This is a leadership opportunity to oversee the daily operations and management of the cultural mediator team during the Biennale. 

The role will be responsible for maintaining a consistently high level of service to a large volume of visiting public and ensure a presentable, secure, operable exhibition and Pavilion. The Attendant Manager will be the critical on-the-ground interface for visitors and audiences to the Pavilion and Khaled Sabsabi’s exhibition. They will also advocate for the Australian visual arts sector, engaging with other national pavilions and key delegates visiting the Pavilion.

There are up to three (3) Attendant Manager positions available. These positions will be rostered for an approximate period of 10 to 11 weeks each over the length of the exhibition, 9 May – 22 November 2026. The Attendant Manager will report directly to nominated Creative Australia staff working on the Australia at Venice project through fortnightly check-ins. The role will manage the Pavilion Attendants. 

For more details about the Attendant Manager role, including key responsibilities, and requirements, please see below.

Attendant Manager roles and responsibilities

General

• Work up to five days a week in the Pavilion for a maximum of eight (8) hours a day.
• Maintain clear and ongoing communications with the Creative Australia project team, Pavilion Supervisor and Pavilion Attendants.  
• Establish daily priorities including:
  • day-to-day exhibition and venue cleaning and maintenance
  • timely opening and closing of the Pavilion
  • leading tours, and
  • front of house presentation
• Organise and host a monthly networking event with your team and attendants from other national pavilions.
• Undertake other duties as required by the Pavilion Supervisor and the Creative Australia project team. 

Manage the Pavilion Attendants

• Manage the diverse team of Pavilion Attendants (PA) including:
  • supervision and coordination of the PA roster
  • delivering and delegating daily priorities such as cleaning and maintenance
  • human resource topics, including wellbeing and safety, with the support of the Pavilion Supervisor and the Creative Australia project team
• Encourage the PAs to use this opportunity to network and connect with other national pavilions. 

Reporting and risk management

• Provide a detailed weekly report, including risk management and accurately recorded visitor numbers, to the Creative Australia project team.
• This role reports to the Program Manager, Venice Biennale on all matters. Maintain clear and ongoing communications in relation to all aspects of exhibition monitoring, visitor attendance, the Pavilion invigilation team, and media issues including escalating urgent issues as required.
• Submit responses to a feedback survey to the Creative Australia at the end of your rotation. 

Manage the exhibition in the Australia Pavilion

• Monitor and check the security and technical operability of the exhibition artworks and venue on a daily basis.
• Coordinate the opening and closing of the Australia Pavilion, within the appointed Giardini opening hours.
• Maintain clear and ongoing communications with the Pavilion Supervisor regarding exhibition monitoring and security, venue maintenance, any staffing changes or human resource requirements.
• Facilitate and action requests from the Artistic Team and the Creative Australia project team.

Audience Engagement

• Research and communicate the practice and importance of Khaled Sabsabi’s work, and Australian contemporary visual arts, to an international audience.
• Assist with the public programs alongside the Artistic Team and Creative Australia project team.
• Maintain a consistently high level of service to a large volume of visiting public, while ensuring the security and invigilation of the exhibition and the Australia Pavilion.
• Provide information on the exhibition and Australian visual arts and when required, provide walk-throughs of the exhibition to VIPs
• Act as an ambassador for Australia by positively represent Australian culture to visitors and stakeholders at all times.
• Abide by Creative Australia’s code of conduct, social media protocols and communication and marketing strategy.

Pavilion Attendants take on a supporting role, assisting the Attendant Manager with the daily operations of the Pavilion during the Venice Biennale 2026. They will be responsible for exhibition mediation and communicating the significance of Khaled Sabsabi’s practice to Pavilion visitors. Pavilion Attendants will also need to ensure the overall presentation of the exhibition is neat and high quality.

There are up to five (5) Pavilion Attendant positions available. Pavilion Attendant positions will be assigned to a rostered period of up to six (6) or seven (7) weeks each over the length of the exhibition, 9 May – 22 November 2026. 

