Fashion School Director position

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MATERIAL INSTITUTE

Mardi Gras Indian suit by Big Chief Demond Melancon; indigo dyed shawl by Carola Jones at the Material Institute show in December 2019. Photography: Kewon Hunter

Material Institute is a new space for design and manufacture of garments, textiles and fashion, with a focus on learning through hands on experimentation. It opened with a pilot in November 2018, carrying through to summer 2019.

The goal of the Institute is to provide space, tools and professional guidance to those who would not have access to these opportunities otherwise - communities for whom affordable enriching education has been lacking. Material Institute is a place where students are able to express themselves in a creative and professional way, and supported to gain financial independence through their craft. Priority is given to locals, those who will benefit most, people aged 14-30, with exceptions. The space is founded on the belief in the value of free high quality education for all; and the learning environment as a community and place for experimentation and expression. Material Institute grows out of the incredible, inique and diverse heritage of craft, costuming and fashions of New Orleans, as well as progressive educational models such as Black Mountain College.

The tools include industrial sewing machines, a large dye sublimation printer and heat press, weaving loom, natural dye facilities, as well as many more hand tools and materials.

MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) invited Assemble art and architecture collective to design the project. Assemble has since created the workshop spaces, run and curated the pilot phase of the educational program, collaborating with experts in the fashion industry including: Big Chief Demond Melancon, Carola Jones, Faustine Steinmetz, Kenneth Ize, Kristine Pichon, Kai Bussant, Briana Henry, Norma Hedrick.The school is funded and has been initiated by MONA.

Assemble and MONA are now looking for a New Orleans based director for the fashion department. In the meantime we are running another 10 week program April-June 2019; a form of summer school; with the ambition of starting a full year program in September 2019.

Material Institute

We have converted the first floor of an ex garage building into two generous spaces for the fashion and textile equipment and workspace. Full building completion ex expected by summer 2019. Photography: Assemble

The Pilot Program(November-Dec 2018; Jan-March 2019)

Some of the looks from the December 2018 pilot show, where 18 student beginners took part. Photography: Esther Choi

Fashion School Director

Material Institute seeks a dynamic fashion school Director who will hold day-to-day responsibility for the running of the project and building, managing other staff and planning and delivering education and outreach programs.

This is a great opportunity for an ambitious candidate to help develop a popular and innovative education space, and to manage its on-going success and growth. From joining the Director will oversee the smooth and efficient running of all the Institute’s resources.

Responsibilities will include shaping the curriculum with the teaching staff, managing staff and students, handling payroll and the overall financial overview of the department. The first two months from June will continue the current interim “work in progress” period where the space will operate at a modest capacity, while building its identity with public focused summer workshops, prior to the official opening of a full curriculum in September 2019. This post requires flexibility with the working hours, presence during events, which would occasionally take place on weekends and evenings, as well as a passionate and realistic commitment to a start up, ambitious educational project.

START SUMMER 2019Full time, yearly rolling contract after a six month probationary period

COMPENSATIONCommensurate with the role and the candidate’s experience. This post is offered on a full time basis, at 40hrs/week.

HOW TO APPLYPlease submit your CV, a cover letter, 2 reference contacts, as well as answers to the questions in this application to jobs@materialinstitute.org with subject line ‘Fashion & Textile Director’

APPLICATION DEADLINEPlease apply by Sunday 23rd June 2019.

PROGRAM- Make a strategic and operational plan for annual curriculum, staffing, enrollment and scheduling, in conversation with other staff as well as MONA/Assemble where necessary - Supervise overall operations and procedures to ensure smooth function and efficiency of- Manage on -site supervision of facilities operations and serve as primary liaison for facilities related issues- Take an integrated approach to program, engagement, building maintenance, technology, and housekeeping to best support mission and sustainability- Follow local and global dialogue on alternative models of pedagogy- Connect to other NOLA programs, which could enter a mutually beneficial relationship with the Material Institute- Hold the vision of the organization

ENGAGEMENT- Develop meaningful relationships with the local, historical communities of the 8th and 9th wards, focusing on immediate neighbors as a priority (those within 1/2 mile radius).- Ensure participation of a diverse range of artistic voices locally, nationally, and internationally, and an atmosphere conducive to creativity, connection, and learning. - Build relationships with the fashion, textile, arts and culture communities of greater New Orleans, encouraging the Institute as a place to meet and connect with creative practitioners

