Paid work experience placements
Work experience placements at DCA in our Learning and Print Studio teams specifically for people from global majority backgrounds.
Dundee Contemporary Arts is one of Scotland's leading contemporary art organisations and aims to enrich people's lives through culture, creativity and art through our four programme strands: Exhibitions, Cinema, Print Studio and Learning.
We are pleased to offer, funded by Art Fund, two 16-day work experience placements at DCA in our Learning and Print Studio teams specifically for people from global majority backgrounds.
DCA is committed to collaboration, inclusion and equity, and acknowledges the under-representation in the arts and cultural sector of people who are Black, Brown, Asian, dual-heritage, or from racialised ’ethnic minority’ backgrounds. This programme aims to address this issue by offering opportunities to people of the global majority to explore and expand their career through focused paid work experience.
Under Schedule 9, part 1 of the Equality Act 2010, applications for this role will only be accepted from anyone from a global majority background.
Each placement is for 16 days in total, over an agreed period of time with the expectation that you will work at least one day a week, although in some cases, two days a week will be possible over a shorter timescale.
Proposed dates can be consecutive days or split over several visits - we will work with the selected applicant to create a flexible schedule based on their needs and the requirements of each programme area.
The placements are paid at £12.64 per hour.
We acknowledge intersectional backgrounds and identities and strongly encourage applications from those who also identify as disabled, LGBTQIA+ and/or those from working class or lower socio-economic backgrounds.
Placements available
Learning team
DCA Learning Programme has a great track record of creating quality learning experiences for many audiences, receiving a number of UK awards for the Family and 0-3s activity in particular. Learning teamwork with all DCA programme areas, and external partner organisations and schools to plan effective and engaging activity that is impactful. This placement will you give insight into ways of working with/for differing audiences and partners, associated pedagogy and recognised frameworks alongside experience of a range of the administrative and day to day tasks involved.
- Sarah Derrick, Head of Learning
This placement offers the opportunity to work with the Learning team and DCA Art Therapist to support and deliver:
a) family activity including Messy Play, Family Art Lab and Create Space activities
b) general group visits
c) workshops in community settings offsite
The placement will work to Learning programme aims and will learn about early years work, research undertaken for DCA’s collaborative Art at the Start project in partnership with University of Dundee, designing and structuring activity with experience of various models of 'evidencing impacts'.
You will have mentorship from the team and engage with both the current and future exhibitions, Soft Impressions and Acts of Creation: on art and motherhood.
In this role you will learn about and be involved in the day-to-day planning, admin and communications that underpin the delivery of our activity. The role will undertake elements of documentation, evaluation and report writing. There is also the opportunity to design activity for our annual Spring Holiday Pop Up in Gallery 1 at the end of March 2025.
Print Studio
No day is the same in DCA Print Studio, where we offer open access to traditional and digital printmaking technology to anyone wanting to do printmaking. We also work collaboratively with DCA’s wider programme, producing artwork and editions for DCA exhibitions and providing the space for our Learning programme to engage our local community with printmaking. Behind the scenes we have a selection of archive material, including prints and print ephemera that tell the story of DCA Editions and DCA’s contribution to Scottish contemporary art.
- Marion Ferguson, Head of Print Studio
This placement offers the opportunity to work with DCA’s Print Studio team, learning a range of skills in print production, artistic collaboration, practical printmaking techniques, workshop delivery, editioning and archival processes as well as the day to day running of a busy open access studio.
You will work with the Print Studio team to develop practical printmaking experience and learn new technical skills in printmaking including editioning, project delivery and collaboration.
You will have mentorship from the studio team and access to our digital and traditional print technology, including screen printing, etching, relief, letterpress, riso and laser cutting.
Working with the team, you will have the opportunity to:
- Deliver the day to day running of a busy open access print studio, including updating user registrations and taking payments for materials and sessions
- Maintain stock of materials for the workshop and general housekeeping
- Develop current and learn new practical printmaking skills including editioning
- Develop paper handling and archival storage techniques
- Update and maintain DCA Editions database and explore the archive
- Develop learning resources for Get Creative workshops and visiting artists
The placement is flexible and can be taken over 16 weeks or condensed to suit. There will be regular check ins and reflection throughout the placement period with the aim to provide further flexibility to focus on areas of development suited to the individual post holder, where possible.
Experience of at least one printmaking technique is essential.
How to apply
If you interested in this opportunity, then we would love to hear from you.
Please send us a letter or video explaining which placement you are interested in and why. You should also download and include the application form with your letter.
We are particularly interested in hearing about why it would be helpful for you and your practice or career plans. We are not asking for formal CVs but it might be helpful to the people reading your letter to explain how your work, volunteering, studying or life experiences to date reflect your interests and learning, as well as a summary of your future plans. If you are applying for the Print Studio placement, please tell us about your printmaking experience to date.
We are not expecting professional art speak but to instead get a sense of you and what you hope to get from a placement. The letter should not be longer than 2 A4 sides (though writing less is completely fine) and a video should not last longer than 5 minutes.
Deadline for completed applications is Friday 10 January 2025 at 12 noon.
Interviews are expected to take place week in start of February 2025. The questions will be circulated in advance of the interview.
If you require this advert or application form in an alternative format please email dca.recruitment@dca.org.uk or call 01382 432490.
DCA is supported by Dundee City Council and Creative Scotland
DCA is committed to addressing the inequality that prevents equal access to opportunities in the arts and will be implementing a policy of positive action when selecting candidates. We encourage applications from those who are underrepresented in the arts and cultural sectors and who face barriers to access.
