November Music is looking for an Artistic Director

About our organisation

Are you a passionate music enthusiast with a keen ear for innovation? As our Artistic Director, you will lead our artistic team and creative community. Discover and support talent, and realize ambitious projects with our team and partners.

About our organization November Music, a ten-day festival for adventurous music lovers, annually brings together unique and progressive creators from around the world. Founded in 1993, the organization has evolved into the most important international festival for contemporary music in the Netherlands. Since 2021, it also includes the FAQ Festival for electronic new music. Spread across various locations in Den Bosch, November Music offers an eclectic mix of modern composed music, jazz, new world music, music theater, pop, and boundary-pushing genres.

The festival center is located in the Verkadefabriek, a vibrant place with strong local ties serving as inspiration. Simultaneously, the festival embraces international collaborations with leading festivals and organizations, such as Sounds Now, fostering the diversity of new music in Europe. November Music serves as a meeting point where creators are encouraged to explore new, individual paths, far from the conventional mainstream.

In addition to the annual festival, November Music also organizes concerts outside of the festival days under the banner November Music on Tour and participates in educational activities. Talent development is a high priority, with involvement in Music Hub Brabant and Rizoom, where young creators are supported with coaching, networking, and production development. The festival opens its doors to Dutch and international top and mid-career makers, with a diverse lineup of concerts and projects. It not only provides a stage for established names but also for emerging talent, placing their pursuit of innovation and diversity at the forefront. November Music not only stands for an annual musical highlight but is also dedicated to stimulating artistic growth and talent development within the world of contemporary music.

About the Position

With the departure of our dedicated artistic director and architect of our artistic heritage, there is an opportunity within our current course for new methods and initiatives to emerge. Together with the managing director, you are the driving force behind our festival and build upon a solid content foundation.

On one hand, we are seeking someone with strong substantive music knowledge and experience in the field, who understands the diversity of musical trends and can integrate them into the festival program. On the other hand, we are looking for a person who excels in team management and strengthening human potential, capable of creating an inspiring work environment where team members can fully utilize their potential and collaborate effectively. While you will align with our current ambitions and our most recent policy plan, there is ample space within this role for your own vision and creative approach to further grow and flourish the festival.
 

Your Responsibilities:

• Strategic leadership: Together with the managing director, you develop the strategy and policies of November Music. Your artistic vision will be the guiding principle for our future success and positioning. In this capacity, you inspire the team, aiding in individual potential and fostering collaboration.
• External representation: As an ambassador of November Music, you represent the foundation externally. You build upon existing relationships but also initiate new collaborations with creators, musicians, and organizations at international, national, and regional levels.
• Talent development: An essential part of your role is discovering, selecting, and coaching talents. This contributes to the growth and innovation of the contemporary music scene, both within and outside the Netherlands.
• Budget management and program: You manage the artistic budget and are ultimately responsible for the festival program. Alongside programmers and curators, you ensure an eclectic mix of contemporary composed music, jazz, new world music, music theater, and boundary-pushing genres.
• Collaboration and networking: You initiate and guide artistic collaborations, both nationally and internationally.

November Music is a BIS institution and works with a small staff of dedicated freelancers. The foundation has five directors and a two-headed management. The governance model is transitioning to a supervisory board.

Who are we looking for?
 

Our new Artistic Director is an inspiring leader with a great affinity for innovation within the contemporary music scene. With your keen insight into the strategy and policies of November Music, you are able to continue the current success, add new perspectives, and build a solid future. You motivate the team and stimulate individual potential and collaboration. Your entrepreneurial approach and creative mindset enable you to explore new opportunities and constantly grow the organization.

We believe the following skills are essential:

• You have a broad artistic vision and can translate it into a clear strategy for the festival. This way, you optimally connect your new perspective with our current mission and the city. 
• You are an inspiring leader, capable of motivating professionals and fostering a culture of collaboration while discovering, selecting, and coaching talent. 
• You have strong communication skills and represent November Music to various internal and external stakeholders - both nationally and internationally. 
• You have an eye for detail and a good sense of text and language. 
• You have sufficient knowledge of financial aspects such as budget management and can manage the artistic budget and be accountable for the festival program. 
• You are willing to actively engage with the region.

Substantive knowledge of new music is important. Experience in the performing arts as a creator and knowledge of production and execution, however, are not requirements. They can be significant advantages in this role.

Do you recognize yourself in these skills? Then we are looking for you!

What do we have to offer?

We are not only asking; we also have something to offer. To start, a salary in scale 11 of the CAO for Social Work. This means 5,403 euros gross per month for a 32-hour workweek, plus 8 percent holiday pay per year. Furthermore, our offer includes an attractive package of secondary employment conditions.

We want to be a good employer, and therefore you can count on:

• A safe environment and informal work atmosphere; 
• Time and budget for your personal development; 
• The opportunity to occasionally work from home and a budget to make your home workplace as comfortable as possible; 
• A pleasant workplace in Verkadefabriek.

We believe in the power of diversity, also in our workforce, and therefore, we are looking for people with a diversity of backgrounds and experiences to form a strong team together. Would you like more information about our organization? Visit: novembermusic.net/about

How to apply?

Are you enthusiastic about this vacancy and do you recognize yourself in who we are looking for? Then we invite you to apply. The headhunters and recruiters of DDJ& guide this procedure and are also responsible for the initial screening. We aim for as fair an assessment as possible and equal opportunities for everyone. That's why we don't ask candidates to write a motivation letter, but instead present a few practical questions.

Click on the application button, upload your CV, and your answers to the questions before Thursday, May 2, 2024. We are curious about your ideas and approach. If you are invited for an introduction with the selection committee, please note the following moments for both interview rounds: Tuesday, May 14, and Wednesday, May 22, 2024. We hope to welcome our new colleague by July 1, and no later than August 1, 2024.