FAIR DIRECTOR, AFFORDABLE ART FAIR VIENNA
THE COMPANY
Established in 1999, Ramsay Fairs is the parent company of Affordable Art Fair, VOLTA, the British Art Fair and Wills Art Warehouse. With over 200,000 visitors a year, Ramsay Fairs has earned a global reputation for hosting stylish art fairs at all levels of the market, introducing art to generations of collectors.
Founded 25 years ago, Affordable Art Fair is the largest organizer of popular art fairs in the world. In 2023, we hosted 14 fairs in 11 cities worldwide, including Amsterdam, Brussels, Hamburg, Hong Kong, London, Melbourne, New York, Shanghai, Singapore, Stockholm and Sydney.
The mission is to make the joy of collecting art accessible to everyone, regardless of taste, style, and budget. All artworks are priced under or at the price ceiling to create an approachable environment for collectors at all levels and by exhibiting only living artists, we aim to contribute to the contemporary arts ecosystem by supporting artists’ livelihoods. Affordable Art Fairs are uniquely fun, vibrant, and inclusive. We value transparency and accessibility, inspire curiosity, and encourage education.
AN IMPORTANT BIT
We believe that a diverse and inclusive workplace fosters innovation, creativity and productivity, and encourage applicants from all backgrounds, experiences and perspectives to apply. Research shows that women and people from underrepresented groups often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We recognise that it is highly unlikely that someone meets 100% of the qualifications for a role. If much of this job description describes you, then please apply for this role. Ramsay Fairs is committed to building a workplace that is welcoming, inclusive and respectful of all employees.
THE ROLE
The Fair Director is a dynamic, all-encompassing role responsible for the satisfaction of its customers, both exhibitor and visitor focused, as well as the commercial success and effective delivery of a fair. Responsibilities will include building relationships with exhibitors and key suppliers including venue owners and stand builders; negotiating costs, managing budgets and delivering financial targets; planning the content of the event and visitor experience; selling stands and stand extras to galleries whilst ensuring their ongoing satisfaction with the fair; securing and managing sponsors for the event; and in conjunction with the Global Marketing department, driving the brand messages and vision of the fair to press, exhibitors, sponsors and visitors. The Fair Director will actively seek out new ways to improve the fairs, to add value to the event while increasing revenue. It is, however, also very much a hands-on role, requiring the Director to get stuck in at all levels, leading and motivating the team in the run-up, during, and post-fair.
The new Fair Director will be responsible for the first Vienna edition, taking place in May 2025, building on the solid foundations already in place in other cities and developing the Vienna edition alongside. The role is based in Vienna (can be “Working From Home”) and reports to the EU Regional Managing Director.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Gallery Sales and Relationship Management
- Develop strong and effective relationships with existing and new galleries always re-enforcing the mission of Affordable Art Fair.
- Responsible for fair’s vision and key messaging, manifested through selection of galleries and artists.
- Support galleries to maximize their art sales potential, happiness factor and likelihood to return.
- Design the floorplan together with the fair’s external production company, and curate the layout of the fair based on galleries and artists accepted to manifest each fair’s vision and message.
- Partnerships
- Identify and sell into sponsors to enhance the fair experience and target new visitors.
- Identify partner organizations to collaborate on inspiring programming around the fairs to enhance the visitor experience and extend the fair’s network.
- Leads any partnership activations onsite to be seen and reinforced as ambassador and face of fair.
- Fair content and visitor experience
- Consistently seek to improve the experience for fair visitors with fresh and dynamic content and an excellent overall visitor experience.
- Create a buzz and ensure the fairs are talked about on and offline.
- Marketing and PR
- Create the marketing, communications and PR strategy in agreement with the Global Marketing team.
- Provide high quality content, activations and ideas to support the marketing strategy in delivering quality fair visitor numbers and revenue, maximise PR potential and brand awareness.
- Manage the Marketing Manager (planned to start in September 2024) who will be in charge of executing the marketing campaign (newsletters, social media, website updates…).
- Operational excellence
- 360° vision of the project.
- Negotiation and management of key external suppliers.
- Responsible for all fair contracts that need to be reviewed and verified from suppliers or permits and licenses.
- Ensure all legislation adhered to and appropriate risk management onsite at all times.
- Finance, Budgeting and Reporting
- Meet and manage annual fair budgets to ensure financial targets are delivered.
- Regular analysis and reporting to develop improvement plans and adjust annual plans to ensure GP is delivered.
- Development
- Support research on development: growing the Vienna fair but also research new appropriate city.
- Team leadership
- Manage recruitment and all relevant HR processes (eg holidays, appraisals, objectives).
- Inspire and motivate the team with clear and effective training, support and delegation.
KEY SKILLS AND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
- 3 years + of experience in a director or manager’s role and at least 5 years of experience working in events.
- Previous art fair or art world preferred experience: knowledge of the art market in Austria.
- Confident, developed sales and negotiation skills, a relationship builder with high EQ.
- Analytical with commercial business acumen.
- A creative person with drive and initiative to make new initiatives a reality.
- Developed leadership skills with excellent delegating, prioritising and multitasking abilities.
- Strong project management skills with acute attention to detail and organisational skills.
- Proactive work ethic, capable when under pressure with a ‘can-do’ attitude.
- In tune with the aims and ethos of the business – accessible, art-for-all mentality, fun, relaxed.
- Art market experience, specifically in contemporary art, a definite advantage.
DETAILS
- The Fair Director position is full time.
- Salary will be commensurate with experience. Bonus potential.
- Based in Vienna, working from home possible.
- Expect business trips to visit other (Ramsay Fairs) art fairs.
Please submit cover letter and CV to Julie Constant, EU Regional Managing Director, [emailprotected].
All discussions will be strictly confidential.
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