Performance Coordinator

Position description: Winter Magic Performance Co-Ordinator 2019

Our vision – Making winter magic in Katoomba

Our mission – To engage the people of Katoomba and the Blue Mountains in a sustainable, vibrant, annual community winter solstice celebration of the arts and creativity centred on Katoomba Street.

Winter Magic is a not-for-profit festival that began 25 years ago and has become the signature event for Katoomba and the Blue Mountains. After the cancellation of the 2018 Winter Magic Festival, the Winter Magic Committee has resolved to relaunch the festival in 2019 with a reduced footprint and a renewed focus on community arts. On 22 June 2019, Katoomba Street will close and be converted into a performance space, with the surrounding open areas and laneways filled with music, installations and theatre. Roving performers will entertain people throughout the day and up to 110 stallholders will present locally made wares and food to an estimated minimum 20,000 attendees.

In 2019, for the first time, the Winter Magic Festival is funding 14 community organisations to develop and present arts and performance projects for Winter Magic. Projects include exhibitions, installations, dance and music performances, and will highlight the creativity of local children, Darug and Gundungurra people, mature adults and multicultural groups. A rich line up of musical performance and entertainers will also be presented, filling the street and Katoomba’s indoor and outdoor venues with sound and spectacle. The official festival programme concludes with fireworks and a concert on steps of The Carrington Hotel.

 We are currently seeking a Performance Coordinator to deliver a programme of performance, on festival stages, within indoor venues, and on the street, that will fill the day and evening of the festival. The performance coordinator will report to the event coordinator and the Winter Magic Committee, but will also be expected to show considerable initiative and leadership.

It is expected that the Performance Coordinator will be available ASAP but the critical deadline will be 1 May 2019, by which time the performance schedule should be finalised.

This is a voluntary position – job share will be looked up on favourably. This position offers the opportunity to develop performance coordination and stage management skills, and to give back to the Blue Mountains’ premier community event.

Key responsibilities

• Work with the Events Coordinator to develop a production time line
• Ensure deadlines are met
• Identify and book stages and venues for performance
• Review performer applications and liaise with performers and the Community Arts Coordinator to allocate performers and artists to suitable stages and venues
• Recruit and allocate stage managers and sound engineers
• Develop a running schedule for the day on each stage and within each venue by 1 May 2019
• Inform media and marketing people and the Winter Magic Committee of the performance schedule and ensure artists provide publicity material
• Attend meetings with key stakeholders involved in the delivery of the festival, including (but not limited to) traffic managers, risk managers, Blue Mountains City Council, NSW Police
• Liaise with venue owners and managers, The Carrington Hotel, Blue Mountains Radio to ensure they have sufficient equipment and facilities and have conducted risk assessments
• Develop a system for licensing buskers within the festival footprint
• Develop and maintain stakeholder relationships
• Assist the events coordinator to procure equipment and service hire and decide payment for contractors
• Ensure effective communications throughout on the day of the festival
• Deliver the performer schedule according to the budget set by the Winter Magic Committee
• Uphold the vision and mission of the Winter Magic Festival, and work according to the Code of Ethics
• Contribute to planning for the Festival beyond 2019.

Essential criteria

• Experience in coordinating performers
• Knowledge of local musicians and performers
• Outstanding communication and financial skills, including computer literacy and record-keeping
• Capacity to supervise volunteers, stage managers and casual employees
• Willingness to take direction from the Winter Magic Committee and regulatory authorities, including (but not limited to) NSW Police, Blue Mountains City Council and emergency services, as well as venue owners and operators
• Knowledge of workplace health and safety
• Available to work during the lead up to the Festival, and from 6am to 10pm on the evening of the Festival, 22 June 2019.

Desirable criteria

• Qualifications in Events Management or other relevant field
• Understanding of the principles of community arts and cultural development practice
• Experience in working within community managed committees
• Current Working With Children Check/Police check
• Responsible Service of Alcohol Certificate.

Applicants are requested to provide a brief statement addressing the selection criteria and provide CV of not more than two pages (that includes referees) to U%D5%DE%D0%D6%97%BE%A2%C0%A9c%AB%AD%9F%E4%97%DD%D7%D7%D8%DA%87%96%D6%E4%CE%A7%91%CC%9A by 11 February 2019.