School Education Program and Access & Inclusion Program Manager (NSW)

Sculpture by the Sea are looking for a School Education Program and Access & Inclusion Program Manager (NSW) for Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2026.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position Title: School Education Program and Access & Inclusion Program Manager (NSW)

Reports to: Company Manager

Direct Reports: School Education Program and Access & Inclusion Program Coordinator

Status: Fixed term contract, full time, as soon as possible until mid December 2026

Location: Sydney, NSW (Surry Hills) re-locating to Bondi during exhibition period

POSITION SUMMARY

The School Education Program and Access & Inclusion Program Manager (NSW) position at Sculpture by the Sea Incorporated (‘SXSINC’) is responsible for the development, organisation and management of the delivery of the School Education Program and the Access & Inclusion Program for Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2026 and all visitation within the programs.  The exhibition runs from 16 October to 2 November 2026 on the Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2026 exhibition site.

Key to the role is working closely with the participating exhibiting artists, educators, volunteers, and teachers, and cultivating partnerships with organisations, schools, and individuals that represent people with disability.

This position is a key member of the Sculpture by the Sea team who reports directly to the Company Manager and oversees and is supported by the work of the School Education Program and Access & Inclusion Program Coordinator (NSW) who works part-time.

This role is suited to a highly-motivated, energetic, organised individual who is experienced in visual art education and programming, and enjoys working with a wide range of people.

This is a fixed term contract working full time from as soon as possible in August to mid December 2026.  SXSINC offices are based in Surry Hills, Sydney, and a week before the opening of Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2026 exhibition key staff including the Education team re-locate to the Bondi exhibition site for the duration of the Bondi exhibition.  It is expected that a 5 day week (Monday to Friday inclusive) and some additional hours each day will be worked in the lead up to the exhibition and during the exhibition period. 

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

• To support the School Education Program and Access & Inclusion Program Coordinator to open and manage all bookings, scheduling and related communications including invoicing, confirming details for visitation, and recruit and train staff, upkeep exhibition staff rosters, exhibition timeline, and maintain the education relational database
• To develop and work with the Education Program Artists in preparing the ‘Artists and their Artworks’ section of the Education Kit with a focus on the employment of STEM disciplines in sculptural practice as specified in current NSW curriculum and excursion management information
• To support Education Program Artists in all stages of delivering their workshops from initial proposal (concept, activities, outcomes and materials) to on-site realisation of outcomes, sourcing materials required within budget
• To develop quality, innovative and safe education and access and inclusion programs
• To research and produce educational content including activities for the Kids’ Guide working with the in-house designer
• To produce relevant content on the education programs for promotion as required across our website and socials and for reporting purposes
• To manage with key members of the Sculpture by the Sea team any specific events taking place, for example, Family Workshops or tours for Patrons of the education program
• To ensure the smooth running of all programs during the exhibition period working with Sculpture by the Sea staff to maintain the quality of and ensure the success of a major public cultural event for all including working with the Site & Logistics Manager (NSW) to understand risk and safety issues and induct education team to ensure good practice for all workshops and during all visitation.
• To oversee the documentation of program activities including photographic documentation, facilitate the evaluation process, and collate feedback and statistics

ABOUT SCULPTURE BY THE SEA

Sculpture by the Sea Incorporated (‘SXSINC’) is a not-for-profit organisation with offices in Surry Hill, Sydney that produce an annual series of free to the public major outdoor sculpture exhibitions. The Sydney exhibition is held on the Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk for 18 days in late October to mid-November, and the Perth exhibition takes place at Cottesloe Beach for 18 days each March.  In addition to the Sydney and Perth exhibitions, there is now an established and permanent Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail (‘SVST’) curated by the team at SXSINC that is located in the Snowy Valleys in southern New South Wales.

SXSINC aims to stage major free to the public sculpture exhibitions that transform beautiful and popular coastal locations into large temporary sculpture parks for all to enjoy, always having the interests of artists at the core of what we do.

ABOUT THE SCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAM AND THE ACCESS & INCLUSION PROGRAM

The School Education Program is a vital and exciting component of our organisation. It aims to provide both students and teachers with an informative, stimulating and multi-sensory out of classroom experience that will enhance the learning potential for students and teachers visiting the exhibition.

Central to the unique experiences that the program can offer is the opportunity for students to meet and work with exhibiting artists. Through a program of Artist-led Sculpture Making Workshops, Artist Spotlight Talks with exhibiting Artists, and Focus Tours with Sculpture by the Sea Educators, we offer participants the opportunity to explore, make, examine and discuss a range of creative, conceptual and artistic responses to site and landscape, form and contemporary ideas AND have fun!

The School Education Program did not take place during Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2025 and we are looking forward to its return to the Bondi exhibition in 2026.

During Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2024:

• 1,445 primary and secondary students from 30 schools took part in the School Education Program. The program included 5 artists and 11 Sculpture by the Sea Educators who delivered 40 Artist-led Sculpture Making Workshops to 1,020 students from 22 schools including from remote or low socio-economic areas
• 26 Focus Tours to 363 students from 7 schools
• 2 ESL Tours to 30 students from 1 Intensive English College
• 3 Tactile Tours to 32 students from 2 schools
• 3 exhibiting artists participated in the Teachers’ Preview for 11 teachers from 5 schools
• In addition, teachers informed us that 1,619 students from a further 32 schools took part in self-guided tours. We estimate the number of students on self-guided tours is 6,000 – 8,000. Participating Schools were from the greater Sydney area, regional NSW and the ACT.

The Access and Inclusion Program is always being further developed to ensure people of all ages and abilities can experience a broad range of sculpture within accessible and beautiful settings, as we cultivate partnerships with organisations, schools, and individuals that represent people with disability.

The Access and Inclusion Program was first introduced at Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi in partnership with the Art Gallery of New South Wales Access Volunteer Guides in 2009, offering free ‘Touch Tours’ to six participating adults who were blind and/or vision impaired. Renamed ‘Tactile Tours’ in 2010 this free program of pre-booked Tactile Tours that take place each weekday during exhibition has continued to provide a unique opportunity for adults and children with a range of disabilities to experience sculpture through touch and informed dialogue with experienced AGNSW Access Volunteer Guides, Sculpture by the Sea Educators, and artists, and group tours for marginalised communities are also offered.

The Tactile Tours program offers coordination and communication for all participants through a direct and personalized booking system to provide for all additional needs regarding safety and ease of arrival at the exhibition and on departure including assistance with direct vehicle access to the entrance of Marks Park and dedicated parking provided in Tamarama.

Tactile Tours offer audio descriptions to participants who are blind or vision impaired. A trained presenter produces a verbal version of an image and a narration of all the visual elements of each sculpture to give an overall representation of the artwork as it is touched by the tour participants.

The Sculpture by the Sea App has detailed audio descriptions available of selected sculptures for visitors with low vision, to provide information and access in addition to the Tactile Tour program.

The Sculpture by the Sea website has an accessibility webpage that includes a map detailing easy to moderate walking tour routes and accessible drop off areas. This page also contains links to local council resources including accessible parking maps, public transport, and relevant accessibility information

We offer Auslan interpreters for the public exhibition programs of Artists Talks, the Media Launch and the People’s & Kids Choice Awards for people in the deaf community.  A large print Exhibition catalogue is available for visitors with low vision.

During Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2024:

• 50 of the 100 outdoor sculptures exhibited were accessible from Marks Park. Of these sculptures, 34 were safe to touch.  
• 8 experienced AGNSW Access Guides and educators employed by Sculpture by the Sea delivered 3 Tactile Tours to 32 student participants from 2 schools, and 22 Tactile Tours to 237participants from 11 organisations
• A total of 380 people participated in a Tactile Tour (269 participants and 111 carers/teachers/supervisors) ranging in age from 7 to 104 years old

ORGANISATIONAL ENVIRONMENT – KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

This position reports directly to the Company Manager.

Internally this position also works closely with:

• Founding CEO & Artistic Director
• Chief Financial Officer
• Site & Logistics Manager (NSW)
• School Education Program and Access & Inclusion Program Coordinator (NSW)
• Exhibition Production
• Designers

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Visual Arts, Arts and/or Education
• Proven experience in visual arts education, programming and delivery particularly workshops with artists in an educational context
• Excellent communication, time management and administration skills
• Ability to produce well written, researched, informative and accurate text including brochures, education kits, proposals, and reports
• Experience and confidence in public speaking &/or tour guiding
• A broad ranging and thorough knowledge of contemporary art and sculptural practice
• 2 to 3 years of experience teaching in schools, tertiary education, museums or galleries
• Knowledge of the current NSW visual arts syllabus from primary through to senior secondary level Familiarity with Kindergarten to Year Twelve Australian Curriculum
• Experience devising programs to support curriculum-based experiential learning
• Experience working with people with disability and an understanding of and commitment to advocate their interests and requirements
• Experience providing learning opportunities for people who have specific access requirements
• Previous experience managing teams
• Full Drivers Licence
• Current NSW Working With Children Check and adherence to the Sculpture by the Sea Child-
• Friendly Child-safe Policy
• An understanding of risk assessment and experience in implementing safe working practices.
• Senior First Aid Qualifications would be desirable

SALARY

$92,500 plus superannuation when working full time

TO APPLY

Please apply by sending a cover letter and resume by email with the subject Education Manager Application to Sophie Aouad, e: [email protected] by Monday 24 August.

Applicants that are offered a final interview will be required to provide contact details for two referees.

It is an offence under the NSW Child Protection (Prohibited Employment) Act 1998 for a person convicted of a serious sex offence to apply for this position. Preferred applicants will be required to complete a Prohibited Persons Declaration and consent to a Working With Children Check.