Embedded Artists – The Work Room

2 x 12 month fixed term roles

Part time role: 0.4 FTE – equivalent of 14 hours/ 2 days a week

Salary: £12,800 (£32,000 full time equivalent)

Overview

The Work Room has received funding from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation’s Arts Fund, to build our organisational capacity towards supporting and influencing a more equitable dance sector in Scotland. Over the next three years, we are developing this through our Embedded Artists action research project. Each year, we will recruit two Embedded Artists as part of our staff team, creating paid roles for mid-career artists to sustain practice and enhance how we operate as a dispersed artistic network. This will be through activating connections and cultivating a more reciprocal and equitable organisational model. We are currently recruiting the first two Embedded Artists, for 12 month fixed-term contracts from March 2026 – February 2027.

The Role

The Embedded Artists’ roles will have two aspects, and we anticipate their time being split equally across these over their contracted time:

• To support the artists with salaried time for the ‘in between’ of their freelance creative work and maintaining an active artistic practice in their locality;
• As Embedded Artists within The Work Room community, delivering a practice-based action research proposal in response to the question: 'How can The Work Room activate and evolve a more dispersed and networked organisational model for members across Scotland – one that practices reciprocity at its heart?'

Drawing from the Embedded Artists existing practice, we anticipate that this will offer ways to connect, support and be artistic companions to The Work Room’s artistic community. This will expand and enhance our current Arts Practice programme of classes, workshops, networking, practice exchange and professional development.

The Embedded Artists roles are offered as flexible contracts of employment for the equivalent of 2 days a week (40% of a full-time contract) for one year. This can be worked flexibly according to the applicant’s commitments or practice. This could be two days a week across the year or in blocks of time throughout the year. We will agree a work plan and schedule individually with each Embedded Artist. This is our first recruitment for Embedded Artists and the first year will inform the shaping of the programme years 2 and 3. We will be opening recruitment for the next 2 Embedded Artists in Autumn 2026 for posts running January – December 2027.

Who You Are

These roles are designed for experienced dance artists with at least 7-10 years of professional experience – this may have included breaks through different life experiences. We are seeking artists with a strong commitment to the dance sector in Scotland and interested in bringing their leadership to shape this for the future. We are keen to hear from you if you share The Work Room’s values and are:

• Open to generously sharing your experience and skills to support our artists community;
• Committed to working inclusively to ensure our work is accessible and relevant;
• Interested in experimentation and new ideas as we respond to current and future challenges.

We are looking for you to demonstrate the following skills and experience:

• A minimum of 7 years professional experience in dance, including instigating and leading projects;
• A meaningful connection with The Work Room and our community of artists-members;
• An in-depth knowledge of dance in Scotland;
• An interest in artistic leadership and advocacy within the sector;
• Strong communication and inter-personal skills;
• Ability to work independently and manage your own time;
• A reflective approach which values evaluation.

Information Session

We will hold an online information session on Wednesday 7 January 2026, 11am – 12pm for anyone interested in applying for one of the roles or hearing more about our Embedded Artists action research project. This can be in writing or by providing short videos answering the questions. You are also asked to provide a link to a CV, personal website or profile outlining your professional experience. If you have any questions about the role or would prefer this information in an alternative format, please contact us directly on hello@theworkroom.org.uk.

The Work Room recognises there has been systemic exclusion within the arts sector and is striving to put equity at the heart of our practice and decision-making. We are committed to increasing the diversity of people working in dance and performance, and especially welcome applications from those who are significantly underrepresented in the sector. The Work Room uses the social model of disability, recognising that some people experience disabling barriers. We will interview all disabled applicants who meet the job criteria and we are committed to supporting any access requirements at interview and if appointed. Please indicate in your covering email if you consider yourself to be Disabled or identify as having a disability. Please note this information and the covering email will not be used to assess your application. All applicants are requested to complete our Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form. This is anonymous and will not be viewed alongside your application. It is for analysis purposes only. Please note that all applicants must be eligible to work in the UK.

Deadline for applications: Monday 19th January 2026. All applicants will hear from us by Friday 30th January. Those shortlisted will be invited to an interview. We intend to hold these online on Tuesday 10 & Wednesday 11 February. Those shortlisted will receive a fee of £150 towards their time in preparing for the interview. If for any reason, this would be difficult for you or there is anything you would need us to be aware of, please refer to this in your covering email.