Frieze is the world’s leading platform for modern and contemporary art, dedicated to artists, galleries, collectors and art lovers alike. Frieze comprises three magazines – frieze, Frieze Masters Magazine and Frieze Week – and seven international art fairs – Frieze London, Frieze Masters, Frieze New York, Frieze Los Angeles, Frieze Seoul, The Armory Show and EXPO Chicago. Legacy art fair brands The Armory Show and EXPO Chicago were acquired by Frieze in September 2023. In October 2021, Frieze also launched No.9 Cork Street, a permanent space for visiting international galleries in the heart of Mayfair, London. Frieze is part of the IMG network.
Endeavor is a global sports and entertainment company, home to many of the world’s most dynamic and engaging storytellers, brands, live events, and experiences. The Endeavor network specializes in talent representation through entertainment agency WME; sports operations and advisory, event management, media production and distribution, and brand licensing through IMG; live event experiences and hospitality through On Location; full-service marketing through global cultural marketing agency 160over90; and sports data and technology through IMG ARENA and OpenBet. Endeavor is also the majority owner of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), a premium sports and entertainment company comprising UFC and WWE.
About the Frieze Production Department
The Production team are responsible for delivering all physical elements of the fairs and ensuring it’s safe, timely and successful delivery. This team is an operational one, based in London, made up of two distinct subsets, with a Head of Department for each:
Exhibitor Production – focuses on all production elements related to the Exhibitors at the fairs, including; booth builds, complex artwork installation, technical support, drafting, floor planning, art shipping logistics, Frieze Sculpture management, production schedules (venue builds), Health & Safety
Fair Production – encompasses all other areas of the fair, including; tent builds & related infrastructure, F&B, contract management, Partnership lounge support/production, other non-gallery build, fair design, site infrastructure, security, cleaning, contractor management, production schedule (tent builds), Health & Safety
Each fair has a Production Manager, based in London, who is responsible for all the Fair Production elements as well as coordinating with the various departments across Frieze. Usually, a Production Manager works on one UK and one US show (being opposite times of the year). The Exhibitor Production Department work across all fairs but are more heavily involved in the US fairs where we don’t have a single stand-building vendor (in the UK and Korea we use one stand-building vendor for each show) – for the US the internal team act as the stand-build vendor, and exhibitors order their additional walls, lights, etc from Frieze rather than an external party.
Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:
- Management and operational delivery of Frieze Los Angeles and Frieze Masters
- Support Head of Fair Production with the management of the fair architect and designers to determine the overall ‘look & feel’ of the show
- Oversee show signage plan, along with the Design and Marketing teams
- Day-to-day liaison with the production companies on both shows
- Ensuring show is built to correct plans and specifications
- Management and implementation of all non-gallery areas and F&B (“Features Areas”)
- Working with Coordinator on the ordering of furniture, build elements and required equipment needed on site
- Working with the contractors, production teams and internal stakeholders to ensure the show complies with Health and Safety regulations and venue regulations
- Day-to-day management of the show production budget, to ensure accurate forecasting, as well as raising of Purchase Orders and processing invoices
- Support Head of Fair Production on future planning and budget forecasting
- Ensuring sustainability policies are implemented, where applicable, and find new ways to improve
- Attending relevant and appropriate training on health, safety and environmental issues
- Methodical filing and record keeping, arranging meetings, keeping minutes and follow up correspondence
- Post show evaluation and development reports
Knowledge and Experience
Mandatory:
- Minimum 3 years’ operational event management experience of large publicly attended events
- Stakeholder liaison management (internal and external)
- Experienced in working with a number of contractors
- Experienced and able to work well in a team, as well as autonomously
- Budget management experience
- Understanding of operational, venue and local authority procedures
- Good knowledge of UK Health & Safety Regulations
Desirable:
- Experience of working with temporary structures
- Background knowledge of the arts and gallery systems
- Some knowledge of working with CAD
- Knowledge of exhibition production (outside of the art world)
- Experience working in the USA
- Knowledge of best working practices in US and UK
- Health & Safety qualification (IOSH or above)
Skills and Abilities
- Strong communication and negotiation skills
- Innate high standards and concern for a high level of quality
- Excellent problem solver and multi-tasker
- Ability to calmly work under pressure
- Adaptable with excellent attention to detail
- Able to deal with a broad range of people at every level
- Self-motivated and able to take responsibility
- Competent in the use of Microsoft Office, in particular Excel
Please Note:
- Overseas travel will be required – candidate must be able to travel to and stay in the USA for up to 6 consecutive weeks during Frieze Los Angeles tenancy. Possible additional US travel for short trips for meetings
Our Diversity & Inclusion Statement
Frieze unites people in our love of the arts. We understand this can only be accomplished when we harness the entirety of our company and lead with a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion in everything we do. As a global company that drives culture, we are committed to practicing anti-discrimination including race, gender identity, sexual orientation and disability, together with artists, writers and cultural practitioners from all backgrounds. There is still much work to be done to address systemic inequality and discrimination within the arts and culture industry, and we are dedicated to making progress to both within our own organization and the art world at large.
Endeavor unites and brings people together in our love of sport, culture, and entertainment. We understand this can only be accomplished when we lead with a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion in everything we do. As a global company that drives culture, we strive to reflect the world’s diverse voices.
Endeavor is an equal opportunities employer and encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, or religion or belief.