Art Director
This post is funded by the National Lottery Community Young Start Fund
Job Title: Art Director
Location: Homeworking/Dundee Libraries.
Responsible: In the first instance to the Board of Trustees and secondly to the Youth Development Board.
Your challenge:
The post of Art Director is an exciting and dynamic role integral to the success the Building Stories project and the broader mission of Comics Youth SCIO. This position offers a unique opportunity to support and amplify the creative voices of marginalised young people in Dundee by guiding them in the creation, development, and publication of their own comics and illustrated works.
Background:
Comics Youth SCIO is an innovative non-profit based in Dundee that delivers comics-based literacy and wellbeing projects for disadvantaged and marginalised children and young people aged 8-25. The organisation’s ethos is to break down participation barriers for marginalised groups, including LGBTQIA+ youth, young people with neurodivergence, care-experienced young people, and those facing complex mental health challenges.
By providing safe, inclusive, and youth-led spaces, we empower young people to make, create, and publish comic books and zines that explore salient community issues. Through these creative outlets, young people develop their skills, build resilience, and amplify their voices whilst fostering a sense of belonging and connection to their communities. Our sessions are delivered in accessible, welcoming venues across Dundee, including libraries, community hubs, and cultural spaces, ensuring that every young person-no matter their circumstances-has the opportunity to engage, learn, and flourish creatively.
HOURS OF WORK: 30 hours per week
RATE OF PAY: 28k pro rata
DURATION OF CONTRACT: 3 years (April 2025 onwards)
POSITION GUIDE:
MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Creative Leadership and Direction
Lead the artistic direction of Building Stories and other Comics Youth SCIO projects, ensuring a cohesive visual identity that reflects the lived experiences of young creators.
Develop and oversee the creation of visually compelling comics, zines, and illustrated publications that capture the voices of marginalised young people aged 8-24, with a focus on community issues relevant to their lived experiences.
Collaborate with young people to co-create stories, from concept through to final publication, ensuring their perspectives and narratives remain central to the creative process.
2. Membership and Skills Development
Mentor, coach, and provide ongoing support to young people, empowering them to develop professional-standard work in comics, zines, and other illustrative formats.
Train peer mentors from within the youth community, building leadership capacity and ensuring the sustainability of the project by developing young people’s skills to support their peers.
Co-produce educational resources, including SQA Unit Awards, that focus on comics creation and related skills, such as storytelling, design, and project management.
3. Program Development and Delivery
Lead the design and implementation of youth-led comic hubs and satellite programs across Dundee, ensuring they meet the needs of the targeted age groups.
Facilitate creative workshops and literacy sessions that foster resilience, self-expression, and employability, while encouraging young people to explore their identities and community issues through comics.
Guide young people through the creative process from initial brainstorming to the publishing stage, ensuring that they understand each step and gain hands-on experience in the process.
Collaborating with local partners such as Dundee Libraries, the McManus Gallery & Museum, and Dundee University to deliver impactful events, workshops, and training sessions.
4. Community Engagement and Partnerships
Build and maintain relationships with stakeholders, local organisations, and national bodies to promote Comics Youth’s mission.
Plan and oversee events in tandem with the Board of Trustees that showcase youth-led publications, including exhibitions and training sessions.
Engage with stakeholders, including youth workers, social care providers, and mental health services, to promote the benefits of creative expression through comics, particularly for marginalised young people.
5. Strategic Input
Identify creative trends and integrate innovative practices into programming to enhance impact and visibility.
Work collaboratively with the Youth Development Board to ensure youth perspectives guide project decisions.
6. Sustainable Leadership
Driving the Building Stories project in a fiscally responsible manner, ensuring resources are effectively allocated to maximise creative impact and community reach.
Ensure compliance with funding targets and reporting requirements.
Upholding Comics Youth SCIO’s commitment to accessibility, inclusion, and co-production in all programming efforts.
ESSENTIAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS:
Qualifications and Expertise:
5+ years’ experience in design, illustration, or related field, with a strong focus on comics and graphic storytelling (E).
Advanced drawing skills and proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly (InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator) and a strong portfolio showcasing relevant work (E).
Demonstratable experience in visual narrative storytelling and comics creation, and content development, with a focus on inclusive, youth-centred projects (E).
Lived experience or demonstrated understanding of working with marginalised young people including those with neurodivergence, LGBTQIA+ identities, and mental health challenges (E).
Interpersonal and Organisational Skills:
Strong communication skills, with the ability to inspire, mentor, and empower marginalised young people, particularly those with limited access to mainstream services (E).
Experience in peer mentoring and training, particularly in a creative or educational context, with a focus on developing leadership and mentorship within youth communities (D).
Good communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively through verbal and nonverbal expression using a range of therapeutic person-centred skills (D).
Ability to work within an anti-discriminatory, inclusive environment that celebrates diversity and fosters a sense of belonging (E).
A deep understanding of the challenges faced by neurodiverse, LGBTQIA+, care-experienced, and other marginalised youth, and the ability to create inclusive spaces that support their creative expression and personal development (E).
Must be legally entitled to work in the UK (E).
CONTEXT ON BUILDING STORIES PROJECT:
Building Stories will provide marginalised young people in Dundee with the tools, skills, and support they need to create and share their own comics and zines. These creative outputs will reflect their unique experiences and highlight the challenges they face, fostering a sense of agency, self-expression, and community connection.
Delivery Model
1. Satellite Delivery Provisions
Creative workshops will run across Dundee Libraries (Blackness, Coldside, Central, Douglas, Fintry, and The Hub), focusing on advocacy, literacy development, and resilience for young people aged 8-13.
2. Youth-led Comic Hubs
Hubs for young people aged 14-24 will serve as inclusive, youth-led spaces for creating comics, running reading groups, facilitating workshops, and developing project management skills.
3. Community Events and Training
Young people will co-produce community events, showcasing their comics and zines at venues such as the McManus Gallery & Museum and Dundee University’s Tower Foyer Gallery. They will also gain SQA Unit Awards in Comics Creation at Introductory, Intermediate, and Advanced levels.
4. Volunteer Training Initiative
A structured program will train young people as creative volunteers, providing accreditation and professional development to enhance their career prospects.
Planned Outputs
30 library sessions per year, reaching marginalised young people aged 8-13.
4 youth-led comic book hubs annually, with budgets of £2,000 each for activities and materials.
4 co-produced community events, held in collaboration with local venues and stakeholders.
2-week Summer School in partnership with the McManus Gallery & Museum, fostering intensive creative development.
5 young people trained annually through a volunteer program with accreditation opportunities.
Anticipated Outcomes
Improved Mental and Emotional Wellbeing
Creative expression will provide young people with a therapeutic outlet, reducing anxiety and building confidence.Enhanced Community Connections
Youth-led hubs and events will foster inclusion, helping young people feel valued and connected to their community.New Skills and Career Opportunities
Participants will gain practical skills in comics publishing, creative writing, and project management, preparing them for further education, employment, or entrepreneurship.
HOW TO APPLY:
To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter outlining your suitability for the post to rhiannon@comicsyouth.co.uk.
Applications submitted without a covering letter, as specified, will unfortunately not be considered.
The deadline for applications is 12 pm on the 17th of January 2025.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
If you are shortlisted, interviews will be conducted digitally in the New Year. If you would like to discuss the role further or require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview process, please don’t hesitate to contact hailey@comicsyouthscio.uk.