£13,755 pro rata 0.6fte/£8,253 over 3 days + bonus on painting

The role requires a driven, self-motivated and hard working individual with a passion for arts and crafts and can do attitude. She/he will be a confident, outgoing, well presented individual that can strike up and develop client relationships with ease. The candidate must have a friendly and professional personality that upholds the sophisticated image of selling art and craft. The post holder is self-motivated by sales targets and is inspired by commissionable sales to help meet the monthly targets. The post holder will be proactive in informing clients of new paintings that have come onto the market which would suit their collection, thus maintaining a personal service to our clientele. The candidate will need to have the confidence to talk to new clients entering the gallery on a daily basis and discuss with them the art we have on offer and match the right art work with the right clients and to develop the clients art collection with them in a step-by-step process. The post holder is responsible for expanding and nurturing a client database, including the gallery’s membership scheme. The gallery is introducing a new personal service to our clientele that includes. home approval services where we take the art to client’s homes and install and hang the art in their home.

The post holder works directly for the Gallery Director providing support with curating, hanging and preparing for exhibitions, educational events and private views. He/she is jointly in charge of the programming of four annual Craft Collections. This requires a strong understanding of art and craft in the UK and a love of visiting in art fairs and exhibitions to source new artists and makers, also outside the working hours. The role includes a strong administrative and stock control element. The post holder ensures that both manual and computerised administration stock systems are up to date and well maintained, essential for the smooth running of the gallery. He/she also ensures that stock is stored safely when not on display, helping to maintain accurate stock records, and packing and returning unsold work by courier when required.

The post holder helps with the daily upkeep of the gallery and ensure that exhibition and craft gallery spaces are clean, up to date, welcoming and organised at all times. This also includes wrapping up and protecting stock from damage in a storage room, as well as climbing ladders to re-install pictures for exhibitions. The role is fairly physical during installations and take downs.

Person specification

The position combines a number of tasks and responsibilities, in the following broad areas:
Essential attributes:
 Commitment to the Trust’s mission as an educational charity
 Minimum of 1 year of art sale/gallery experience
 Degree in art history/ fine art/crafts or a relevant field
 The ability to instantly build rapport with clients on the phone and face-to-face
 Passionate and energetic about sales and hitting gallery targets each month
 Retail/customer service experience
 Proven experience of working successfully to targets
 Flexible with hours of work
 Excellent written and verbal communication skills
 High attention to detail with immaculate presentation
 Full/clean UK driving licence
 Proficient IT skills
 Strong administrative and organisational skills
 Ability to work both independently and as a member of a team
 Willingness of comply with internal procedures and policies, abiding by health and safety guidelines and sharing responsibility for own safety and that of colleagues.

Desirable attributes:
 Knowledge of gallery education and outreach
 Knowledge of database management and development
 Knowledge of art PR & marketing
 Knowledge of art fundraising
 Postgraduate qualification on a relevant subject
 Health and safety training relevant to gallery work
 Experience of managing a stall in art fairs.

Working hours
Minimum 24 hours weekly. The gallery is open from 10am to 5pm from Tuesday to Saturday – staff is required to be on site for the minimum of 9.45am to 5.15pm. In addition, the post holder is expected to attend private views, special events and installations in the gallery and external venues and to work additional hours as required for installations, stock room maintenance and visits to fairs and exhibitions. The annual leave is 16.8 days.
The deadline for applications is 23 January 2013, 5pm.
Email your CV and covering letter to Director, outi.remes@newashgate.org.uk

The New Ashgate Gallery Trust is dedicated to promote and champion the best contemporary art and craft and to provide an unparalleled resource in Farnham, Surrey and beyond. We raise aspirations and inspire excellence. We foster emerging artists through professional practice seminars and partnerships. We deliver art workshops and projects in the gallery and the community, supporting widening and diverse participation in arts. As a not-for-profit organisation, we rely on sales from exhibitions and donations. The New Ashgate Gallery is committed to equal opportunities in all aspects of its work.
www.newashgate.org.uk