Deputy Fair Director at ART X

ART X Lagos is the premier international art fair in West Africa, and a dynamic platform created to showcase and support contemporary culture from Africa and its diaspora. Since its launch in 2016, the fair has emerged as a global destination, drawing artists and galleries from over 70 countries, with attendees and participants from 170 nations worldwide, thus significantly expanding Lagos' global cultural positioning.

ART X Lagos transcends conventional art fairs, through its ambitious programme which features immersive experiences spanning music, film, design and art, that centre the continent and diaspora’s exceptional talent, including keynote artists and speakers such as El Anatsui, Njideka Akunyili-Crosby, Yinka Shonibare CBE, Wangechi Mutu, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Ibrahim Mahama and more. The fair’s annual award for emerging artists out of Africa and its diaspora, the Access ART X Prize, is the leading art prize in Nigeria, preparing its winners for the highest levels of success on the global stage. ART X Lagos is today a cornerstone of the African art sector, working as a transformative cultural catalyst committed to the redefinition of the Africa narrative.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Deputy Fair Director

Location: Lagos
Job type: Full-time (Hybrid)

About the Role

• ART X is seeking a Deputy Fair Director for ART X Lagos and its affiliate platforms, with 10 or more years’ experience, to join our dynamic team.
• Working closely with the Founder, the Deputy Fair Director will become responsible for the ART X Lagos vertical, and will ultimately spearhead its general management and strategic development, building on the strong foundations laid to date.
• The Deputy Fair Director will reinforce ART X Lagos’ distinct artistic vision, growing its scope and scale, and its impact on audiences locally and internationally, working at the highest levels of creativity and organisation to showcase the best of the world to Lagos, and the best of Nigeria and Africa to the world.
• This role is ideal for a creative, visionary self-starter who lives and breathes efficiency. It presents a unique opportunity to contribute to the strategic positioning and long-term development of ART X Lagos and will be key in shaping the fair’s contributions as a catalyst for the art, culture and creative industry in Africa.

Key Responsibilities

• General management of the ART X Lagos fair and its affiliate platforms and ancillary programmes, coordinating relevant departments and support functions to meet the platform’s pioneering goals, and ensuring consistency with ART X’s core mission and vision
• Oversee the fair’s exhibitor strategy, leading the onboarding of galleries, and the review and management of their exhibitions, in conjunction with the Selection Committee
• Support the development (by our in-house and guest curators), of exhibitions and programmes that excite and engage a broad cross-section of audiences, and are distinctive to the ART X Lagos DNA
• Amplify the guest experience by coordinating ART X Lagos’ exhibition design and events management, producing focused, curated experiences that are vital to the fair’s unique position globally
• Grow the fair’s VIP and Guest Relations strategy, devising compelling initiatives to win new audiences and strengthen pre-existing stakeholder relationships
• Augment and generate, core and supplementary revenue streams for the business, leveraging the ART X Lagos brand, its personnel and infrastructure, especially during the fair’s off-peak season; Collaborate closely with the marketing, sponsorship and administrative departments, to capitalise on commercial opportunities for the business
• Manage budgets, timelines, resources and personnel to ensure the timely, successful execution of all plans; Motivate a team of internal and external colleagues, ensuring high levels of management practice across the board, as well as the team’s commitment to ART X Lagos’ continued evolving development
• Vigilant guardian of the ART X Lagos brand, ensuring that every expression of its identity remains steadfastly aligned with the overarching vision and values
• Oversee measurement and evaluation across the board, to assess the fair’s impact and ROI
• Establish policies and procedures for the effective functioning of the fair’s core functions, ensuring the retention and growth of ART X’s institutional knowledge
• Advocate for ART X as an effective communicator at all levels of cultural knowledge and experience; able to write and present information, in a compelling manner to stakeholders and audiences
• Maintain a current, globally informed view of the cultural industry, monitoring market trends, and constantly updating critical knowledge of artists, gallerists and the competitive landscape

Key Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Arts Management, Art History or other related degree
• 10 or more years of professional experience, with 3-5 years of senior management/ leadership experience in the arts and culture sector; Experience in the West African scene is an advantage
• Experience executing large scale arts and culture events (fairs, festivals, exhibitions) is essential; with experience in senior management within an art-related business
• Experience living and working in multicultural environments
• A compelling, adaptable creative vision with broad-ranging audience appeal, capable of engaging diverse audiences ranging from ultra high-net-worth to Gen-Z individuals
• Strong project management skills - ability to manage and monitor multiple projects simultaneously, adjusting quickly and instinctively to changing priorities and opportunities
• Forensic attention to detail
• Exceptional relationship management and team building skills; able to lead and motivate staff across varying levels of experience, and external partners, and deal confidently, sensitively and effectively
• High-level communication skills, orally and in writing, to international standards within the professional cultural community.

About You:

• The ideal candidate is a high-energy creative visionary with drive and dedication to outstanding execution, audience engagement and experiences.
• You are extremely creative, efficient and organised, with a stellar track record of arts and culture business/project management at a strategic level.
• You are resilient, resourceful, flexible and able to roll up your sleeves to get the job done.
• The ability to multitask, work calmly under pressure, and be a strong team player is also vital.

Role Specification:

• This position is a full-time, remote role, ideally based in a location compatible with GMT and WAT time zones. Flexibility to work from Lagos during critical periods, for stays lasting 2 to 3 months, is essential.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online