Compass Festival is coming back to Leeds 19 – 28 March 2021, animating the city with interactive live art projects, under bridges, markets, shopping centres and secret locations. Artworks that invite the people of Leeds to activate them; to join in playful enquiry or quiet contemplation, right where they live, work and play. 

Check out some of our 2020 projects here

We are looking for enthusiastic student creatives to carry out applied work based learning placements with us. These placements will start prior to the festival and will allow successful applicants to truly understand what goes into creating live art and delivering a festival. We have four types of Student Placement opportunities available.

1.Technical/ Project Management Placement

Over the past 6 years we have offered this hands on role which shadows our technical team during the festival. We’re looking for two placement students with some experience of, but also an appetite to learn more about, technical and production management. This year’s placement will have a particular focus on sound production, so an interest and/or skills in that area are encouraged! You must be available for the equivalent of two working days in the week leading up to the festival (w/c 15th March) and between the 19th and 28th of March. This placement can work around your studies. Applicants should note this placement will be weighted mostly towards logistics and production management in non theatre/gallery settings rather than technical rigging/operation in theatre settings.

2. Art in the Public Realm Placement

Compass festival is dedicated to placing work outside of its usual setting and putting it right in front of the city. We are looking for placements students to work closely with artists to facilitate their public pieces. This role will include setting up performance spaces, helping to shape the invitation for the people of Leeds to get involved, overseeing the safe and smooth running of the performance and supporting the artist in whatever way necessary. This year we have projects that happen in a whole host of unusual places, from shopping centres to down by the river. 

These placements vary in time commitment but can work around your studies. We have opportunities that span two months or three days so whatever your availability in January to March 2021 please get in touch. Working with the public requires confidence and an approachable disposition. 

3. Performer Placement 

This is a first for Compass Festival. We are on the lookout for aspiring performers, with a particular interest in live art, to work on an installation that requires not only engaging with the public, but occasionally busting some dance moves. You must be a confident performer. Additionally, an interest in festival production will be useful for this particular placement, as part of the role will involve setting up performance spaces. This installation champions and platforms LGBTQ+ voices, so we particularly welcome applicants who identify as queer. 

This placement will require you to be available for 1 day February and the 26th, 27th and 28th of March. 

4. Marketing Placement

Do you have an appetite for not only live art, but the marketing that goes alongside it? This placement will see you work with our Communications and Engagement Manager to support the delivery of events, marketing and general celebration of Compass Festival. You will be responsible for generating Instagram and Twitter content during the festival, so you will need to have a keen eye for photography and a passion for social media to create memorable content for our online followers. 

This placement requires you to be available for a minimum of 5 days during the festival dates (19 – 28 March 2021). 

A reasonable amount of travel and subsistence allowance will be provided when each placement schedule has been agreed.

HOW TO APPLY

You can apply by filling out the form below. Alternatively, you can email your answers to the questions featured in the form below, as well as your current CV to Polly on [email protected].

Deadline for applications is 5pm on Sunday 3 January 2021.

If you have any questions about the placements, feel free to email Polly on [email protected] and she will get back to you as soon as possible.