Dumfries & Galloway Creative Showcase 
​Paid Internship Opportunity 
 
Supported by the Holywood Trust, DG Unlimited (DGU) is looking for an inspiring 21–25 year old with exhibition and events organisation and project management skills.   They will be part of the team delivering a fantastic showcase of the best of our region’s artists and creative sector to the outside world at this year’s Royal Highland Agricultural Show Scotland (RHASS).
 
Our RHASS Creative Showcase Intern is a paid, commissioned role of  £3,300 (40 days over 4 months, with a daily fee of £82.50 inclusive of travel & subsistence costs) – we believe in valuing creative practitioners’ time and experience at whatever stage of their creative development.  
 
Background
Each year the RHASS is responsible for running The Royal Highland Show – one of the UK’s premier agricultural shows.  It is one of Scotland's most iconic events, showcasing the very best of farming, food and rural life.  It’s a great day out for everyone of all ages and a chance to get up close to the country's top-quality livestock, taste exceptional food and drink and experience rural living at its most vibrant.
 
This year is the Show’s 180th Anniversary.  It will be held at Ingleston, Edinburgh, from 18 – 21st June 2020,and is to be hosted by Dumfries and Galloway.  
 
What will our Intern do?
This is a varied and exciting opportunity which includes mentoring from experienced professionals; we are looking for our intern to contribute to planning, coordination, delivery, installation and promotion across all aspects of D & G’s Creative Showcase which includes:

• Commissioning, co-ordination and installation - 2 x art interventions and 2 x exhibitions;
• ‘Live’ project for D & G College and SRUC students - design a poster to promote D & G’s creative showcase;
• Schools Art Competition - Theme: 2020, Year of Scotland’s Coasts and Waters – artwork or designs for tile installation;
• Written on the Landscape – Wigtown Festival Company (WFC) will curate a series of mini-events which will include a day of storytelling for schools and families attending RHASS;

• Schools Creative Writing Competition - WFC will also support an associated short story competition. 

Top skills required

1. Attention to Detail: you have to be able to create and follow comprehensive check lists, to-do-lists and itineraries.
2. Communication: you need to have strong people skills – the ability to interact with and speak to a wide variety of people on a daily basis.
3. Problem-solving: you must be able to think on your feet and make quick decisions when unforeseen challenges arise.
4. Multi-tasking: you have to be able to juggle a lot and make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
5. Time management: skilfully budgeting your time against priorities is essential.

 
Why Be Involved?
 
DGU values diversity and does not discriminate, welcoming applications from as diverse a range of young people as possible.  The opportunity will enable you to:

• Build your profile and provide an opportunity to evidence your professional development for future projects;
• Be connected to a wide network of creative organisations, local government staff and other key organisations.

 
Get in touch if you:

• Have a minimum of 2 years-experience working/volunteering within an arts organisation or working/volunteering at arts events and festivals;
• Are a self-motivated, creative individual with an ability to work on your own initiative, be part of a small team and work to deadlines;
• Have excellent time-management and admin/organisational skills, including the use of Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Photoshop or similar software/publishing packages;
• Are very familiar with IT, social media, the web.
• Are able to get out and about across the region and beyond.

 
For more information or to request an expression of interest form, please email maggie.dgu@gmail.com
 
How to Apply
 
Completed expression of interest forms should be submitted to maggie.dgu@gmail.com  before 12 noon on Monday 2nd March – make it as creative as you are; Be Unlimited!
 
We will inform shortlisted applicants by noon on Tuesday 3rd March, meet with all those shortlisted on Friday 6th March and have our Creative Intern  in place by Week beginning 16th March.

National Theatre of Scotland and The Stove Network present a two-day festival of bold new work, taking over shop-fronts, working men’s clubs and the streets of Dumfries this February.  

At Just Start Here, dive into innovative work-in-progress performances, dance, music and cross-artform experimentation.  

During the day you'll find provocative talks and intimate performances, a bite to eat and ideas to mull over. Or come at night for performances and  live music including DG Unlimited's Bright Sparks award winner Stuart Macpherson. Stuart is based in Moniaive and he will be performing the latest iteration of his Solway to Svalgard project which is a collaboration with filmmaker Emma Dove, sound designer Peter Smith and the National Theatre of Scotland (NTS). 

