Tanzquartier Wien

Tanzquartier-Wien GmbH invites applications for the position of Artistic Director (f/m/d) on behalf of the City of Vienna: The City of Vienna is the 100% owner of TQW (Tanzquartier-Wien GmbH), an institution in Vienna focussing on dance and performance with international appeal. The TQW comprises five pillars, which are the responsibility of the artistic management: presentation of productions, theory, research, education and training. Its activities include the continuous programming of a venue with up to 300 seats, the temporary programming of a venue with approx. 900 seats and year-round studio operations in 3 studios. TQW is responsible for a continuous dialogue with local artists. TQW Vienna is intended to be a networked and interconnected place that is open to both urban society and the independent performing arts community.

The new artistic director will have extensive knowledge of the national and international dance and performance scene and its discourse on contemporary choreographic formats. The call for applications is aimed at team-oriented people (f/m/d) who have suitable artistic and organisational management experience. A commitment to the social responsibility of cultural organisations with regard to diversity, inclusion, fairness, mutual appreciation and sustainability is required.

The position also includes taking over the management of the company under commercial law, which is carried out on a dual control basis with the management responsible for the commercial area. The working languages are German and English.

• In this role, you will be responsible for the positioning and profile orientation of the TQW as a lively cultural venue that has an impact on the city and international appeal, the conception of a dance and performance programme that is open to diverse, inclusive and new formats of choreography and performance art and the development of contemporary mediation strategies.
• It is essential to involve the local artistic scene in curating processes, to exchange ideas with the public and to attract new audiences.
• The programming of themed events in various formats that complement the programme aims to open up the TQW as a place of exchange and networking and serves to strengthen local, national and international networks (e.g. by addressing new communities, cooperations with universities) as well as to support local artists in international networking and touring.
• In order to fulfil these tasks and achieve the objectives, cooperation with the commercial management as well taking into account the available budgets, is a prerequisite, as is maintaining contacts with public funding bodies and representatives of the City of Vienna, sponsors, the media and the cultural scene.
• We require a relevant academic degree or proof of comparable knowledge or professional experience and expect profound knowledge of contemporary choreography and excellent contacts to the national and international (also non-European) dance and performance scene, proven expertise in the conception and realisation of contemporary, innovative productions in the field of dance and performance as well as experience in the artistic direction of an institution of dance and performance art.
• The position of Artistic Director requires a strong ability to lead teams, a high level of communicative and integrative competence, experience in dealing with the public and the media, experience in fundraising and sponsoring, and a command of German and English appropriate to the tasks.

The artistic directorship is to be filled as a full-time position from July 2025 and is advertised for a term of office of up to five years with a part-time preparatory phase from September 2024. The envisaged annual salary will be EUR 85,000 gross from the time the position of artistic director is assumed in July 2025. Depending on individual qualifications, an industry-standard overpayment is not excluded. The TQW will receive EUR 3.435 million in funding from the City of Vienna in the calendar year 2025.

The commercial management position will also be advertised separately for the 2025/26 season.

Your application should include a conceptual outline with an idea and vision for the positioning and programme profile of the TQW, including strategies for integrating the local and international independent dance and performance scene as well as for networking and mediation within the social and cultural fabric of the city and beyond. In addition to your CV, it contains explanations of your personal understanding of leadership.

Interested persons are requested to submit their complete application by e-mail to the Head of the Cultural Department of the City of Vienna, Ms Anita Zemlyak, bewerbungen@ma07.wien.gv.at. Application deadline is 2 April 2024.