Freelance Job Brief – Creative Producer, IOP Gallery, Institute of Physics
About us
The Institute of Physics is a leading scientific membership society working to advance physics for the
benefit of all. We have a worldwide membership of more than 45,000, from enthusiastic amateurs
to those at the top of their fields in academia, business, education and government. Our purpose is
to gather, inspire, guide, represent and celebrate all who share a passion for physics. And, in our role
as a charity, we’re here to ensure that physics delivers on its exceptional potential to benefit society.
As part of the move to a brand new building in London’s Kings Cross, the IOP is creating a new
gallery space as the centrepiece of our new home. The IOP Gallery aspires to position physics as part
of mainstream British culture. Presenting a forward looking, interdisciplinary vision that is rooted in
engagement and collaboration with the physics community, the gallery will celebrate and explore
physics as a discipline and way of thinking that expands our horizons and explores timeless questions
about our universe as well as many of our greatest contemporary concerns. The gallery will
encourage questioning and the exploration of big and small ideas that are rooted in physics.
The audience for the gallery space is anticipated to be: our membership (from physicists in academia
and industry to teachers, policy makers, entrepreneurs and beyond) who might be in the building for
professional reasons; and non-expert adult audiences driven by their curiosity who might simply be
passing the building, working at or vising nearby institutions or have heard about the exhibition in
the press or on social media. Professional physicists and innovators may see their work in a new
light, be it through the lens of history or culture; they will see the gallery as a point of pride and a
celebration of their discipline. The public will have an engaging experience of physics, gain new
insights and be inspired to learn more about physics and the key role that science plays in society.
About the job
We are looking for an experienced Creative Producer to develop the key narrative for our inaugural
season, on the theme of Time. They will develop a powerful vision for the exhibition and oversee its
production as an exciting, challenging and innovative offering that will form a key part of the grand
opening of our new home.
We have done some initial thinking about potential themes for our new exhibition as set out below.
However we will expect the Creative Produce to research and develop their vision for the exhibition
in collaboration with leading physicists, artists and social commentators.
What is time? How do we harness, measure and perceive it? What are the major issues in
contemporary physics that relate to time? Considering some of these questions; this exhibition could
take a philosophical, cultural and scientific look at time as seen through the lens of cutting-edge
physics research. Example potential ideas for exploration might include:
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Time Travel: Physics has given us the ability to look back through time, with the help of
telescopes and techniques that can recover information from historical documents, thought
to be lost long ago. However, travelling through time remains an endless fascination—will it
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remain forever in the realm of science fiction, or might quantum physics provide insights
that make it a reality?
Defining Time: Among scientists and non-scientists alike the nature of time is still disputed.
Is time a 'real' dimension and is there a constant 'Universal' time? Why does time appear to
‘flow’ in only one direction? Did it start with the Big Bang, and does it go on for ever or will it
one day stop?
Time and Us: Time is intrinsically bound up within our bodies, through circadian rhythms and
the process of ageing. In some ways our memories serve as a personal time machine. Yet is
there a way to escape this? Special relativity offers a glimpse into how we could speed up or
slow down time while the internet offers new ways to ‘live on’ even after we’re gone.
What you will do: Working with the Institute of Physics Outreach and Engagement team, IOP
Member Groups, key members of the physics community, artists and other leading social
commentators, your role will entail:
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Research and develop a powerful vision for the new Time exhibition that describes in detail
the themes and interpretive approach for the exhibition
Draft the initial exhibition script and edit the final version
Curate the short-list of objects/artworks/AV to go into the exhibition
Develop the briefs for any commissioned works and lead the selection panel
Assist with the drafting of the design brief and help with the selection of the lead designer
Work with the exhibition designer to guide the development of their concept design
Represent the project team at Trustee meetings and meetings with current and potential
funders
Brief the marketing and press teams to ensure they have a clear understanding of the
project
Represent the IOP in media interviews about the exhibition
Who you will be working with: This project will be managed by the IOP Public Programmes
Manager, with ultimate responsibility to the IOP Head of Outreach and Engagement. The Creative
Producer will work closely with staff from throughout the IOP and will also be expected to liaise with
our Groups and Membership where appropriate to shape the scientific content of the exhibition.
You will also work closely with other contractors (e.g. artists, technicians, designers and builders) to
turn your vision into reality.
Timescales and working pattern: The exhibition will open in July 2018, with the Creative Producer
starting as soon as possible. The working pattern will vary with the intensity of the workload; e.g. the
scoping, research and interpretive strategy stages at the beginning of the process will likely involve
3-4 days a week working, falling to 1-2 days a week for most of 2017 with an increase at the delivery
phase at the end of the project in early-to-mid 2018. We estimate that this will be a total of 80-100
days.
Fee: The fee offered for the project is £20,000 (including VAT and expenses), based on the
timescales and working pattern above (based on a daily rate of £200 for 100 days).
About you
We are looking for a person with proven experience in producing arts or cultural projects from vision
to completion. A science background is not necessary but curiosity and a passion for discovery is
vital and an understanding of how to engage the interests of different audiences.
Our ideal candidate would have:
 Exhibition Development Experience: Have proven experience of exhibition production from
developing an idea; creating an interpretive plan; working with designers and builders and
seeing the project through to delivery
 Insightful Research Skills: Be able to immerse yourself in cutting-edge contemporary physics
and draw out the most exciting stories with which to engage the public
 Vision: Use your research to create a compelling narrative for our exhibition space
 Arts/Cultural Experience: Be aware of the current trends and best practice in contemporary
art and the cultural sector and be able to apply them
 A Passion for Interdisciplinary Working: Be able to bring together science and the arts in
meaningful, unexpected ways
 Confidence and Diplomacy: Have the confidence to be a champion for our vision and have
the negotiation and facilitation skills to make it a reality
 Experience working with Scientists and Researchers: Be able to communicate with them
and accurately incorporate their work into the exhibition
 Project Management Skills: Working with the Public Programmes Manager, you will need to
keep a track of the budget, organise logistics and manage deadlines for parallel streams of
work
 Excellent Communication Skills: Both written (from writing briefs for designers to text for
the exhibition content) and verbal (from meeting with scientists to find out about their
research to being interviewed by the media about the upcoming exhibition)
 Appreciation of the needs of non-specialist audiences: understand the challenges of
engaging the general public with science and of strategies for overcoming them
Interested?
If you are interested in this freelance opportunity, please write a short (one side of A4) covering
letter explaining why your experience makes you suited for this role and how you would approach
the delivery of this project. Please send this letter, your CV and links to your portfolio or previous
examples of your work to Toby Shannon, IOP Public Programmes Manager ([email protected]).
The deadline for expressions of interest is 17.00 on Monday 16th January 2017