Bheka Window Residence and Internship at Room

Self-motivation, good communication and interpersonal skills are essential to engage and interact within inter-disciplinary creative production practices, utilising the BHEKA Windows Residency.
BHEKA is a window space in ROOM Gallery & Projects founded by Refiloe Namise and Alexander Appolis. It serves as a permanent micro-residency.
BHEKA a space of interrogation, contemplation and occupation, where the public and creatives respond to what appears on/in/around the window space. This is the mode of thinking through the space and future projects.
The window exists as a mediated liminal space, between the gallery and the ‘outside’. In essence, the ‘interior’ interacts with an ‘exterior’ through a distorted lens. This idea led to the naming of the space in terms of the idea of looking, ukuBheka (to look), Bheka, which translates to ‘look’, in isiZulu. Bheka.
BHEKA embodies the desires of the current young generation to be noticed. It serves as an extension, sometimes as an alternative space and at other times a space to explore its own potentialities.
The space will allow for happenings to occur. These happenings will be evoked by various texts and text-based imagery. The space will keep within the objectives of the gallery- focusing on collaborations, collectivity, interactions, visual dialogue and creative exchange.
For more information visit: http://www.roomgallery.co.za/about-bheka.html
The focus of the internship is in the following areas:

• arts administration
• curatorial practice
• marketing and communications
• project/s management
• fundraising

Activities/Learning focus areas will include the following:
Curatorial skills:

• Incumbent with participate in ROOM programming which includes exhibition conceptualisation and design (to inform Bheka)
• Artist/s liaison including contractual matters
• Exhibition installation

Fundraising & sponsorship:

• Fundraising research
• Fundraising applications

Marketing and PR invitation design

• Guided facilitation in press release writing (which will inform Bheka)
• Media liaison & distribution of marketing materials
• Website updates
• Social networks updates i.e. develop and grow membership and artist’s database
• Exhibition & educational content coordination of opening & artist/s walkabouts
  
• Knowledge of the display & client liaison
• Documentation: audio-visual
• Audience development

 Financial management & administration of exhibition budgets

• Invoicing
• Petty cash & requisitions

Database management

• Client database
• Media database
• Exhibiting artist/s database
• Development of a visual arts and arts industry database;

Daily Activities will also focus on the day-to-day running of the organisation:

• General gallery administration e.g. phone calls, filing, updating archives, emailing etc.
• Tracking project deadlines;
• Communications with various stakeholders and members;
• Management and development of the gallery and its activities;
• Artist and public liaison;
• Attendance of exhibition openings and events are also required.

Assistance with planning, coordination and managing events:

• Coordination of workshops, art exhibitions, events programme;
• Visual Arts repertoire/archiving of completed projects.

Necessary skills:

• Degree / Diploma in Art/Architecture/ Social Sciences/ Marketing/Art Administration related fields (not a prerequisite);
• Organisation & planning skills;
• Fundraising & related research;
• Basic computer literacy in Windows and Mac related operating systems;
• Design skills would be advantageous;
• Good communication skills; basic administration skills;
• Driver’s Licence although not a prerequisite.

This is a 6-12 month internship and will require a commitment of 3 x 8 hour working days per week with alternating Saturdays. Internship includes stipend.
Application must consist of motivation letter and CV.
Please contact Maria Fidel Regueros at maria@roomgallery.co.za or Jemma Dwyer at jemma@roomgallery.co.za for any further information.