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Trestle Mask Maker (Freelance)
| Posting date: | 03 June 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £1,300 per month |
| Hours: | Part time |
| Closing date: | 16 June 2025 |
| Location: | AL4 0JQ |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Trestle Theatre Company |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: |
Summary
Thank you for your interest in Trestle and this role. We are looking for a freelance Mask Maker to join our team on a temporary basis, 3 days a week, to support the cover of a 6 month part time sabbatical for existing staff.
Trestle is a mask and physical theatre company with a 40-year history. Our mission
is to inspire creativity for all through participation and dialogue. We do this by
approaching opportunities with an open mind and playful attitude, using masks and
mask technique to unlock creativity. We open up opportunities for everyone to engage
with the arts, unleash their creativity, and increase confidence and general wellbeing
through participation. Working with our masks presents participants, especially those
who may otherwise struggle to communicate their stories, feelings and thoughts, with
a liberating canvas to be creative, and join with others to build confidence and self-expression.
Our masks are a key part of our business; we make and ship around 600 handmade sets a year to organisations and individuals around the world. This role will work closely with the Mask Department Manager to ensure the smooth running of the Mask Department by making, packing and sending out mask sets. There may be scope for further work following the 6 month contract, should the candidate want to explore that option.
The ideal candidate would be interested in the arts and have some experience working with machinery and technical processes. The role involves working with a vacuum former and pillar saw, hand-painting and spraying. Their attitude to Trestle and aptitude to our working environment are of paramount importance as everyone in the Company supports the workings of Trestle Arts Base and contributes to the running of the office.
We welcome applications from all people regardless of race, ethnic or national origin, religious or political beliefs, disability, gender, age, sexual orientation, social or marital status or personal circumstances. If you would like to discuss any requirements for application, please do contact us.
Process
Please download and fill in the application and equal opportunities forms and email them to rhian@trestle.org.uk by midday on 16th June 2025. We will invite shortlisted candidates to an interview in the week commencing 23rd June. Please call Helen Barnett, Creative Director, on 01727 850950 if you would like to discuss the role.
Purpose of Post: To make Trestle’s Basic, Intermediate, Half and Advanced mask sets and support the smooth running of the Mask Department.
Responsible to: Mask Department Manager
This role is based in our Mask Workshop at Trestle Arts Base in St Albans. Trestle Arts
Base is the home of Trestle Theatre Company and is run as a community arts venue
providing space for arts groups. These include Trestle School of Drama, dance classes,
and a café gallery exhibiting the work of local artists. We also to host professional
theatre touring companies and provide a space for their growth and development.
Duties:
Mask Making
To use the vacuum-former machines to pull the masks
To cut out the masks using the pillar saw and hand drilling eye and elastic
holes
To spray base tone, hand paint and airbrush the features on to mask sets
To pack and wrap mask sets ready for dispatch, and dispatching if necessary
Supporting the Mask Dept Manager with commissions
Administration
To handle queries regarding mask set orders
To ensure marketing materials are in stock
Covering for the Mask Dept Manager when absent, carrying out admin duties
such as emails, processing orders, creating invoices in Sage, taking payments
Other
To organise the available work space to ensure an efficient and safe working
environment
To ensure the working area is kept clean and tidy and that waste is disposed of
responsibly and in line with Trestle’s recycling policy
To be aware of Trestle’s Health and Safety Policy, Risk Assessments and to
adhere to working within safety guidelines
To help train work experience placement students, volunteers and new
members of staff to make masks
To assist in implementing any marketing campaigns relating to the mask sets
To pursue an active and continuing programme of training
To abide by and ensure that all aspects of Trestle’s Mask Making work comply
with the Company’s Equal Opportunities, Safeguarding and other policies
To contribute ideas to the website and other marketing initiatives
Any other duties as reasonable required. Depending on the aptitude and
interest of the post holder, this may include an involvement with other aspects
of the Company’s work such as the touring shows or Taking Part projects
Person Specification
Essential
A commitment to the success of the Company and to its ongoing
development.
A demonstrable commitment to creating an inclusive and welcoming work
environment.
Good communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with
people at all levels, both internally and externally.
Understanding of Health and Safety and implementing safe working practices.
A positive attitude with a high level of self-motivation and the ability to work
using your own initiative, taking personal responsibility and resolving issues
independently.
Happy to work on repetitive processes.
An understanding of Equal Opportunity and Cultural Diversity issues in the
delivery of our services, including an understanding of access and disability
requirements.
Commitment to and understanding of sustainability.
Competent computer skills.
A can-do attitude.
An ability to problem solve.
A good attention to detail.
Desirable
Experience of working within the Arts.
