Project lead, Prints and Multiples

Closing date: 6th December 2024

Salary: £50,000 dependent on experience

Working hours: Monday to Friday, 10.00am to 6.00pm

Location: White Cube Bermondsey, London

Reporting: Senior director, Editorial 

Dotted Reporting: Director of Digital and Audiences

Direct Reports: Prints and Multiples officer

Oversee innovative artist collaborations and drive market growth at a leading contemporary art gallery.

White Cube was set up by Jay Jopling in 1993 as a project room for contemporary art. The gallery has since grown into one of the most influential commercial galleries in the world, representing internationally renowned artists such as Georg Baselitz, Tracey Emin, Antony Gormley, Mona Hatoum, Anselm Kiefer, Liu Wei, Park Seo Bo, Doris Salcedo and Jeff Wall. White Cube’s exhibition programme extends across locations in London, Hong Kong, Paris, New York, Seoul and online. Since its inception in 1993, the gallery has exhibited the work of many of the world’s most highly acclaimed contemporary artists. 

The Project Lead, Prints and Multiples will oversee a broad programme of artist prints and multiples projects - from initial idea, through production to launch - that deliver commercially and reputationally for the artist and the gallery. The Project Lead will build meaningful relationships with our artists and their studios, aware of the potential for career and market development as well as the personal ambitions of the artist.

This role requires a highly organised, strategic thinker with a strong background in project management, an understanding of fabrication processes, the ability to think creatively and work collaboratively and a passion for the arts. The Project Lead will work in close collaboration with the Senior Director, Editorial and the Director of Digital and will be the primary point of contact and the spokesperson for Prints and Multiples. 

This area of the business is in the process of an exciting relaunch to become a new pillar for the gallery, aiming to reach new collectors, expand our ‘offer’ to our artists, and to grow the gallery’s revenue and reputation. 

Responsibilities

Artist Relationships 

• Research potential new collaborations with artists and fabricators.
• Establish and nurture new relationships with fabricators, with a particular focus on developing and expanding the gallery’s partnerships in the US.
• Liaise with Artist Liaisons and Publications to propose new projects aligned to the gallery’s exhibition and publishing programme, or as standalone ventures.
• Run your own efficient pitch funnel, creating pitch decks, formulating budgets, implementing timelines and managing meetings, informed by market insights to determine the commercial viability. 
• Lead on and present approved pitches to artist/studios, fabricators/co-publishers as well as internally to the Senior Teams.

Project Management

• Project manage the fabrication of new Prints and Multiples, ensuring high-quality production, timely delivery and budget adherence.
• Work with the Senior Team to determine viability of projects, including edition sizes, price points and price escalation.
• Negotiate consignment agreements, working with the gallery Artists and Sales Liaison colleagues and the in-house Legal Team, to ensure the best interests of the artist and gallery are covered.
• Plan and execute launches in collaboration with Communications, Digital and Publications teams, working collaboratively to secure visual content and accurate copy.
• Establish accurate reporting against targets on a weekly and quarterly basis.
• Manage budgets and create cost reports to ensure artists expectations are managed and the gallery is meeting necessary margins.
• ⁠Post launch reporting and analysis to ensure that the gallery is aware of and responsive to figures.
• Research and identify opportunities to bring already published Prints and Multiples to market.
• Review/update/action all necessary procedures for existing P&M consignments.

Sales

• As the P&M spokesperson, train internal teams in printing processes, techniques, and market. 
• Work with the Digital Client Services and the Sales Team to seek out dialogues with prospective clients.
• Collaborate with the Senior Editor / Artist Liaison to ensure accurate and engaging online sales presentations and other sales collateral.
• Liaise with the Design Team to create marketing material to support the promotion of P&Ms.
• In collaboration with the Art Fairs Team, evaluate, prepare and submit proposals for participation in national and international Print Art Fairs.
• Compile and present quarterly reports and budgets to the Senior Commercial Team.
• Monitor secondary market activities of the P&M market to ensure that the gallery is competitively placed.

General

• Line-manage the P&M Officer to ensure data accuracy, stock management and fulfilment of sales is executed to the highest standard and in a timely manner, providing guidance and support as needed.
• Keep the P&M digital portfolio and online website presence updated in collaboration with the P&M Officer and Retail Assistant.
• Assist with out-of-hours events as necessary.

Knowledge, skills and experience

• Passion for and knowledge of contemporary art and experience working with both living artists/studios and artist estates.
• Broad understanding of the P&M sector, including the commercial market.
• Operational knowledge of the fabrication processes available to the P&M sector.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to oversee multiple projects simultaneously.
• Proficiency in budgeting and financial reporting.
• Strong research and negotiation skills.
• Entrepreneurial approach ⁠and inquisitive mind.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and manage different stakeholders.
• Keen attention to detail and strong organisational skills.
• Understanding of the secondary P&Ms market.
• Existing network of artists, collectors, fabricators and publishers.

Benefits

• Hybrid working
• Private Healthcare
• Pension scheme
• Bonus scheme 

We welcome and encourage applications from candidates who are under-represented in the creative industries. 

Please state in your application that you found this role through Creative Access.