THE HAPPY DAYS ENNISKILLEN INTERNATIONAL BECKETT FESTIVAL
GENERAL MANAGER
JOB DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
“Happy Days is democratising Beckett… The atmosphere is good and so is the art….stylish, powerful, this is brave programming. It unites new artists and new audiences for the “flowering of the human spirit” – withBeckett as benign Guardian….attendance will be essential” THE FINANCIAL TIMES
We are seeking a General Manager to help lead the world’s first annual multi-arts festival celebrating Nobel Prize writer Samuel Beckett.
The inaugural Happy Days Beckett Festival in 2012 was highly acclaimed with audiences far exceeding
expectations. Artists involved in 2012 included Antony Gormley, Edna O’Brien, Robert Wilson, Atom
Egoyan, Ian Bostridge, Will Self, Lady Antonia Fraser, Alice Oswald, John Banville, Paul Muldoon, Vienna
Piano Trio, Gavin Bryars, Pan Pan Theatre, Theatre Clastic and many others.
Taking place in Enniskillen, where Samuel Beckett attended the Portora Royal School, the festival is five
days of theatre, music, literature, art, film, circus/mime, comedy and sport. As a tourist destination
Enniskillen is Ireland’s only island town. It sits within the Irish lakeland district and has been chosen this
year to host the G8 summit. The Festival this year will take place on the UK August Bank Holiday weekend
(August 22-26 2013).
“Enniskillen certainly seems to have embraced the festival with wide open arms. Barbershops proposed ‘Beckett haircuts’, a local coffee shop offered ‘Endgame’ (Hamm & Clov) and ‘Krapp’ (banana & nutella) sandwiches – all in jokes for those familiar with the character names and actions in these plays. The performances and events I attended all over town were consistently packed. Even a 5.30am reading on a small island that had to be reached by boat had around 50 people turn up” THE NEW YORK TIMES
YOUR ROLE
This is an exciting opportunity to work with one of the world’s most experienced and innovative Festival
Directors (Sean Doran http://www.seandoran.co.uk). Reporting to the Festival Director you will be an
entrepreneurial business oriented individual with good management, logistics and financial skills and the
capability to inspire and work within a small team. You will also assist the Festival Director to secure and
manage public funding partnerships, corporate sponsorship, Trusts and individual donor programmes. A
minimum of 3 years experience at senior management level in the arts or similar industry is desirable. A
passion and understanding for art and artists is essential as are excellent interpersonal skills. You will be an important interface to both those who perform at the festival and those who attend, while managing a festival team which grows commensurate to requirement at festival time.
There is considerable opportunity for expansion over the coming years. The General Manager role will also oversee two other tourism-arts destination festivals expected to join the company’s work in 2014. Further details will be given to shortlisted candidates.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT
Term of Contract: This is a three year contract subject to annual review
Working Hours: This is a full time position based on a 48 hour working week, however due to the
nature of the work involved, please be prepared for evening and weekend work.
Salary: Subject to negotiation based on experience
Preferred start date: April 2013
Working from: Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland
HOW TO APPLY
Please send a CV + up to 500 words putting forward the skills you bring to this role + 2 referee nominations.
Send to:
Sean Doran
Festival Director
sdoranenator@gmail.com
The deadline for submission is 5pm, March 1st 2013.
Interviewing will take place soon after.
“Here, encounters with Beckett’s work brought people into deeper contact with themselves and with one another. Local resident and festival participant Carlo Gebler said the festival was “embedded in the fabric of the town…the entire built environment was made to sing”. Such scrupulous sincerity is the keynote to Doran’s programming. Beckett’s “basic ethical message” was…”one thing we can do is help somebody else”. Such phrases made this festival a true celebration of the man it honours. May it be the first of many”
THE OBSERVER
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