain insight and experience in public relations, campaign design, and content creation for marketing and communications.
This role will observe and gain experience in:
- CONTENT & SOCIAL MEDIA: develop skills in curating and creating content for Midsumma eNews, website and social media. This is a great opportunity for anyone who is interested in developing their digital communication competency, growing online communities and understanding online analytics.
- MARKETING & PR: learn about event cross-promotion and media and public relations procedures. The person for this role will be interested in detailed copywriting and proofreading.
- DESIGN: observe and assist in the delivery of creative digital and print assets for the festival. This is an opportunity for anyone with graphic design interests and/or video design and editing skills
- SALES, MERCHANDISE & TRADER LIAISON: this role will give you an overview of selling advertising, and merchandise; as well as engaging with external businesses and organisations, including coordinating Traders around major events. The person for this role will be interested in business, marketing and e-commerce.
PROGRAMMING AND ARTIST/EVENT COORDINATION
Reports to Program Manager
Dates: October - March. The position will be available between 1.5 and 2 days a week in the lead up to the festival with additional availability required across the festival dates. The role will work closely with the programming team and be supervised by Midsumma’s Program Manager. (applications to close 28 July)
This role will observe and gain experience in:
- Major Events Programming and Coordination: assisting with engaging and coordinating artists for Midsumma’s two large-scale outdoor signature events, Midsumma Carnival and Midsumma Pride March.
- Midsumma Presents Artist and Event Coordination: assisting with the coordination of a selection of events that are produced or presented by Midsumma. These may include theatre, visual arts events, launches, opening nights and other events produced by Midsumma across the Midsumma Festival.
On completion of the work placement, you will have gained the following experience:
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An understanding of the various aspects of programming a major event including Midsumma Carnival and Pride March
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An understanding of the processes and administration involved in developing and delivering a large multi artform festival
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An understanding of the artistic and creative aspects of delivering an LGBTQIA+ festival.
PRODUCTION AND OPERATIONS
Reports to Head of Production and Operations
Dates: October - February 1-3 days a week
This role is a combination of both hands-on and administrative tasks gaining a thorough overview of major event management in production and operations in a vibrant outdoor festival environment.
This role will observe and gain experience in:
- Large-scale event management: Assisting across the Production and Operations department with planning and delivering all three major outdoor events and Midsumma Festival Launch.
- Production and Technical Coordination: assisting and learning about supplier and stakeholder coordination including event permits, updating the master production schedule, obtaining quotes, ordering consumables, arranging and assisting with event documents.
- Pre-production: Assisting with artist and technical requirements, arranging pack-lists, scheduling, learning about project management software, compliance and safety documentation and general event documentation and administration.
- Event delivery: Assisting as a production runner on site during bump-in and bump-out. Assisting with event signage, green rooms, site offices and general hands-on tasks learning about a fast-paced festival environment.
- Learn the role of Assistant Stage Manager at the Midsumma Festival Launch.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND MAJOR EVENT DELIVERY
Reports to the Project and Program Manager - Victoria’s Pride
Dates: October - February. Contact time will be 1-2 days a week in the lead-up to the festival, with additional availability required across the festival dates. (applications to close 28 July)
This role offers a combination of hands-on, practical work and detailed, administrative tasks, with opportunities to gain insight and experience in project and program development, community engagement, relationship and major event management.
This role will observe and gain experience in:
Programming and Artist Coordination: assisting with program and/or content development for a major outdoor event, with a focus on the practical coordination of Midsumma commissioned projects and artistic collaborations.
Community Engagement and Accessibility: taking part in the planning and implementation of community engagement activities related to event development, participation and inclusivity.
Project Coordination: assisting with the coordination of a broad range of project logistics, covering artist management and communications, scheduling, contracting, creative troubleshooting, relationship management, budgeting, research and practical delivery.
Requirements: Basic knowledge of, or willingness to learn Microsoft Word, Excel, Dropbox and Gmail. Capacity to manage some physical labour and work in an outdoor environment.
TICKETING AND PRESENTER SERVICES
Reports to Ticketing & Presenter Services Manager
Dates: August - February, between 1-3 days a week with additional availability required across the festival dates (applications close 28 July)
This role will observe and gain experience in:
Database and Systems Management: training in multiple arts management software used at large-scale festivals worldwide, including Eventotron, Red61, Campaign Monitor and Microsoft Office.
Festival Registrations & Program Guide: assisting with event registrations using Eventotron, our registration software, assisting with the proof-reading and content creation for the festival’s printed and online program assets.
Artist Liaison: assisting with communications to event producers and venues, including responding to enquiries, assisting with planning content for the Producer Updates newsletter, assisting with producer resource preparation
Ticketing Administration: assisting with the preparation of assets for event ticketing builds on Midsumma Festival’s ticketing system Red61, assisting with processing ticket bookings and access enquiries via email and phone.
Data Analysis and Reporting: assisting with pulling reports on the ticketing system to learn how to analyse sales data and learn how to look for patterns and trends
ARTS ADMINISTRATION
Reports to Office Administration Team
Dates: October - February. Contact time will be 1-2 days a week in the lead up to the festival, with additional availability required across the festival dates. (applications to close 28 July)
This role will gain experience in:
Arts Administration / Arts Management: assisting with key tasks associated with administration and supporting operational staff through the delivery of a busy cultural festival.
Gain experience in registrations and EOI (Expression of Interest) processes across the festival.
Assist with day to day operations and enquiries, gaining skills in stakeholder engagement.
Learn and use computer programs in an arts management environment.
If you would like to apply and the online form below is not accessible to you, you can apply by emailing [email protected] with any of the following application methods:
- Voice Memo
- Email
- Zoom Meeting (in English or Auslan)
- 2-minute video pitch
- Auslan Video
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