A celebration, a party and a unique chance to see the artists and theatre-makers of today at a point of unfolding, Just Start Here is the beginning of something.

​Look forward to discussions, performances and music from:
Behavin’
Mele Broomes
//BUZZCUT//
Stuart Macpherson, Pete Smith and Emma Dove - 
Two Destination Language
Uma Nada-Rajah
Sean Wai Keung
SUE ZUKI
Ashanti Sharda
Nic Green
Alan Lane
Stewart Laing
 
Tickets and further information are also available through our website here:
https://www.nationaltheatrescotland.com/production/just-start-here/
 
This event is part of Engine Room
Engine room brings artists together to develop skills, networks and create new work at the greatest reach of their imaginations and ambitions.
 
Engine Room is supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

Are you driven and passionate about giving a voice to young creative practitioners; do you believe in making arts accessible to young audiences; do you  have an interest in arts organisations, charities and the Third Sector? If that sounds familiar, we’d like to hear from you.

Supported by the Holywood Trust, DG Unlimited (DGU) is looking for an inspiring 18–25 year old currently connected into the cultural pulse of the region to become our Youth Arts Advocate (YAA) for 2020/21.  Our YAA is a paid, commissioned role with a total fee of £7,400 plus reasonable travel costs (£92.50 per day ) – we believe in valuing creative practitioners’ time and experience at whatever stage of their creative development.   

Working alongside our pARTners group, DGU commissioned the development of a Youth Arts Strategy Framework (YASF) to help us:

• Get a better idea of what was already provided for young people involved or interested in the arts across the region;
• Find out the things stopping more young people from getting involved.  

DGU has always seen this as the start of a longer term journey and genuinely believes the best person to give a voice to the young people of our region must be - young!   

What will our Youth Arts Advocate do?
 
Our YAA will be contracted 1 day per week over 20 months/80 weeks and will be expected to :

• Familiarize themselves with our YASF and report.

• Work with our pARTners group, identify one or two key recommendations from the YASF and explore ways in which to develop and promote them.
• Meet up with young artists across the region to promote and actively achieve the agreed key recommendations.
• Share their own and other young people’s experiences and opinions on key areas identified from the YASF via blogs, vlogging, attending events and conferences, responding to policy, writing articles.
• Use initiative to recognise and flag up opportunities and partnerships which help build on the recommendations of  YASF and reflect the needs of young people.

Why Be Involved?
 
DGU values diversity and does not discriminate, welcoming applications from as diverse a range of young people as possible.  The opportunity will enable you to:

• Be part of the conversation that looks to encourage fairer access to the arts for young people, as creators and audience members;
• Build your profile and provide an opportunity to evidence your professional development for future projects;
• Be connected to a wide network of creative organisations, local government staff and other key organisations.

 
What are we looking for?
 
We are looking for our YAA to reach out and act as a connector between young people, DGU and those who support the creative sector.  Get in touch if you:

• Have a minimum of 2 years-experience as a creative practitioner, working/volunteering within an arts organisation or working/volunteering at arts events and festivals;
• Are self-motivated, with an ability to work on your own initiative, be part of a small team and work to deadlines;
• Are able to  speak at meetings or events and provide regular verbal and written updates to the DGU freelance team, our stakeholders and the wider public;
• Are able to take a proactive approach in contacting, networking and supporting young people get involved in the arts;
• Have good time-management and admin/organisational skills, including the use of Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint or similar software/publishing packages;
• Are very familiar with IT, social media, the web.
• Are able to get around the region.

 
For more information or to request an expression of interest form, please email comms.dgu@gmail.com . 
 
How to Apply
 
Completed expression of interest forms should be submitted to comms.dgu@gmail.com before 12 midnight on Friday 28th February – make it as creative as you are; Be Unlimited!
 
We will inform shortlisted applicants on Monday 2nd March, meet with all those shortlisted on Friday 6th March and have our Youth Arts Advocate in place by  week beginning 16th March.