Music Programmer

Join our programming team and connect with live music industry partners while supporting emerging talent.

About Geelong Arts Centre

Geelong Arts Centre is the only State Government owned cultural institution located outside of Melbourne, our vision is as a leader connector and creator of extraordinary cultural experiences for local and global communities.

The Geelong Arts Centre is a gathering place for all – a place that boldly offers insights through performance, holds space for public conversation, supports creative experimentation and content development, and is a venue to connect, meet as a community and share a passion for the arts and creativity. It is the creative heart of Geelong.

Our people are focused on creating a diverse and bold arts community that embraces an-d values differences. We value the variety of unique experiences, qualities, and characteristics our people possess, and we share and learn from each other. Our highly collaborative and dedicated teams aim to ensure the business is continuously growing, striving for exceptional results for both our internal and external stakeholders. We are always striving to display flexibility and resilience to embrace change.

 About the role

The Music Programmer is responsible for driving the growth and financial success of live music and other performance programming and hiring across all Geelong Arts Centre venues, including The Church and Costa Hall and all Geelong Arts Centre venues.

With a strong focus on sales, partnerships, and venue utilisation, the Music Programmer plays a key role in building relationships with artists, promoters, and commercial clients, while also supporting the development of emerging and local talent, particularly in live music. The role contributes to a dynamic, inclusive, and sustainable program that balances community engagement with commercial viability.

The Music Programmer will manage and oversee all aspects of venue operations and programming delivery from end to end for The Church. The Church is a new 100-seat venue, positioned as an artist-led, low-cost space prioritising accessibility for artists. The venue will focus primarily on supporting local live music and young audiences whilst also offering opportunities for local independent companies including theatre, dance and other artforms. This includes to ensure seamless coordination across bookings, contract negotiation, event planning, budget management, and event settlement for The Church. They are also instrumental in shaping audience development strategies and positioning Geelong Arts Centre as a leading destination for live performance in the region. 

Selection Criteria

Essential qualifications and experience

To be successful in this position, you will have:

• Extensive experience (5+ years) in venue or event bookings, commercial producing, programming, and the live music industry, with proven success in curating and delivering music events in venue-based or festival contexts.
• Strong industry networks and established relationships with agents, promoters, and touring artists, coupled with a deep understanding of the current live music landscape and a passion for discovering new talent.
• Art-form specialisation ideally in contemporary music, as well as a broad knowledge and understanding across the performing arts
• Significant knowledge and experience working in the contemporary music touring circuit with extensive national and international network.
• Demonstrated ability to meet and exceed revenue targets.
• Highly developed project management skills, with the ability to coordinate multiple events concurrently, manage timelines, delegate effectively, and ensure the seamless delivery of events from planning through to settlement.
• Proven expertise in contract negotiation, budget development and oversight, artist engagement, and management of hire agreements and settlements, with high attention to detail and a strategic approach to event planning.

Desirable qualifications and experience

• Established contacts in the Geelong music scene.
• Experience in producing diverse art forms, including but not limited to comedy, theatre, and dance.
• Experience in cultivating commercial partnerships.
• Familiarity with event and ticketing software systems.
• Experience in community engagement and supporting emerging artists.
• A passion for cultural development and a commitment to inclusive programming.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to liaise confidently with a wide range of stakeholders, alongside sound knowledge of technical production elements including sound, lighting, and staging requirements.

Special requirements

• Flexibility in working hours to support daytime, evening, and weekend work will be required as part of the normal hours of duty for this position.
• This role is based on-site at Geelong Arts Centre at 50 Little Malop Street.
• The following checks, licenses and certifications are required for this role: Working with Children’s Check (employee)

To view a copy of the full position description, please visit the Careers page of our website: https://geelongartscentre.org.au/about-us/careers/

Sound like you? Then we want to hear from you!

To apply for this opportunity please click the Apply button and provide a cover letter including your ability to meet the key requirements outlined in the position description, and a current CV.  Please direct any queries to: employment@geelongartscentre.org.au

Applications close Midnight Friday 4 July 2025