About Alserkal

Alserkal is a socially responsible and forward-thinking cultural enterprise dedicated to developing sustainable models for homegrown initiatives with a commitment to nurturing alternative ideas and impactful research with regional relevance. Founded in 2007 by Emirati businessman and patron Abdelmonem Bin Eisa Alserkal, Alserkal is renowned for its ground- breaking artistic productions, experimental approach and for the creation of culturally meaningful spaces that inspire and shape communities. Alserkal has three primary areas of activity: cultivating a creative economy in Dubai and building a collaborative network of civic- cultural institutions through its renowned cultural district, Alserkal Avenue; providing advisory services to public and private sector entities; and, supporting public artist commissions, residencies, research grants and educational programmes through its non-profit, Alserkal Arts Foundation.

Alserkal has transformed the cultural landscape of Dubai and the UAE through the creation of a thriving, region-specific community of over 70 contemporary art galleries, visual and performing arts organisations, designers and entrepreneur-led businesses at Alserkal Avenue, providing an essential platform for the development of creative industries in the region.

Alserkal utilises its collective expertise in arts initiatives and cultural production, heritage creation, community building and engagement, as well as urbanism and planning for creative industries, to guide public and private sector entities in developing sustainable and responsive business models.

About Alserkal Arts Foundation

Alserkal Arts Foundation is an independent non-profit dedicated to instigating new knowledge through support for research and cultural production. The Foundation commissions artistic projects, hosts and conceptualises exhibitions, and supports alternative learning. Its cross- disciplinary, research-led residencies are open to researchers, writers, and artists, and its Research Grants are awarded to individuals and collectives who disrupt conventional models and methods.

Alserkal Arts Foundation believes in responsive, context-specific programming imagined by the researchers it hosts and supports. It bridges diverse disciplines by creating spaces of congregation, fostering opportunities for critical reflection and production. Its work is regionally aligned, grounded in the MEASA region, and looking outward.

Alserkal Arts Foundation is part of Alserkal—a socially responsible cultural enterprise based in Dubai, and is supported by Abdelmonem Bin Eisa Alserkal, Ahmad Bin Eisa Alserkal and the Alserkal family.

Essential Functions & Objectives

This role is central to the management and smooth functioning of the Alserkal Arts Foundation (AAF) programmes.

Working closely alongside the Director and Curatorial Assistant Programmes of Alserkal Arts Foundation, the Programmes Executive is expected to contribute to the development and programme management of the Foundation as well as developing our presence online and offline.

As such, the role will allow for learning and development across our activities and will be geared towards strengthening our capacity as a host institution and space for meaningful interaction between practitioners and with audiences. An affinity for working with artists and researchers and a passion for the arts and intellectual exchange is essential.

Key Responsibilities:

Residency Programme

AAF hosts two residency cycles per year, each with up to four residents. This role has key responsibility for being the host and manager for the residents, working closely with them on a day-to-day basis.

· Working closely with Curatorial Assistant Programmes of the Foundation and residents to devise, produce and execute public programming with direction from the Foundation Director

· Engaging and working closely with the residents and their practices to ensure that they have a generative experience and feel supported

· Ensuring that the admin of the residency is well executed. This includes all pre- arrival preparation, travel and visas, logistical coordination, local assistance with fieldwork, weekly meetings and managing their expenses.

· Supporting the Curatorial Assistant and marketing team with social media campaigns and overall content development for each residency cycle

Research Grants

AAF’s grants programme supports experimental research projects by local and international writers, researchers, artists, and scholars from the region. Each cycle is two years long. In this role, you will work with the Curatorial Assistant/Director over the course of the year to assist the researchers as needed.

· Engaging closely with the researchers and their project to ensure that they have a generative experience and feel supported

· Work with the Curatorial Assistant/Director to ideate and execute all programmes (hybrid, in-person, private, and public) related to the Research Grants

· Liaise with the Research Grantees to organize regular check-ins, manage their progress report submissions, and proactively find ways of keeping them connected with our wider community as required

· Manage travel, hospitality, and logistics for Research Grantees as directed by the Curatorial Assistant / Director

· Supporting the Curatorial Assistant and marketing team with social media campaigns and overall content development for Research Grants related programmes and updates

Events and educational programming including Common Room

A combination of shorter accessible events and workshops and as well as ambitious and research-led colloquia, to bring engaged and diverse audiences to the foundation around the year.

· Assist in developing and executing public programmes as directed by the Director / Curatorial Assistant

· Connecting with key audiences, and helping develop and expand new audiences for our projects

· Assisting with tours and press visits

· Hosting and management on the day of the event, making sure that all housekeeping requirements, refreshments, catering are well planned and executed

· Supporting the Curatorial Assistant and marketing team with social media campaigns and overall content development for Common Room programmes

Programming and content development for Public Art Commissions

AAF works with international artists and curators to develop thoughtful, experimental outdoor public art projects that are embedded in Alserkal Avenue’s public realm. This role includes support with ideating and executing relevant public programmes to activate the public art commissions and build audience engagement.

· Identifying local practitioners who can develop and lead programmes in dialogue with the public art commissions

· Assisting with tours and press visits

· Managing operations and logistics for public programmes related to public art commissions

· Supporting the Curatorial Assistant and marketing team with social media campaigns and overall content development for Public Art Commissions

Day to Day Operations

This role includes support with any operational requirements that come up in relation to all our activities:

· Coordinating with the maintenance, security and housekeeping teams to ensure that the foundation’s spaces in warehouse 51 and 50 are well maintained and fit for tours, site visits, meetings, and programmes

· Being prepared to take external visitors, particularly students, on tours of our spaces, commissions and avenue galleries as needed

· Manage the scheduling for Common Room, both internal and external bookings

· Managing the regular rota, admin, communication and any training and briefing needs for volunteers for the Common Room co-working space, identifying and recruiting new volunteers when needed

· Coordinating schedules with external parties to schedule in-person/online meetings as required by the team

· Helping the team manage programme archives: notes, documentation, website content etc.

· Support the team with administrative tasks related to finances admin including petty cash management, working with our digital accounting platform as directed by the Curatorial Assistant / Finance team

· Representing the Foundation at internal and external events as requested by the team

· Library management and research projects for the foundation

· Making sure our online archive is always up-to-date

Required skills + experience

· 1-3 years of experience in arts admin

· Degree in Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences with a strong interest in arts and cultural production

· Attention to detail and efficient problem solving

· Excellent organisational and administrative skills

· Excellent people skills

· Excellent writing and communication skills with a particular interest in curatorial and critical writing

· Copy-editing and proofreading skills are a plus

· An interest in design and proficient in Adobe Photoshop, Premiere Pro basics

· English necessary, Arabic/Hindi/Urdu desirable

· Skilled in using digital tools such as Keynote, Microsoft Office tools, Google Workspace tools, project management tools such as ClickUp or Asana

· Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work with artists and effectively as part of a team

· Self-motivated, with the ability to work within a constantly changing environment

Position type and expected hours of work

This full-time position with the Alserkal Arts Foundation team. The role involves support for all our core programmes. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday from 10am to 6pm. Weekends and evenings are regularly required during special projects and events and are compensated with agreed time off in lieu.

You will also be encouraged to attend and report back on external events within the arts and cultural spaces in the UAE as part of your professional learning and development.

This job description summarises the main key responsibilities of your role but there may be other reasonable requests made and other responsibilities included from time to time.

Those interested can write to talent@alserkal.online with the following subject line:
Programmes Executive, Alserkal Arts Foundation - <Name>