Student Helper Information
For more information about how to apply to be a helper for the 2013 ceramics festival please contact Carol Bainbridge cjb07@aber.ac.uk from September 2011.
The International Ceramics Festival is the UK’s leading international ceramics event, attracting over 800 participants to a series of lectures, practical demonstrations and exhibitions over three days. The focus is both practical and inspirational – kilns are built and fired, pots made and demonstrations given. Guest artists also have their own workspace enabling more in depth discussions and exchange of ideas. Over the years the Festival has built up a reputation for featuring some of the world’s best known ceramic artists and potters.
Being a student helper is a great opportunity to take part in this festival and see, meet and work with leading international potters. As well as making friends and meeting like-minded individuals, student helpers gain skills and experiences. Student helpers play a key part in the success of the Festival, the work they do may involve them working closely with festival organizers, arts centre staff, trade exhibitors and demonstrators. The jobs required vary widely from physical work to administrative duties, offering opportunities for most students to take part. The types of duties required are:
Setting up the Festival:
- Help erect marquees and assist exhibitors and Arts Centre staff in setting up. This will involve physical and outdoor work, everyone will have a brief induction into the safe handling of loads.
- Managing the outdoor/kiln area:
- Help build and fire kilns, stewarding, unloading and moving materials
- Trade stands:
- Help them unload and set up, assisting during the event.
Assisting Demonstrators:
- Preparing clay, building and firing kilns or physically assisting the demonstrator during performances on stage. This will include physical and outdoor work.
Setting up the Exhibition and the Cup Sale.
Front of House/Stewarding
Monitoring ticket holder’s entry in to events. Assisting the audience in finding seats etc.
Front Desk
Providing information, help and assistance to visitors.
Closing the Festival
All student helpers are required to help clear the site after the event, – dismantling kilns and stacking bricks, removal of litter etc. This will include physical and outdoor work. This is one of the busiest times and everyone has to help.
More information for Student helpers:
1.All students are required from Thursday MIDDAY to 8pm approx Sunday Evening. A smaller number of selected students will be invited to work from the Monday before the festival for the entire festival. Please indicate on your application form when you would be available.
2.Students are expected to work for approx 6 hours per day. Some tasks may involve you working for longer hours. A rota will be provided on arrival.
3.There is some manual lifting work involved. The maximum weight a person may carry under normal circumstances is:
25kilos – Men
18Kilos – Women
Please can you indicate on the application form if you unable to carry this weight (this will not necessarily disadvantage you as there are plenty of other tasks). Please also indicate on the form any preferences or limitations you may have on the type of work you wish to undertake. Much of the work will be outside and the weather is not guaranteed.
4.As student helpers you will be part of the public face of the festival as well as working as members of the organising team. You will need to be professional in your approach to the public and the rest of the team. You will need to get to the festival site yourselves and get into work on time every day, you will need to bring appropriate clothing and footwear and work as cheerfully as possible throughout the event
5.Self catering accommodation will be provided for students on site. This will consist of shared bathrooms facilities and a kitchen/communal area.