WORK WITH US

JOB TITLE: Lead Artist - Youth and Community

JOB TYPE: Full-time, Permanent (with flexible working arrangements)

RATE OF PAY: $80,000 pa + entitlements

LOCATION: GUTS Studio - Araluen Arts Centre and surrounding locations, Mparntwe, Alice Springs, NT, 0870 + remote travel 

SUPERVISOR/MANAGER: GUTS Co-Artistic Directors 

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING

The role of Youth and Community Lead Artist is a new position, created to support and grow GUTS’ work with young people and the broader local community in our home region of Central Australia. Youth and Community dance programs and engagement is one of three equally weighted streams of GUTS activity, and an area we are recognised as a leader in both locally and nationally. As GUTS as an organisation has grown over the past 6 years, the capacity of the Co-Artistic Directors to devote the time and energy required to continue to deliver high quality, impactful and responsive output and growth has started to reduce. 

We are seeking a passionate, highly skilled and motivated professional artist to join our team in Mparntwe/Alice Springs that will work collaboratively with the CO- AD’s on the design and resourcing of this work, as well as maintain good relationships with our numerous partners and stakeholders, and help to recruit, manage and train other artists to become experts in working in the youth and community space. Through this role, you will help to grow participation in and recognition of dance as a vital whole of life activity deeply embedded and accessible in the lives of young people and the broader community in Central Australia, and more broadly in regional and remote Australia. 

In collaboration with the Co-AD’s, the artist will be employed to undertake planning and delivery of GUTS current programs for young people and broader community including:

• Alice Can Dance

• Ongoing classes in local schools 

• Workshops intensives and school holiday programs 

• Remote Community engagement 

• GUTS public class program 

Within this, the artist will: 

• Undertake the in person delivery of dance sessions within GUTS’ Youth and Community programs

• Aid in recruiting, training and managing other teaching artists for GUTS’ Youth and Community programs 

• Uphold GUTS high standard and approach to working with young people, ensuring the programs are continually evaluated and responsive to the needs of the participants and community 

• Maintain GUTS’ current partnerships with local school and organisations

• Manage the scheduling and timetables for Youth and Community programs 

• Co-Manage budgets alongside GUTS Co-AD’s 

• Seek and apply for funding to bolster and expand GUTS’ current Youth and Community programs 

• Collaborate with GUTS Co-AD’s on creating new programs and partnerships within the Youth and Community arm of the organisation 

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR 

VITAL

• Is passionate about empowering young people and communities through dance

• Has professional dance training and/or experience working as a professional dance artist

• Has extensive and evidenced experience working in the Youth and Community space

• Experience managing and collaborating with others on the facilitation of Youth and Community programs 

• Is able to work to and manage a budget

• Has vision for growth, expansion and evolution of programs in the Youth and Community space

• Understands the context, challenges and benefits of working in diverse communities in regional Australia

• Shows sound and practiced cultural competency in working with First Nations Australian people and communities

• Is able to work both independently and collaboratively in a small team

• Has good problem solving skills 

• Shows initiative in enabling change and growth of GUTS Youth and Community programs 

• Holds current drivers licence

• Is able to live and work in Australia 

DESIRABLE 

• Has experience applying for and acquitting funding across a range of government and non-government programs

• Has knowledge of sector protocols and legislation around working with children and vulnerable people

• Has lived experience living and working in regional and remote Australia

• Has experience working with diverse communities - including a broad spectrum of ages, ethnicities, physical abilities and levels of experience within dance 

• Is willing to undertake training and professional development in any areas deemed necessary and appropriate by GUTS Co-AD’s 

The applicant will be required to undertake First Aid training, Child Safety training, Cultural Awareness training and obtain a working with children’s check. 

While this role is not identified exclusively for a First Nations Australian artist, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and other First Nations identifying artists are strongly encouraged to apply. 

WHAT GUTS WILL PROVIDE

The GUTS Co-AD’s will undertake an extensive onboarding period with the selected applicant, ensuring they are well equipped and ready to begin working independently within the community before they begin delivery of programs and management of other artists. This time will include in person introductions to all stakeholders and funding partners, observation of GUTS teaching artists delivering current classes and workshops, time to understand the funding structures and requirements currently in place at GUTS, a thorough run down of all important relationships and partnerships in place, time to understand GUTS strategic vision and an opportunity to help shape this from the beginning of their employment. 

If the applicant is moving to Mparntwe/Alice Springs from elsewhere GUTS will also provide $2000 to aid in cost of relocation, support in finding adequate housing, inclusion in social activities and help in building familiarity within our community. 

Throughout the term of employment GUTS will also support Professional Development opportunities, and work collaboratively with the Youth and Community Lead Artist to help realise any vision they have for the evolution or growth of programs, work alongside them to implement change within the programs, help to undertake evaluation and reporting, and provide support in all aspects of undertaking this role. 

APPROXIMATE TIMELINE

Applications open: November 13th 2025

Applications close: December 19th 2025

Shortlisted applicants interviewed: January 19 - 22nd 2026

Successful applicant notified: January 27th 2026

Contract begins: March 2nd 2026 in Mparntwe/Alice Springs.

If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to reach out to the GUTS Co-Artistic Directors or a member of the GUTS Management Committee to speak through any questions you may have before submitting an application. You can do this this by emailing contact@gutsdance.org.au.

Once you have done this, please send through a cover letter addressing your experience against the outlined fields in WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR, and a CV or Bio that evidences this. You may also submit a video response in lieu of a letter that is no more than 5 minutes in length. 

We also encourage you to learn more about GUTS before applying by visiting our website www.gutsdance.org.au, and looking through our current Strategic Plan which can be found here: www.gutsdance.org.au/strategic-documents.