Samoa House Library is an independent art library and alternative education platform, located in the Samoa House building at 283 Karangahape Road, Tāmaki Makarau, Auckland. It is an artist-run and community-grown space that first emerged in response to the closures of specialist libraries at The University of Auckland.
Open hours: Tuesday – Friday, 11am – 5pm
WORK WITH US
Position title: Kaitiaki Director
Hours: 24 hours / week. This is a 2 year fixed-term position with the right to renewal for one additional term.
Rate: $35 / hour as contractor
ROLE DESCRIPTION
Samoa House Library (SHL) is seeking a new Kaitiaki Director to continue to develop our offering of alternative education centred on contemporary art and adjacent critical fields. The Director will generate and manage all areas of the Library's activities, working with the BoT to set and execute a two-year strategic vision that enhances the strategic and artistic objectives, and long-term sustainability of the organisation. Our vision is to continue to offer the arts community in Aotearoa a space for critical enquiry and collective thinking, as well as a non-transactional space to gather and engage with the Library collection. As Director, you’ll conceptualise and deliver our curriculum and residency programmes; work with our community of studio artists and users; facilitate access to and engagement with the collection; manage the day-to-day administration of the Library alongside outreach, communications and fundraising with support from the Research Librarian and Trustees.
ABOUT YOU
This role is suited to an emerging arts practitioner with a strong strategic and creative vision for the space who can work towards this confidently and independently, as well as a commitment to SHL’s principles of manaakitanga, alternative education and community building.
ABOUT SHL
Samoa House Library (SHL) is a browsable art library. We support research-based art practice by providing free and accessible resources for art practitioners. SHL was born in 2018 from the closure of Elam School of Fine Arts Library and the student and artist-led campaign, Save our Fine Arts Library, created as an independent, alternative space for study and research pitched against the neoliberalising university. Our kaupapa found a home in Samoa House on Karangahape Road—a building of central importance to Auckland’s Pacific heritage.
SHL is registered as a charitable trust governed by a Board of Trustees, with the guidance and support of advisors from across Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa. Training and mentorship will be provided by SHL Board and advisors. Within the SHL staff team you will work closely alongside the SHL Research Librarian (RL).
The K/D and RL will work collaboratively with one another to develop and realise Samoa House Library’s goals for 2025–26, supporting each other in their respective roles. Ideally, you will work onsite 4 days per week, but allocation of hours is negotiable for the right candidate.
Accessibility is important to us so please let us know if you have accessibility requirements that we can support within the application process. We can accept applications to this role as cover letter and resume or in video form, sent to BoTs at trustees.shl@gmail.com. To discuss applications or questions in advance, please feel free to get in touch with the BoTs at the same email address.