FINANCE- Develop annual operating budget, in conversation with MONA and Assemble- Manage finances working with a book keeper, paying bills, data entry- Prepare monthly info to accountant, board of trustees, and once hired the whole-school director- Research alternative funding streams, actively engage with fund raising, hire/direct a grant writer. Set meetings with private funders and organisations, host fundraisers.- Advise on annual budgeting; resource allocation including staffing, finance, space, and programming

RECRUITMENT- Advertise for and interview for staff when necessary- Monitor work quality- Monitor staff satisfaction, conduct appraisals and create opportunities for growth and responsibility- Run regular staff meetings, preparing an agenda and ensuring actions are clearly identified and achieved- Meet with the Advisory Board, making the most of its expertise, strategic input and funding contacts

COMMUNICATIONS- Create and maintain relationships with local organizations, institutions and individuals who are likely to benefit from and contribute to the Material Institute- Update communication outlets such as the website and any printed material, commissioning expert input where necessary

Roles & Responsibilities

- High awareness of and interest in the fields of fashion, textiles and design- Minimum of 3 years experience in a non profit arts, education or creative business in a senior management position- Previous work, which demonstrates initiative, passion and organizational prowess- Strong budgeting skills and fiscal responsibility/accountability- Evidenced Experience managing budgets- Evidenced Experience managing teams- Ability to work collaboratively

- Computer literacy, with programs such as Microsoft Word, and other programs such as Illustrator or Photoshop a bonus.- Excellent communication skills - verbal, written and well versed in social media and visual communication- Excellent social skills; ability to engage with the community the school is serving, as well as the funders, the city, and other partners

- A close understanding of the Institute’s audience- A history of working in New Orleans and/ or the South / African American communities- Passionate about the community- Open minded and loving- A sense of humor and positive solutions orientated approach- Enterprising, sense of initiative

- Ability to think creatively and systemically about operations, sustainability and partnerships, and to effectively communicate related priorities with staff, board, and the community

- Ecologically minded

- Worldly perspective

Skills & Experience

Creative Director Questions

Please answer the following questions and attach the answers with your Resume and Cover Letter.

MANAGEMENTAnswering questions in this section, please make reference to up to three positions or projects that you are currently undertaking/ have undertaken in the past ten years.

Practical organizational competencyWe would like to know your capacity to manage and run the Institute on a daily basis. Please describe how your work to date has demonstrated the creative direction, and the balancing of complex needs required for this post. - Max. 200 words

Understanding operationsWhat is your experience in running an educational program, running a building and running a non-profit organization, or arts business? - Max. 200 words

Team workWhat is your experience in managing staff and working with an interdisciplinary team?- Max. 200 words

ENGAGEMENTConnecting with audiencesWhat would be your approach to ensuring a wide ranging audience engages with Material Institute - with a focus on the key audiencelocal young people from the community? What is your experience in delivering outreach, communications and programming? How will you make sure people know about MI, come and keep coming consistently? What challenges do you envisage?- Max. 250 words

New Orleans and the 8th and 9th wardsWhat is your connection to New Orleans? Have you worked in the city, and if so briefly mention the relevant experiences. How well do you know the immediate neighborhoods of the MI (8th and 9th wards)? How should they relate to the goals of the MI? - Max. 200 words

AMBITIONSExperimental pedagogyPlease describe your interest in and commitment to alternative models of education; hands on making and its role as a social facility. What do you think will make a space like this a success?- Max. 200 words

Location

View of Port Street outside the Material Institute building

Student Reuben Craddock embroidering a T-Shirt

2120 Port Street in New Orleans

Equipment

Industrial sewing machines x 4Sergers x 2Walking foot x 1Regular sewing machines x 2Steam iron x 1Dye sublimation printerHeat pressWeaving loomDye equipmentComputers x 4, PC (with plans to change to MAC)Adobe Suite software (inc Photoshop and Illustrator) x 4+ growing library of books and fabric samples + dress forms+ hand tools

Management

Board of Trustees

School Principal

Staff: Teachers, Accountant,

Student Reps, Consultants

Material Institute Director

The Embassy Director

24 Carrot Garden Director

^^^

Answering to

Advisory Board

Inspiration

Black Mountain College in North CarolinaNew Orleans Second LineMardi Gras Indian maskingEducation as the Practice of Freedom by Bell HooksSneaker deconstruction workshop by Virgil Abloh