A knowledge of the machinery used in the mask making process, i.e. vacuum
former, pillar saw, hand drills.
Experience with hand painting.
Experience working in a practical workshop environment.
Terms and Conditions: A temporary freelance contract for 3 days a week for 6
months.
Trestle is a mask and physical theatre company with a 40-year history. Our mission
is to inspire creativity for all through participation and dialogue. We do this by
approaching opportunities with an open mind and playful attitude, using masks and
mask technique to unlock creativity. We open up opportunities for everyone to engage
with the arts, unleash their creativity, and increase confidence and general wellbeing
through participation. Working with our masks presents participants, especially those
who may otherwise struggle to communicate their stories, feelings and thoughts, with
a liberating canvas to be creative, and join with others to build confidence and self-expression.
Our masks are a key part of our business; we make and ship around 600 handmade sets a year to organisations and individuals around the world. This role will work closely with the Mask Department Manager to ensure the smooth running of the Mask Department by making, packing and sending out mask sets. There may be scope for further work following the 6 month contract, should the candidate want to explore that option.
The ideal candidate would be interested in the arts and have some experience working with machinery and technical processes. The role involves working with a vacuum former and pillar saw, hand-painting and spraying. Their attitude to Trestle and aptitude to our working environment are of paramount importance as everyone in the Company supports the workings of Trestle Arts Base and contributes to the running of the office.
We welcome applications from all people regardless of race, ethnic or national origin, religious or political beliefs, disability, gender, age, sexual orientation, social or marital status or personal circumstances. If you would like to discuss any requirements for application, please do contact us.
Process
Please download and fill in the application and equal opportunities forms and email them to rhian@trestle.org.uk by midday on 16th June 2025. We will invite shortlisted candidates to an interview in the week commencing 23rd June. Please call Helen Barnett, Creative Director, on 01727 850950 if you would like to discuss the role.
Purpose of Post: To make Trestle’s Basic, Intermediate, Half and Advanced mask sets and support the smooth running of the Mask Department.
Responsible to: Mask Department Manager
This role is based in our Mask Workshop at Trestle Arts Base in St Albans. Trestle Arts
Base is the home of Trestle Theatre Company and is run as a community arts venue
providing space for arts groups. These include Trestle School of Drama, dance classes,
and a café gallery exhibiting the work of local artists. We also to host professional
theatre touring companies and provide a space for their growth and development.
Duties:
Mask Making
To use the vacuum-former machines to pull the masks
To cut out the masks using the pillar saw and hand drilling eye and elastic
holes
To spray base tone, hand paint and airbrush the features on to mask sets
To pack and wrap mask sets ready for dispatch, and dispatching if necessary
Supporting the Mask Dept Manager with commissions
Administration
To handle queries regarding mask set orders
To ensure marketing materials are in stock
Covering for the Mask Dept Manager when absent, carrying out admin duties
such as emails, processing orders, creating invoices in Sage, taking payments
Other
To organise the available work space to ensure an efficient and safe working
environment
To ensure the working area is kept clean and tidy and that waste is disposed of
responsibly and in line with Trestle’s recycling policy
To be aware of Trestle’s Health and Safety Policy, Risk Assessments and to
adhere to working within safety guidelines
To help train work experience placement students, volunteers and new
members of staff to make masks
To assist in implementing any marketing campaigns relating to the mask sets
To pursue an active and continuing programme of training
To abide by and ensure that all aspects of Trestle’s Mask Making work comply
with the Company’s Equal Opportunities, Safeguarding and other policies
To contribute ideas to the website and other marketing initiatives
Any other duties as reasonable required. Depending on the aptitude and
interest of the post holder, this may include an involvement with other aspects
of the Company’s work such as the touring shows or Taking Part projects
Person Specification
Essential
A commitment to the success of the Company and to its ongoing
development.
A demonstrable commitment to creating an inclusive and welcoming work
environment.
Good communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with
people at all levels, both internally and externally.
Understanding of Health and Safety and implementing safe working practices.
A positive attitude with a high level of self-motivation and the ability to work
using your own initiative, taking personal responsibility and resolving issues
independently.
Happy to work on repetitive processes.
An understanding of Equal Opportunity and Cultural Diversity issues in the
delivery of our services, including an understanding of access and disability
requirements.
Commitment to and understanding of sustainability.
Competent computer skills.
A can-do attitude.
An ability to problem solve.
A good attention to detail.
Desirable
Experience of working within the Arts.
A knowledge of the machinery used in the mask making process, i.e. vacuum
former, pillar saw, hand drills.
Experience with hand painting.
Experience working in a practical workshop environment.
Terms and Conditions: A temporary freelance contract for 3 days a week for 6
months.