vacancy: general & artistic director

Vacancy: general & artistic director (x/f/m)

full-time (100%) — indefinite

Location: Genk - Schachtboklaan 11


Start: as soon as possible


Application deadline: February 22, 2026
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About Jester
Jester is a development and meeting place for contemporary visual artists in Genk. In a post-industrial landscape, we offer artists time, space and guidance to experiment, research and grow.
Residencies, ateliers and exhibitions reinforce each other and create a fertile context for exchange, reflection and artistic development. Jester works from the values of care, diversity and sustainability, and strives for honest and respectful cooperation with artists and partners.

Job description
As general & artistic director, you determine and monitor Jester's artistic course and bear ultimate responsibility for the organization. You connect the core activities, residencies, studio work, exhibitions & public work and internal organization into one coherent and clear story, both internally and externally.
To do this, you work with a small, committed team consisting of a curator, a residency coordinator, a studio operation coordinator, production staff and an administrative and financial assistant. In this compact organization, everyone takes on multiple roles and there is a close interaction between daily operational tasks and more visionary and tactical responsibilities, aimed at further developing Jester.
We are looking for a leader who offers Jester direction and stability after a turbulent period, with a merger and multiple changes in leadership, and does this in a connecting, transparent and caring way, with confidence in the available expertise.
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Responsibilities

Artistic vision & program
• You develop and monitor a substantiated long-term artistic vision and strategy for Jester. This vision for the future is ambitious, challenging and inspiring: it builds on the existing activities and the local context, with room for innovation, experimentation, further growth and internationalization.
• You strengthen and structure the coherence and cross-pollination between residencies, studio work and public work, and ensure a balanced and coherent programmatic structure.
• You create a framework where multiple artistic voices can work. You facilitate, connect and monitor quality, and work with the team to build a strong, relevant and recognisable artistic programme.
• You create a community of artists born out of and connected to the work of Jester and the public.
Team & organization
• You will continue to build a safe, warm and professional work environment, with clear roles, expectations and decision lines. You ensure a connection between the various operations and the whole, so that the team can achieve the organizational goals in a supported and efficient way.
• You guide and coach the team, with attention to growth, development, engagement and job satisfaction. You motivate employees to translate vision and strategy into concrete plans and objectives, and provide an overview, follow-up, evaluation and adjustment.
• You monitor workability, well-being, continuity and quality within the organization.

Business & policy management
• You take ultimate responsibility for Jester's business and organizational management: budgets, planning, personnel policy and organizational processes. You work with clear annual action plans, associated budgets and a clear organizational structure, and ensure efficient internal procedures.
• You consistently translate artistic choices and policy priorities into financial and organizational feasibility. You monitor the progress of the operation and make adjustments where necessary, with attention to the sustainable employability and well-being of the team.
• You coordinate policy development and the preparation and follow-up of grant files, including the new multi-year dossier within the Arts Decree, in close cooperation with the team and the board of directors.
• You are responsible for clear communication, transparent follow-up and consistent reporting to various stakeholders. You work closely with the board of directors, are accountable and translate their policy objectives and strategy into the daily operations of the organization.

Partnerships & representation
• You are Jester's point of contact and face to artists, partners, the arts field and governments. You build sustainable relationships and strengthen both the local roots in Genk and the international orientation of the organization.
• You actively position Jester within the arts landscape and ensure visibility among the public, the field and the local community.
• You will let Jester grow into a leading (inter) national place for the development and presentation of visual arts.
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Who are we looking for?
• A relevant course in the visual arts (artistic, curatorial, programming, project management or a combination of these), and the ambition to support Jester in terms of content and organization.
• Experience in managing and coaching a (small) team and building a healthy, caring work culture.
• Experience with organizational management (including good governance, business and financial insight, personnel policy), or the willingness to grow in this area.
• The ability to translate an (artistic) vision into plans, priorities and feasible implementation (strategic and hands-on).
• You are a connector: you build relationships, initiate partnerships and are visibly present in the field.
• You communicate openly, clearly and transparently, internally and externally — even in complex or difficult situations.
• You are willing to work occasionally in the evenings and weekends depending on the programming.
• You switch smoothly between operational tasks, hands-on assistance where necessary, daily operations and more visionary tasks and long-term strategy.

Language & presence
• You work smoothly in Dutch and English
• You don't have to live in Genk, but you are regularly and visibly present on the site and in the local context. Telework is possible depending on the needs of the organization (maximum one working day from home per week).

What do we offer?
• A key role in an arts organization with a strong infrastructure and a team ready to write a new chapter together. Together with the team, the board provides caring onboarding and the necessary expertise and support.
• Space to anchor artistic direction and organization in a sustainable way, with attention to workability and growth.
• Permanent contract (100%). Remuneration according to PC329.01 (starting table in line with scale and budgetary context).

Selection procedure

We foresee a careful two-round process with the involvement of the team and board. In the selection, we particularly look at artistic vision & long-term strategy, a coaching and connecting leadership style, experience with business aspects of an artistic organization in a Flemish context and a sense of reality in the context of a small organization in Genk with international ambitions. Selection rounds include February 26 and 27.
Apply
Submit your motivation letter and resume before February 22, 2026 to vacature@jester.be with the subject: “General & artistic director application”.
Jester wants to be a workplace that reflects the diverse society. We offer equal opportunities to all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, origin, age, disability, religion, appearance or socio-economic background.

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