Vacant job

Gothenburg Opera is a modern cultural institution for opera, dance, musicals, and orchestral music, having touched over seven million visitors since its opening in 1994. The company's vision is to be one of Northern Europe's leading opera houses. The operations are characterized by professionalism, commitment, and innovation. Gothenburg Opera AB is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Region Västra Götaland and is a key player in the region's development. Gothenburg Opera is a multicultural workplace that strives for gender balance and values the qualities that diversity brings to our operations.

About the Role

Do you want to work with world-class performing arts and be part of creating the stage designs for Gothenburg Opera? Gothenburg Opera is looking for a scenic painter for a fixed-term position from August through the end of December, with the possibility of extension. As a scenic painter, you will be a vital part of the artistic and technical processes behind our productions.

In this role, you will paint and sculpt sets and backdrops for Gothenburg Opera's performances. The work takes place in close collaboration with colleagues in the workshops and other parts of the organization, where you contribute your professional expertise throughout the entire process – from conception to production.

The work is practical and physical, involving the use of various materials, techniques, and formats. We are looking for someone who thrives in a creative and craft-oriented environment, where artistic sensitivity, problem-solving skills, material knowledge, collaboration, and delivery capability are important parts of the job.

Main Responsibilities

As a scenic painter, your main tasks will include:

• painting and sculpting sets and backdrops for Gothenburg Opera's productions
• working within given timeframes and contributing to the on-time delivery of productions
• assuming responsibility for specific plays and maintaining direct contact with the artistic team, as delegated by the lead scenic painter
• contributing knowledge about materials, techniques, form, and sustainability in both the conception and production phases
• maintaining equipment and facilities in good condition
• considering environmental and sustainability aspects in daily work
• working beyond your own team's scope when operational needs require it.

Requirements

We are looking for someone who has:

• a post-secondary artistic education, preferably in scenic painting, or equivalent multi-year documented professional experience
• at least three years of experience as a scenic painter in the performing arts
• good material knowledge and experience working with various techniques and surfaces
• good proficiency in Swedish and English, both spoken and written.

Merits

The following experience is considered a plus:

• experience working on large-scale performing arts productions
• experience working closely with set designers, artistic teams, or other creative roles
• ability to translate models, sketches, and artistic ideas into large-scale sets
• material selection and work methods focused on sustainability and resource efficiency.

Personal Qualities

To thrive and succeed in this role, we believe you are team-oriented and see yourself as part of a larger whole. You are willing to share your experience and are also comfortable asking for help when needed.

You are delivery-focused and able to prioritize the best interests of the project based on given conditions, resources, and timeframes. The role requires strong problem-solving skills, creativity, and a well-developed artistic sense for color and form.

We also look for the ability to visualize models in large formats and to communicate about materials, techniques, and form in an artistic and communicative manner. Since the work is practical and physical, you must enjoy active work involving handling materials, equipment, and sets in varying formats. You actively contribute to good collaboration and a positive work environment.

Employment

The position is a fixed-term contract from August through the end of December, with the possibility of extension. The role is located within the Workshops and reports to the Workshop Manager.

Application

In this recruitment process, we ask that you attach work samples or a portfolio showing relevant examples of previous work.

We look forward to receiving your application!