AMP: Artists' Meeting Place and Resource Collective

Applications should be sent by September 30, 2011 to:

The President
Centre international d'art et du paysage
Ile de Vassivière
87120 Beaumont du Lac
France

T +33 (0)5 55 69 27 27
F +33 (0)5 55 69 29 31
president@ciapiledevassiviere.com
www.ciapiledevassiviere.com

Description of the institution
The Centre international d'art et du paysage on Vassivière Island, designed by Aldo Rossi, is notable for its emblematic architecture and its exceptionally striking and beautiful landscape.

Since 1991, the Art Centre, situated on the Millevaches Plateau, in the Limousin, and built on an island in the 1000 hectares Vassivière Lake, is nowadays a leading site for artistic development and sustainable tourism. Often presented as one of the most unique institutions in the French and international art circuit, the Art Centre of Vassivière Island is a place dedicated to contemporary creation, research, production, curating of the outdoor collection, transmission, education.

Vassivière Island of nearly 70 hectares, is characterized by the presence of forests, meadows and walking paths managed by the Syndicat mixte du Lac de Vassivière and leads rich and intense artistic and cultural activities throughout the year: including actions of the Syndicat mixte du Lac de Vassivière, the Maison de Vassivière, the "Destination Ailleurs" festival…. Each year, 50 000 visitors reach the island either by footbridge or by boat.

Complementing the Art Centre, the sculpture wood, freely accessible all year long, welcomes international artists conceiving permanent or temporary works, monumental or discreet. Nowadays, the sculpture wood consists of about 60 artworks. Other works, installed in a temporary way, are now part of the Art Centre's memory, in particular through the means of didactical actions.
The Art Centre is also one of the relay of the Limousin Artothèque (art lending library)

At the end of the year, the Centre international d'art et du paysage on Vassivière Island will benefit from a new architectural addition: artist residencies in the castle facing the main building, which will include three apartments, a studio and a meeting place. The Castle will be functional for residencies. The residencies program will be fully integrated in the director's artistic program.

The main supporters of the Art Centre are the French Ministry of Culture (Direction Régionale des Affaires Culturelles du Limousin) and the Regional council of Limousin.

Description of the position

In charge of leading the Centre international d'art et du paysage, the Director assumes the following responsibilities:
- Definition of an artistic and cultural project which takes into account the development of the institution in all its forms: Center for art and landscape, sculpture wood, artist residencies, art lending library, Resource Center for Education and Cultural Action on "Art and Landscape". Notions of landscape and territory will be critical.
The director's art project should take into account the context of implementation and the target audience development.
- Team management, partnerships, administrative and financial management of the association, research of new financial partners and the development of new partnership strategies at a regional, national and international level.
- Capacity to set his/her action in its local context and capacity to make proposals to ensure cohesion between the technical and touristic operatives of the island.
- Proposal and implementation of a project towards the public (residents of the territory, cultural professionals and visitors alike). A specific program will be implemented for the benefit of schools.
- Proposal and realization of partnerships with peers at art and cultural institutions, as well as with the regional network of partners, especially with the 5,25 network (places for contemporary art in Limousin), including the implementation of a regional action of mediation in the field of contemporary art.

Profile
- Experience of at least 5 years in directing and managing a cultural and artistic institution
- Deep knowledge in contemporary art on a national and international level
- Strong personal interest in arts in relation to the notions of landscape, territory, space and transmission issues, cultural mediation.
- Master's degree in a field of discipline relevant to the position
- Knowledge of conservation techniques (sculpture wood) and issues related to the implementation of artworks in public space
- Ability to integrate the issues of transmission, cultural mediation and education in his/her global art project
- Capacity of innovation, developing a unique cultural project integrated into the development policy of a rural area devoted to tourism
- Proven experience in team, budget and calendar management, and monitoring the legal and technical aspect of the structure and the contracts it generates (copyright ...)
- Ability to lead projects, especially inside a network and to participate in collaborative projects.

Strengths
- Great interpersonal skills, ability to unite and negotiate
- Mobility and great professional availability
- Strong practice of the information technologies and communication techniques, new technologies, writing skills, openness and ability to share his/her vision
- French language spoken and written
- Fluency in English is essential
- Established network in the world of international contemporary art

Salary
- Will be determined in regard to the experience of the candidate.
- The monthly salary requested by the candidate should be stipulated in the letter of application.
- The CIAP association is part of the collective agreement on Animation.

Applicants must submit before the September 30, 2011 a letter of interest and résumé to:

The President
Centre international d'art et paysage
Ile de Vassivière
87120 Beaumont du Lac
France

Some candidates will be selected (based on the application letter and résumé) and invited to produce a written project which will be then be orally presented to a jury.

For further details, applicants may contact the Chairman of the CIAP, the Direction Régionale des Affaires Culturelles du Limousin (+33 5 55 45 66 76) or the cultural service of the Regional council of Limousin (+33 5 55 45 00 28).

from e-flux