Pavilion Attendants report directly to the Attendant Manager and are supported by the Creative Australia Venice project team through fortnightly check-ins. 

For more details about the Pavilion Attendant role, including key responsibilities please see below.

Pavilion Attendant roles and responsibilities

General

• Work up to five days a week in the Pavilion for a maximum of eight (8) hours a day reporting directly to the Attendant Manager (AM).  
• Maintain clear and ongoing communications with the AM.  
• Establish daily priorities with the Attendant Manager including:
  • day-to-day exhibition and venue cleaning and maintenance
  • timely opening and closing of the Pavilion
  • leading tours, and
  • front of house presentation
• Support the Attendant Manager to organise and host a monthly networking event with your team and attendants from other national pavilions.
• Undertake other duties as required by the Attendant Manager, Pavilion Supervisor, and the Creative Australia project team. 

Coordinate the exhibition in the Pavilion

• Maintain clear and ongoing communications with the AM in Venice regarding exhibition security and monitoring of the exhibition artworks, venue, and technology daily.
• Facilitate and action requests from the Artistic Team and Creative Australia project team. 

Audience Engagement

• Provide a high-level and welcoming cultural mediation led service to visitors including providing information on the artworks and Australian visual arts.
• Actively position the Pavilion as a destination and a ‘must see’ exhibition at the Venice Biennale.
• Abide by Creative Australia’s code of conduct, social media protocols and communication and marketing strategy.

Reporting

• Research exhibiting artist Khaled Sabsabi’s practice and familiarise yourself with the central themes of his work.
• Accurately record visitor statistics for the Pavilion.
• Submit responses to a feedback survey to the Creative Australia at the end of your rotation. 

Your application must comply with the following protocols. We may contact you to request further information during the assessment process, or if successful, as a condition of your funding. 

Protocols for using First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts 

All applications involving First Nations artists, communities or subject matter must adhere to these Protocols, provide evidence of this in their application and support material. More information on the First Nations Protocols is available here. 

Commonwealth Child Safe Framework 

All successful applicants are required to comply with all Australian law relating to employing or engaging people who work or volunteer with children, including working with children checks and mandatory reporting. Successful organisations who provide services directly to children, or whose funded activities involve contact with children, will additionally be required to implement the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations. 

Who can apply 

You can apply to this program if: 

• you are an individual
• you work in the arts and culture sector and currently engaged in front of house and/or in public engagement roles, with a minimum of 3 years' experience
• you are over 18 years of age
• you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

Who can’t apply 

You can’t apply to this program if: 

• you are a group/organisation
• you have an overdue report for another Creative Australia grant
• you owe money to Creative Australia
• you have previously participated in this program
• you have not included required information in your submission as per the guidelines, (e.g. letter of support from your current or recent previous employer endorsing your application). 

The application form will ask you to identify the placement you are applying for. You can only apply for one type of placement. 

Please submit all applications here.

Attendant Manager application form:

Nominate your preferred participation timeframe:

Roster one: 5 May – 14 July 2026 *you will be involved with Vernissage

Roster two: 13 July – 22 September 2026

Roster three: 21 September – 22 November 2026 *you will be involved with exhibition deinstallation

Support material items:

1. A short introductory video (maximum 90 seconds). Introduce yourself and tell us why you are interested in this opportunity.
2. Responses to the following questions:
   1. Please explain why you are best placed to participate in this program. (150 words)
   2. Experience in leading and managing a front of house team. (150 words)
   3. Operational and technical ability with reporting, maintenance, invigilation (including security) and daily risk management of exhibitions. (150 words)
   4. Relevant cultural mediation, communication and audience engagement skills. (150 words)
   5. Interest, advocacy or connection to Australian visual arts practice. (150 words)
3. A maximum one-page CV illustrating relevant work experience, including the contact details of two referees and a letter of support from your current or recent previous employer endorsing your application. 

