Job and internship

Director of Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art

Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art is one of Copenhagen’s leading art institutions. The exhibition hall was built and is owned by the Den Frie Association of Artists (Den Frie Udstilling), and has over a century of history fulfilling its declared goal of presenting the latest contemporary art. Den Frie has a dynamic and varied exhibition programme, consisting of ten annual exhibitions with Danish and international artists addressing contemporary issues and themes. As an artists’ venue, the exhibition hall is a platform for new art and its production, with the participation of numerous artists in close dialogue between art, artists, and the art audience.

Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art is a vibrant, dynamic workplace with a small, team working on the day-to-day running of the institution to create the best conditions for exhibition production.

The director answers to the independent board of Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art. The board consists of a chair and four members appointed for a four-year term. The board (its chair and a board member with economic and legal expertise) is appointed by the Den Frie Association of Artists (Den Frie Udstilling), together with the following organisations: the Danish branch of Association Internationale des Critiques d’Art, the Academy Council, and – alternately – Danish Visual Artists (BKF) and the Danish Organisation for Artists and Curators (UKK). The board is responsible for the administration of Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art, and provides art-related, managerial, and economic expertise.

Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art receives an annual grant from the Danish Ministry of Culture and The Danish Arts Foundation, and its also financed by the support of private foundations, sponsors, etc.

The Director

The director is responsible for the daily management of the institution, its programme of exhibitions and art events, its personnel, and also has overriding responsibility for the administration and budget of the institution. The director is expected to have the vision and capacity to develop Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art in accordance with the specific mandate of running an art venue for artists in the 21^st century.

We expect you:

• to have experience in managing cultural institutions and the ability and experience necessary to take budgetary responsibility
• to have experience in establishing an artistic profile and implementing an exhibition programme
• to have good collaborative and interpersonal skills and experience
• to have fundraising experience
• to have extensive knowledge of Danish and international contemporary art
• to have the capacity to develop the external partnerships of the institution both nationally and internationally
• to publically promote Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art
• to have good written and spoken skills in English and Danish

The position, available from 1.1.2019, is a five-year appointment with the option of an extension. Salary and terms of employment are to be agreed with the board.

Further Information

If you would like to know more about the position you are welcome to contact Søren Jensen, chair of the board, on + 45 50 45 24 03. Information about Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art’s agreement with the Danish Arts Council 2018-21 as well as our annual reports can be found in Danish at www.denfrie.dk.

Please mail your letter of application (maximum 2 pages) to chair of the board Søren Jensen at sjensen@jensen.mail.dk by noon on September 10^th 2018, attaching your CV and documentation of your professional and managerial qualifications.