Established in 2004, Freeplay is one of the world’s longest-running independent games festivals and explores games at the margins – independent, alternative, experimental and hyperlocal.
We bridge the gulf between the games industry and our local arts ecosystem – working with small developers, game-making collectives and the innovators and dreamers at the fringe of digital and interactive art to celebrate games as art – not just commercial products.
Freeplay is the first step for many Australian emerging studios into the broader games ecosystem. For twenty years, we have helped shape now world-renowned studios like Massive Monster (Cult of the Lamb), Witch Beam (Unpacking), League of Geeks (Armello), House House (Untitled Goose Game), 2Pt Interactive (Heavenly Bodies) and Worm Club (Frog Detective).
Between our annual Festival, our Parallels showcase at MIGW, the influential Freeplay Awards and the countless other activities we do across Melbourne, Australia and the Asia-Pacific, Freeplay is the bleeding heart and bleeding edge of Australia’s booming games industry.
Join the team
Freeplay is committed to fostering an inclusive, positive, and playful culture, promoting gamemaking as arts practice, and advocating for better opportunities, conditions and policies for gamemakers across Australia.
We strongly encourage applications from marginalised communities. Freeplay is committed to providing a culturally safe, supportive and inclusive environment to our employees and supporters.
We currently have two positions available.
We are currently hiring a new leadership team to prepare Freeplay for its next phase. We are hiring a new Creative Director and General Manager for 2023 and 2024.
Are you passionate about gamemaking? Are you an artist, academic or arts administrator with a soft spot for interactivity and playfulness? Do you like to be on the bleeding edge – at the unique intersection between games, play and art? Freeplay is looking for a Melbourne-based Creative Director to guide our artistic direction and curate our major events over the next two years.
About the role:
Our Director will lead the creative and artistic direction of Freeplay’s programme of events and exhibitions with support from the General Manager and events team, including:
- our flagship Festival, a small series of talks and workshops, building a gamemaking community and a space for critical analysis of games and interactive art, and providing professional development opportunities to working artists,
- the Freeplay Awards, the globally renowned independent games awards
- Parallels at Melbourne International Games Week, an intimate 2-hour showcase event of the most exciting, experimental and innovative independent games from the Asia-Pacific region, and
- further commissions, exhibitions, events and partnerships exploring games, play and interactive art as capacity allows.
The key responsibilities of the Director are to:
- Contribute to strategy of Freeplay, including decisions about event scope and timing
- Lead curation and direction of all Freeplay events and activities
- Program all Freeplay events, including development of event concepts and sourcing artists and speakers for event involvement
- Communicate effectively with General Manager and seasonal staff, and collaborate with all team members to successfully deliver all Freeplay events
- Assist team during event delivery, including but not limited to some stage management and/or some public speaking responsibility
- Contribute to continuous strengthening of Freeplay through assistance with grant-writing, advocacy, relationship building, and seeking sponsorship within the games and cultural sectors
Freeplay is offering a two year part-time contract at $23,712 per year plus superannuation (equivalent full-time salary of $79,040 at 0.3 FTE, or $40 per hour).
The Director is expected to work one day per week on average, rising to two to four days per week in the weeks before, during and after events. This is negotiable and Freeplay supports and encourages our Director to take time to pursue other artistic and professional opportunities.
The Director will work closely with the General Manager to deliver our program and the day to day operations of Freeplay, as well as onboarding, managing and supporting seasonal staff during peak event periods.
The Director is a senior leadership role and is expected to self-direct their work and work independently, with strategic direction from Freeplay’s committee of management.
This role is remote and it is expected that you will work from home. However, the role needs to be based in Melbourne. A desk in a co-working space can be arranged.
A brief job description, including more details on pay and work patterns, is available here.
Who we are looking for?
We are looking for someone with a passion for our games and art ecosystems, an ability to work independently and cooperatively, and can provide staff with a fair, friendly and supportive working environment.
