FORMAT Festival Programme Co-Ordinator

Fixed Term Freelance Fee: £12,000 (60 days during the period from 5 October 2026 to 30 April 2027). Payment in three installments based on delivery milestones as agreed on point of contract.

The Festival Programme Co-Ordinator will play a key role in the planning and delivery of FORMAT27, the UK’s largest biennale festival of photography and related media, taking place across Derby from 11 March to 11 April 2027.

Working closely with the FORMAT/QUAD team and project partners, the primary focus of the role will be the planning, co-ordination and delivery of the Festival launch weekend, the flagship moment of FORMAT27. Bringing together exhibitions, artist events, talks, public programmes, the FORMAT Photobook Market and International Portfolio Review, the launch weekend is the largest and busiest period of the festival and will welcome artists, delegates, partners and audiences from across the UK and internationally.

Alongside the delivery of the launch weekend, the Festival Programme Co-Ordinator will support the wider festival programme, working collaboratively with artists, partners, venues, volunteers and suppliers to ensure the successful delivery of events and an excellent experience for audiences and participants. The postholder will also contribute to project administration, reporting and evaluation.

The Festival Programme Co-Ordinator will work closely with the FORMAT/QUAD Programme Team, including the QUAD CEO, QUAD/FORMAT Producer and QUAD/FORMAT Curator, alongside the QUAD Finance, Marketing, Technical and Operations teams, volunteers, interns and a wide range of festival partners. The successful applicant will be an organised and proactive project co-ordinator, with excellent communication skills, experience of delivering cultural events, and the ability to manage multiple priorities within a fast-paced festival environment.