Mesh is a new festival for art and technology. It is supported by iart, mjm.cc, the House of Electronic Arts and the Academy of Art and Design. Mesh highlights the influence of digital developments on society and how they can be categorized. The first edition took place on the Dreispitz site in Basel in October 2024. Exhibitions, performances, talks, workshops, screenings and concerts created a festival that appealed to a wide variety of target groups.
Mesh is conceived as a biennial and is celebrating a new edition after its successful launch in October 2026. The theme for 2026 is “urban actions | spatial utopias” and Mesh deals with questions of public space, its digital entanglements and the future of urban living spaces.
We are looking for a from October 2025 or by agreement:
Artistic Director (Ø 55% workload)
Responsibilities:
The responsibilities of the artistic director include research, conception, organization and follow-up of the festival. You will work closely with the board of the Mesh Festival association and develop the diverse program with a specific focus on art and technology, which you will be responsible for implementing. You will be supported by a curatorial assistant and a technical festival manager as well as the mjm team, which is responsible for the overall organization of the festival. Organizational tasks related to the program are just as much a part of your responsibilities as budget control. As part of your work, you will maintain regional and international contacts.
Requirements:
We expect you to have sound curatorial experience in the field of media art, technology and design. You are a well-connected personality, have profound knowledge of current developments in the field of art and technology and have professional experience in the exhibition and event business. A sense of responsibility, reliability and special care in dealing with artists and artworks are essential. You have excellent editorial skills in German and English. You are used to working independently and your qualifications include the ability to work in a team, social skills, organizational talent and a high level of commitment.
What we offer you:
- We offer you a varied job in a festival team.
- We have short decision-making processes and are open to ideas and input.
- You can expect a motivated team and collaboration with a wide range of national and international partners, artists and institutions.
The position extends over 14 months (October 25 to November 26) with a monthly varying workload and corresponds to an average workload of 55%.
The calculation basis is a gross salary of CHF 6500 for a 100% workload. Certain days of presence are required, the remaining part can be done in the home office. The details will be discussed in the interview.
The Mesh Festival is committed to a diverse, sustainable and inclusive festival that actively promotes equal opportunities, anti-discrimination; environmental sustainability and social justice, and we are looking for candidates whose experience and practice will help to expand and support this commitment. Applications from people who have been affected by discrimination or marginalization are strongly encouraged.
For further information, please contact Florence Noelpp, member of the management team at mjm, which organizes the Mesh Festival: Tel. 061 312 45 81, e-mail: hello@meshfestival.ch.
Please send your complete application documents by e-mail by August 21, 2025 at the latest to: hello@meshfestival.ch
Please send your complete application documents by e-mail by August 21, 2025 at the latest to: hello@meshfestival.ch
The interviews will take place on August 29 and September 2. Please keep these two dates provisionally free.
Feeling that this might be the job for you? Then we look forward to receiving your application!