Our ideal candidate might have have experience:
- working as as an artist, academic, curator, critic or gamemaker,
- researching games, the arts, art theory, cultural policy or industry and workplace matters
- building positive and productive relationships with artists, creators, studios and other advocacy organisations
- delivering major or touring arts events, or
- managing staff
How to apply:
We are looking for brief written expressions of interest for this role, which should include:
- a one page cover letter outlining your interest in the role, your previous experience and interactions with the arts, play and games ecosystem, and your understanding of Freeplay’s role in that
- your resume
- optional: portfolio of your creative, curation, programming or event management work
We may ask candidates to complete a brief task before interviews
To apply for this role – or to arrange a confidential conversation with our chair, Claire Merquita – please email [email protected].
Applications close at 11:59pm on Sunday 5 March 2023.
Do you pride yourself on the relationships and networks you build? Are you passionate about gamemaking? Do you like to be on the bleeding edge – at the unique intersection between games, play and art? Freeplay is looking for a Melbourne-based General Manager to join our organisation at a pivotal moment and move us into our next phase of growth.
About the role:
As Freeplay continues to grow and embrace its position as a leading voice for Australia’s games ecosystem, our General Manager will manage the day to day operations of Freeplay, handle the logistics and planning for our flagship events, recruit, onboard and mentor our seasonal staff, develop and deliver a new fundraising and partnerships strategy and secure grants and philanthropic opportunities to sustain Freeplay for the next few years.
The key responsibilities of the General Manager are to:
- Contribute to strategy of Freeplay, including decisions about event scope and timing
- Lead operations for all Freeplay events and activities, with support from seasonal staff
- Work with the Director to deliver all Freeplay events, including scheduling events, contracting seasonal staff, and liaising with artists, speakers and event delivery partners as needed
- Communicate effectively with Director and seasonal staff, and collaborate with all team members to successfully deliver all Freeplay events
- Assist team during event delivery, including but not limited to some stage management responsibilities
- Contribute to continuous strengthening of Freeplay through assistance with grant-writing, advocacy, relationship building, and seeking sponsorship within the games and cultural sectors
Freeplay is offering a two year part-time contract at $23,712 per year plus superannuation (equivalent full-time salary of $79,040 at 0.3 FTE, or $40 per hour).
The General Manager is expected to work one day per week on average, rising to two to four days per week in the weeks before, during and after events. This is negotiable and Freeplay supports and encourages our General Manager to take time to pursue other artistic and professional opportunities.
The General Manager will work closely with the Creative Director to deliver our programme, build partnerships with like-minded organisations, influence cultural policy and advocate for creators and workers across Australia.
The General Manager is a senior leadership role and is expected to self-direct their work and work independently, with strategic direction from Freeplay’s committee of management.
This role is remote and it is expected that you will work from home. However, the role needs to be based in Melbourne. A desk in a co-working space can be arranged.
A brief job description, including more details on pay and work patterns, is available here.
Who we are looking for?
We are looking for someone with a passion for our games and art ecosystems, an ability to work independently and cooperatively, and can provide staff with a fair, friendly and supportive working environment.
Our ideal candidate might have have experience:
- building and maintaining productive relationships with donors,
- recruiting and managing staff,
- writing grants or reports,
- organising events, or
- working as an arts administrator in government or for a major arts organisation.
How to apply:
We are looking for brief written expressions of interest for this role, which should include:
- a one page cover letter outlining your interest in the role, your previous experience and interactions with the arts, play and games ecosystem, and your understanding of Freeplay’s role in that
- your resume
- optional: a two page strategy for how to generate leads on new funders and how to build that relationship, including an example letter asking for sponsorship for a small event
To apply for this role – or to arrange a confidential conversation with our chair, Claire Merquita – please email [email protected].
Applications close at 11:59pm on Sunday 5 March 2023.
We engage seasonal staff in advance of our major events. We will list any new positions here when we’re recruiting.
Volunteering with Freeplay
Freeplay no longer uses unpaid workers at our events. Keep an eye out for when we’re hiring seasonal events staff.
If you’d like to volunteer to help Freeplay and the independent gamemaking community, you can join our Community Advisory Group here. Our Community Advisory Group supports our Creative Director in identifying new and emerging talent across Australia and helping Freeplay stay on the bleeding edge of gamemaking and art.
Our management committee is also always looking for help – especially from people with fundraising, advocacy and arts governance experience. If you’d like to have a confidential conversation about helping the management committee, email [email protected].