We’re looking for someone to join our team for two half days per week next year! We need a support artist for our weekly Dresscue sewing workshops – could it be you?

• Hours: 2 half days per week (Friday mornings [confirmed] and Thursday afternoons [TBC]) and possible occasional evening work 
• Location: City centre gallery or other locations around Brighton as required
• Salary: £23,023 pro rata
• Deadline to apply: midnight, December 14 2022
• Interviews: December 20 2022
• Role commences: mid January 2023

 Job Description 

The ONCA Dresscue Support Artist will: 

• Support lead artist/ project manager Sally with the smooth, safe running of Dresscue sessions: adhering to risk assessments and to ONCA’s safeguarding policy; reporting any concerns; ensuring the space is safe for use
• Support delivery of Dresscue: help participants to realise their ideas and projects through technical sewing knowledge, skills and experience  
• Support participants to feel safe, comfortable and welcomed: welcoming people on arrival; supporting participation through encouraging and supportive approaches with no judgement; making teas and coffees  
• Supporting partnership work: working with representatives from other organisations; signposting participants to other organisations’ offers
• Support with administrative tasks: signing participants in; documenting sessions through photography, quotes, surveys and case studies, and writing social media posts where needed
• Support project evaluation and reporting
• Ensure tools, materials and equipment are kept in good working order and stocked up, helping source fabric donations when needed
• Support the PFAFF partnership: occasionally representing Dresscue at PFAFF training and network-building events
• Participate in training opportunities to grow knowledge and skills

Essential skills & experience

• People skills: supportive and gentle approaches to working with people
• Technical knowledge and experience: 3+ years’ work experience / home sewing experience / equivalent relevant qualification. Knowledgeable in the use of sewing machines and overlocker, garment making, pattern drafting
• Excellent team worker 
• Teaching or facilitation experience 
• Commitment to ONCA’s values of environmental and social justice and sustainability

Desirable skills & experience

• Enthusiastic about sustainability and creative practices 
• Experience working with children and/or community groups, ability to interact with vulnerable people and manage difficult situations  
• Up to date DBS check
• First aid training
• Fire safety training

To apply, please send a CV to by midnight, Wednesday December 14 2022. Interviews will be held at ONCA on Tuesday 20 December. If you are invited to interview, we will ask you to bring a portfolio to show your sewing skills. During the interview, we will ask you to demonstrate how you would introduce a sewing machine to an absolute beginner.

Link to downloadable version of job description

Photo credit: Phoebe Wingrove

Image description: a pair of hands push a pin through a paper pattern and striped cloth on a table. The skin on the hands is brown, and the person’s silver bracelet, black sleeves and floral scarf are visible.