World Kiosk – Lead Host

World Kiosk – Lead Host – Call Out  

About the Project

World Kiosk is a new touring outdoor art installation – designed to resemble a street kiosk – where you can listen and contribute to a living archive of hyper local stories about place and identity. 

The work is from Variable Matter, the artist-led collective behind The People’s Kitchen and The Rising Sun, and directed and designed by award-winning artist David Shearing.

This summer World Kiosk will preview at two locations in Havering, and tour to Brighton, Norwich and East London outdoor festivals.

The audience welcome is at the heart of the experience. Participants will sip tea amidst a calming atmosphere, engage in thought provoking conversation, make new connections, enjoy a special edition newspaper, listen to or read and share life journeys.

Brilliant, caring, inclusive hosting is at the heart of this and we’re looking for a Lead Host to join the core team.

About the Role 

The Lead Host will be present at each venue, facilitating audiences through the experience, but also train and work with local volunteers recruited by the presenting partners. The Lead Host will ensure the World Kiosk is accessible to the widest range of audiences, including D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent participants and those for whom English isn’t their first language.

We’re looking for a Lead Host excited by the chance to be part of something different, with relevant past experience working with the public, ideally trained in BSL (British Sign Language).

Duties 

– Engaging in meaningful conversations with members of the public, with guidance and training provided.
– Facilitate the use of headsets and other handheld digital equipment (ipads, sound recorders).
– Serving and preparing tea, helping wash-up and reset refreshments.
– Explaining the project to any press or industry representatives attending.
– Gathering audience feedback and your own reflections for evaluation purposes.
– Maintaining the cleanliness and organisation of the space.
– Supporting special events and advocating for the project.
– Opening and closing the venue including starting and overseeing the daily operation of technical (turning on/off, system reset, and troubleshooting with Production Manager) 

The key dates are:

Thurs 25 to Sun 28 April – get in, run, get out in Havering venue A

Fri 3 to Mon 6 May – same, Havering venue B

Fri 10 May to Sun 12 May – same, Norfolk and Norwich Festival

Wed 15 to Sun 19 May – two locations, two venues at Brighton Festival

Wed 28 Aug to Sun 1 Sept – Greenwich + Docklands International Festival

Please contact connect@variablematter.com if you have availability for those touring dates and if this is something you’d be interested in discussing further.

Fee to be negotiated depending on availability for different stages of the project (including training, pre recording etc) and BSL experience.

We look forward to hearing from you!

World Kiosk is supported by Without Walls and Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Commissioned by Brighton Festival and Havering Changing.