Technician – Sound Specialism

Institute of Contemporary Arts

The Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) is London’s leading space for contemporary culture. We commission, produce and present new work in film, music, performance and the visual arts by today’s most progressive artists. In our landmark home on The Mall in central London, we invite artists and audiences to interrogate what it means to live in our world today, with a genre-fluid programme that challenges the past, questions the present and confronts the future. The cross-disciplinary programme encourages these art forms and others to pollinate in new combinations and collaborations. We stage club nights and film festivals, gigs and exhibitions, talks and digital art – with interplay and interaction at the core of all we do. Our history of presenting and promoting visionary new art is unrivalled in London: from Kenneth Anger to Kathy Acker, Kano to Klein, Jackson Pollock to Jean-Michel Basquiat, Gay Sweatshop to Forensic Architecture, Pop Art to queer techno. Today, as ever, our inclusive programme reflects and represents who we are as a disparate and diverse collection of cultures and identities.

The ICA is seeking two Technicians (one sound specialism, one lighting specialism) to form a new technical team alongside the Technical Production Manager at an exciting time in the ICA’s history. In the summer of its 75th year the ICA Theatre is undergoing a period of improvement work and technical upgrades, ahead of an expanded programme of live events from September 2023.

The Technical team will be at the heart of delivering an incredibly diverse programme of music, live art, dance, club nights, building takeovers and commercial events. Predominantly based in the ICA Theatre, the Technicians will also support the delivery of talks, private events and other interventions around the ICA building, working closely with art-form leads, the Music and Live Event Manager, Event Managers for commercial hires and a team of freelance technicians.

The Technician (sound specialism) will support the Technical Production manager in advancing live events as required. This may include interpreting technical riders, prepping in-house kit and arranging external hires (e.g. backline). The Successful candidate will lead Sound Technician for most incoming music shows and support the get-in of incoming shows and work closely and collaboratively with incoming production and technical teams.

The Technician ( sound Specialism) will contribute to the development of new systems and contribute creatively to specific projects, new commissions and productions as required.

Technician roles are contracted on 160-hour monthly rota basis, which covers both events and Duty Tech days, providing general technical cover for the organisation. From Autumn 2023 onwards the ICA aims to deliver an average of three live events per week, although programme schedules are flexible and this may mean five shows one week, and just one show on another.

Due to the nature of the role, evening and weekend work will regularly be required. Hours beyond the 160-hour month will be optional and paid as overtime.

This is an on-site role which will require the Technician to work from the ICA building on The Mall in Central London.