Where applicable to you please also state in your CV if you have:

• Fluency in another language other than English.
• Tertiary qualifications in Visual Arts, Art History, Art Theory or Arts Administration (preferable).
• First Aid and Mental Health First Aid certificates.
• Demonstrated ability to work with Microsoft products and SharePoint (highly preferable).

Pavilion Attendants application form: 

Nominate your preferred participation timeframe:

Roster one: 5 May to 16 June *six weeks and you will be involved with Vernissage

Roster two: 15 June to 27 July *six weeks                        

Roster three: 26 July to 6 September *six weeks    

Roster four: 5 September to 17 October *six weeks          

Roster five: 16 October to 22 November *six weeks and you will be involved with exhibition deinstallation 

Support material items:

1. A short introductory video (maximum three minutes) Introduce yourself and tell us why you are interested in this opportunity.
2. Responses to the following questions:
   1. Please explain why you are best placed to participate in this program. (150 words).
   2. Outline your experience with reporting, maintaining and monitoring the security and daily risk management of exhibitions. (150 words).
   3. Outline your relevant experience working in a team environment, in the visual arts sector. Include any experience with cultural mediation and relevant communication and audience engagement skills. (150 words).
3. A maximum one-page resume illustrating relevant work experience, including the contact details of two referees and a letter of support from your current or recent previous employer endorsing your application. 

Where applicable to you please also state in your resume if you have:

• Fluency in another language other than English.
• Tertiary qualifications in Visual Arts, Art History, Art Theory or Arts Administration (preferable).
• First Aid and Mental Health First Aid certificates.
• Demonstrated ability to work with Microsoft products and SharePoint (highly preferable).

Assessment Process 

Creative Australia staff and industry advisors with diverse and relevant experience will assess the EOIs against the assessment criteria listed below with final decisions made by Creative Australia. 

Assessment Criteria 

You must address two assessment criteria in this category. Under each criterion are bullet points indicating what staff/industry advisors may consider when assessing your application. You do not need to respond to every bullet point listed. 

Viability 

Staff/industry advisors will assess the viability of the proposed activities; with consideration to the calibre and track record of the applicant; previous experience.  

They may consider: 

• the calibre and track record of the applicant
• relevance and timeliness of proposed activity
• skills and ability of arts professionals involved, and relevance to activity
• your previous experience or participation in /activities of similar size and scope. 

Impact 

Staff/industry advisors will assess the expected impact or outcome of the proposed activities on the applicant. 

They may consider: 

• proposed impact for the applicant
• how the activity is relevant to and the applicant’s career development
• potential to discover and develop new markets, relationships or networks
• the capacity to strengthen skills and abilities of those involved. 

Moderation 

Following assessment, Creative Australia staff will determine which applications to prioritise based on: 

• alignment to the aims of the program
• supporting diversity of individuals across art forms, geography, and representation
• supporting individuals with a range of levels of experience in cultural mediation and audience engagement. 

Attendant Manager: 

• $1,425 AUD per week for up to 11 weeks of engagement.
• Additional micro-grant of $2,000 AUD to support approved professional development activities.

Creative Australia will arrange and pay for:

• 1-bedroom accommodation in a shared apartment in Castello throughout the term of your roster. 
• Participation and travel support for in-person Cultural Mediation training.

Creative Australia will reimburse the participant for the following mandatory items: 

• Reimbursement for economy return travel to Venice.
• Reimbursement for relevant first aid training.
• Travel insurance (you will need to provide proof of cover).

Pavilion Attendant:

• $1,045 AUD per week for up to six or seven weeks of engagement.
• Additional micro-grant of $1,200 AUD to support additional professional development activities.

Creative Australia will arrange and pay for:

• 1-bedroom accommodation in a shared apartment in Castello throughout the term of your roster. 
• Participation and travel support for in-person Cultural Mediation training.

Creative Australia will reimburse the participant for the following mandatory items: 

• Reimbursement for economy return travel to Venice.
• Reimbursement for relevant first aid training.
• Travel insurance (you will need to provide proof of cover).

It is the responsibility of the applicant to seek all relevant visa clearances to support their participation in the program.