Programmer – Talks, Debates, Literature & Reflection (80% FTE)

Job location, SINT PIETERSNIEUWSTRAAT 23
9000 GENT , Arrondissement of Ghent - Belgium

**VIERNULVIER welcomes a new programmer to the artistic team.** Under the guidance of the artistic coordinator and in close collaboration with your colleagues, you will program talks, debates, literature, and artistic reflection on various stages at De Vooruit and beyond.

Talks, debates, literature, and reflection, together with stage and music programming, form the foundation of VIERNULVIER’s program and relate in a balanced way to specific artistic lines such as the city studio, nightlife, food, spoken word, etc.

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### **What We Expect From You**

* Develop an ambitious and coherent program with a specific focus on talks, debates, literature, and artistic reflection, in collaboration with your artistic team colleagues and potential guest curators.
* Collaborate with a wide range of partners (cultural organizations, civil society organizations, colleges and universities, artists, thinkers, experts, bookstores, and publishers). Programs often originate from these partnerships, but you also initiate projects independently.
* Develop and create original, content-rich formats and concepts.
* Ensure the program stands out from debate programs of other organizations in the city and also provides a platform for notable international speakers.
* Include existing successful formats such as *De Arena*, *Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast*, etc.
* Base programming on social, political, and artistic current events, while allowing for depth, reflection, and the bigger picture.
* Facilitate multidisciplinary and genre-crossing festivals, focus programs, and cross-over concepts, thinking of the program as a whole.
* Support colleagues’ programs with reflective formats; art, critique, and contextualization are central to your practice.
* Demonstrate strong writing, reasoning skills, and broad theoretical interest.
* Ensure programs reach diverse audiences and actively build conversations and relationships with them.
* Program for multiple venues at De Vooruit, including main stages.
* Develop and maintain new contacts to enable collaborations.
* Engage existing and new communities by creating an inspiring, accessible, and inclusive program.
* Draw on experience and a broad local, Flemish, and international network to realize collaborations and stay aware of societal developments.
* Have knowledge and experience in financial and production management of projects and festivals.
* Be motivated by VIERNULVIER’s 2023–2027 policy plan and develop ideas for the next plan.
* Develop a vision and practice to broaden the program’s reach through media partnerships or digital formats such as podcasts and streaming.
* Have strong interest in social, political, artistic, and philosophical topics, and act responsibly and ethically.
* Bring new perspectives and visions to the organization.
* Possess imagination, humor, curiosity, understanding of societal processes, and ease with various interdisciplinary artistic formats.
* Be an engaged and dynamic colleague who appreciates working in a large arts institution.
* Excellent command of Dutch and English.
* Profile does not need to be artistic; academic or journalistic backgrounds are acceptable with added creativity.
* Collaborate well with internal teams (artistic, business, communications, planning, production) and external partners, maintaining relationships effectively.
* Manage part of the artistic budget, prepare budgets for projects and festivals, and closely monitor finances.
* Thrive in a horizontal structure where, in addition to your own role, you can take on temporary responsibilities based on personal interest and expertise, enabling shared leadership within the organization.

Clear and open communication is essential to make this collaborative model work effectively.