Description
Studio Manager & Producer (Women-Centred Practice)
Fixed-term (18 months)
30 hours per week with flexibility in working patterns
£28,000 per annum (£35,000 FTE)
Based in Accrington, Lancashire.
Holiday allowance: Holiday: 18.8 days annual leave (pro rata for 30 hours)
Because of the nature of Idle Women’s relational practice and the emotional labor required to sustain it, the organisation adopts periods of closure during Winter, Eid and Summer, giving approximately four weeks' additional leave in total.
Pension contribution: starting at 4% with annual review
Working Pattern: The role is contracted at 30 hours per week. Working hours can be arranged flexibly with the team. Some evening and occasional weekend work will be required to support events and activities, with time off in lieu provided.
Idle Women are seeking a Studio Manager & Producer to support the coordination of the organisation’s programmes, partnerships, participants and day-to-day operations. This role sits at the intersection of project production, studio management and women-centred support work. We are looking for someone who can bring organisation, care, good judgement and collaborative working to a small, dynamic women-centred arts and social justice organisation.
We are creating this role at a moment of strategic transition for the organisation, ensuring that the work, relationships and care practices at the heart of Idle Women can continue sustainably.
At Idle Women we often use the word caretaking to describe the work of holding projects, people, spaces and possibilities. This role is a Studio Manager & Producer position, but the spirit of the work is one of collective caretaking.
Working closely with our small team which includes trainees and collaborating artists, you will support the coordination of day-to-day operations, projects, partnerships and women-centred spaces that make up Idle Women. You will move between practical administration, project planning, participant support, safeguarding-aware practice, financial administration, artist liaison, and the care of our physical spaces.
You will take ownership of many aspects of day-to-day organisational and project coordination, working closely with the Directors while exercising autonomy within agreed priorities and responsibilities, and supporting practical problem-solving as issues arise.
The role requires someone who is comfortable working across practical, relational and organisational tasks within a changing environment. We are looking for someone who is organised, practical, and resourceful; someone who can manage detail while holding sight of the bigger picture, and who understands that administration, sweeping up, care and creativity are all essential forms of work.
This is a hands-on role that requires regular in-person working across our studio, garden, boat and community project sites, including occasional lifting, carrying and practical setup tasks.
This is an 18-month fixed-term role funded through a combination of project and organisational funding. We are committed to seeking opportunities to sustain and extend the role beyond the fixed-term period where resources allow.
What you'll be doing
Studio Management
- Coordinating the day-to-day running of the studio and project spaces
- Maintaining shared systems, records and communications
- Supporting day to day finance administration (petty cash, expenses and receipts)
- Managing schedules, meetings and organisational logistics
- Coordinating maintenance, supplies and practical resources
- Contributing to the development and improvement of systems and ways of working that support the long-term sustainability of the organisation and the wellbeing of the people within it.
Project Production
- Production support for artistic and community projects from planning through to delivery
- Coordinating artists, facilitators, partners and participants
- Managing project logistics, equipment, travel and accommodation
- Supporting the administration of monitoring and evaluation
- Monitoring project budgets and timelines
Participant Support
- Contributing to a culture of welcoming, supportive relationships with women participating in projects
- Coordinating access and practical support needs
- Organising registration forms and communicating information about sessions.
- Providing practical and administrative support for trainees running sessions.
- Working within safeguarding and confidentiality procedures
- Supporting women to navigate practical barriers to participation and connecting with specialist support where appropriate.
- Contributing to a culture of care, inclusion and mutual support
Who this role might suit
You might have experience in:
- Arts production or project management
- Community development
- Women's services
- Participation or engagement work
- Social justice organisations
- Education, youth work or adult learning
- Cultural organisations or grassroots community projects
We are interested in transferable skills and lived experience as well as formal qualifications.
You do not need to have worked in all of these areas.
This is a busy, hands-on role where no two days are the same, and where priorities may shift in response to the needs of the organisation and the people we work with.
What we're looking for
We're looking for someone who:
- Is highly organised and able to manage multiple strands of work
- Is comfortable working in a small team with shared responsibility
- Can balance practical delivery with strategic thinking
- Communicates clearly and kindly
- Understands the importance of boundaries and sustainable working practices
- Is confident working with a range of people and partners
- Can respond thoughtfully to complexity and uncertainty
A typical Week - No Two Weeks Are the Same
At Idle Women, a week might begin in a planning meeting for a new performance and end with changing a studio lock, helping a trainee navigate a practical challenge, or loading equipment and rain coats for an offsite session.
This is a role for someone who enjoys variety, who can move between big-picture thinking and practical action, and who understands that ambitious creative work depends on care, organisation and attention to detail.
Some weeks are more focused on project delivery, others on supporting people, maintaining spaces, or developing new systems. Often, all of these happen at once. A typical week might include:
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