Archived: Creative Programme Officer

Location: Leicester

Salary: £25,000 per annum

Full time, two year, fixed term contract

People Dancing

A catalyst for change, People Dancing champions community development and wellbeing driven by artform, artists and communities who dance. Our vision is of a world where dance makes a positive difference. Our mission is to make engagement with dance important and relevant to individuals, communities and society.

Equality and inclusion are enshrined in People Dancing’s vision, purpose, objectives and practices. This has guided our work for 35 years – initially with a focus on ‘access’, evolving to a sophisticated and active commitment to equality, equity and diversity. There is still much more work to be done, organisationally and within the broader profession.

During the Pandemic People Dancing stepped up to support the freelancers who are the backbone of participatory dance in and with communities everywhere. During that time innovative ways of enabling people to participate shone through. This has been our fuel since then, supercharging plans that include significant programmes and networks to support professional development, extend reach and add value for the profession and the communities we all serve. We are based in Leicester and work across England, the UK and internationally. People Dancing is funded by Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation (NPO).

In our leadership role, we promote improved access and increased participation in dance in arts, wellbeing and community development contexts. We work strategically in partnerships and with a growing membership, a network of over 4,500 dancers, teaching artists, community practitioners and organisations annually. Our work contributes to the pipeline of emerging and established talent, nurturing creative dance skills and approaches to equality and inclusion, and socially engaged dance practices. Our programmes are accessed worldwide.

The Board and staff are propelling People Dancing forward into its next phase of development… Come and work with us!

Our work

People Dancing has 35 years’ experience of leading in the arts, from small-scale projects developing specific practices, to international conferences and large-scale, complex public engagement activities and commissions. Community, participatory and socially engaged dance practices are embedded in our organisation’s work – underpinned by a passionate belief that dance is for everyone.

Four values define how we work:

Excellence in participation and progression in dance for all

Inclusion is at the heart of what we do and why we do it

Collaborative actions give greater strength and voice to all involved

Openness in our working practices.

Our Membership schemes provide tailor-made support for a network of 2,500 individual and organisational members across the UK and internationally. Professional development and events reach 4,500 dancers, teaching artists and community practitioners each year. To this we bring expertise in inclusive practice, professional development and critical debate – to drive forward quality in practice and provision. Some highlights include:

Perspectives on Practice – diverse artist-led online events and learning opportunities, discussion and debate, networks and spaces to gather, (re)connect and share

Live Well & Dance – including a four-year project to increase opportunities for people living with Parkinson’s to dance with a £475,000 grant from National Lottery Community Fund

Artist Networks – for dancers, teaching artists and community practitioners including networks focused on dance in early years, disabled artists and inclusive practice, health and wellbeing

Voice & Presence – organisational change and targeted activities to connect with and better serve Global Majority Heritage artists

Digital and publishing – a new website being launched this year packed full of information, resources and blogs

Participatory Arts Qualifications (PAQ) – a subsidiary organisation of People Dancing developing as a new Awarding Body for vocational qualifications on the national qualifications framework.

The role

The Creative Programme Officer is a new role at People Dancing and envisaged as an organisational linchpin working across the Programme team – who together are working at pace to deliver a range of programmes with diverse communities in an inclusive and accessible way.

We are looking for someone keen to use their excellent organisational and communication skills to contribute to the development and delivery of our dynamic UK-wide programmes, that support the growth of participatory and community dance. Taking place online and in-person, and spanning the realms of wellbeing and health, diversity, inclusion, early years and professional development, programmes are aimed at dancers, teaching artists, community practitioners and organisations.

The postholder will be based at People Dancing’s offices at LCB Depot in Leicester, with occasional travel within the UK as required.

People Dancing is open to offering flexibility and occasional homeworking to accommodate caring responsibilities and access needs.

Our Recruitment Pack is available in Audio and Large Print formats, via the website link.

For more information and to apply, visit www.communitydance.org.uk/DB/jobs/creative-programme-officer

Apply by midnight on 19 March 2023

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