Call for applications
future directors of cultural structures dedicated to emerging artists
We, the Parallèle team, believe that there is a need to think about the sustainability and transition of independent structures dedicated to supporting artists.
Thinking about the sustainability of these structures means :
- ensuring that they are part of a virtuous process in the way they act, operate and think about tomorrow (eco-responsibility, inclusion, cultural rights, respect for all, safety and well-being in our programming spaces, etc.);
- reinforce a collective dynamic of leadership, responsibility, decision-making and representation of the project;
- strengthen our cooperation with partners.
As a result, Parallèle is now offering a professionalization program for a new generation of managers. By management, we mean production management, artistic management and general management of cultural structures. Because running a structure capable of supporting artists means integrating these three skills at the same time.
Today, we're inviting young people to take over this space collectively, adding the experience of Parallèle's current management and team to the position in the world of these young apprentices, who we'll be making sure are representative of diversity.
Thus :
- 3 young people (under 35) with a desire to develop a multidisciplinary programming approach, to produce and accompany artists, and to manage a structure, will enter into a mentoring relationship with the Parallèle team;
- we'll teach them the methods, tools and work processes involved in managing a cultural structure and supporting emerging artists.
They will take part in artistic seminars with the director and artistic prospecting trips;
- they will attend 5 professional workshop sessions common to the professionalization cycle for young choreographers: production; administration; presenting a show; strategy and networks; presenting and communicating one's artistic work;
- meetings will be organized with the directors of a number of cultural structures in Marseille to discuss their work, as well as with dance and visual arts representatives from the City of Marseille, the Bouches du Rhône Department, the South Region and the Drac Paca;
- they will have the opportunity to experiment with programming times, taking into account all the elements and constraints that need to be taken into account in the construction of a touring program built in partnership with a range of venues in the city: dialogue, a detailed understanding of partners' projects, issues of audience and territory of inclusion.
In concrete terms, the 2025 edition of the festival will be a time for immersion and reflection. The 2026 edition will be co-curated by this collective, accompanied by the artistic direction. Immersion in Parallèle and responsibility for programming will enable us to rejuvenate and renew our outlook. The emergence of new artists will be worked on concomitantly by the artists and the directors, to create a generational alliance. It will be accompanied by Parallèle in a spirit of inter-generational alliance.
Action schedule
Year 1, September 2024 to June 2025:
- call for applications and selection of candidates;
- meeting of all selected candidates with the Parallèle team, office and board of directors;
- immersion in the Parallèle 2025 festival;
- 5 professional workshop sessions.
Year 2, October 2025 to February 2026:
- team-building seminars ;
- artistic prospecting trips;
- production work applied to artist and structure projects, meetings with partners;
- preparation of the Festival 2026 program in collaboration with management.
Mission expenses will be covered by Parallèle on a case-by-case basis, and working hours will be remunerated.
How to apply
Please send us :
- a cover letter of no more than 4 pages, explaining why you are applying and how you see your role in the project;
- a curriculum vitae detailing your professional experience in the cultural and artistic fields.
Please send your application to the following address:
candidature@plateformeparallele.com,
with "future cultural structure manager - application" in the subject line.
Deadline for applications: midnight, September 6, 2024.
Composition of the selection committee
Applications will be reviewed by the Parallèle team, executive committee and board of directors.
Composition of the office and board of directors :
- Sophie Lemaire (president, coordinator of the Allez Savoir festival) ;
- Béatrice Simonet (Treasurer, Director of IFAMM),
- Sophie Clot (deputy treasurer, general secretary of 3 bis f Centre d'arts contemporains d'interêt national) ;
- Jean Daniel (secretary, architect);
- Tanguy Accart (deputy director of Maison de la danse and director of dance projects at the Lyon Biennial);
- Aurélie Berthaut (director of art-cade* galerie des grands bains douches, initiator and developer of the Jeanne Barret project, co-founder of Collective and of the Curriculum Chromé program) ;
- Francesca Corona (artistic director of theater, dance and visual arts at the Festival d'Automne à Paris) ;
- Alexandre Field (Architect and producer of cultural projects) ;
- Maxime Kottmann (Administrative and financial manager of the Shonen company) ;
- Axelle Monge (Human resources and general resources manager - Mucem - Musée des civilisations de l'Europe et de la Méditerranée) ;
- Sarah Olaya (Director of artistic and cultural projects, music and performing arts) ;
- Christine Paly (retired, ARVIVA Board member) ;
- Sébastien Pons (architect).