Studio
Manager

01The opportunity

El Anatsui, among the most celebrated living artists, honoured with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Biennale and the Hyundai Commission in Tate Modern's Turbine Hall, is establishing his European studio in Portugal.

This is the founding operational appointment. It is a senior, trusted role at the centre of building the studio's European ecosystem, working directly with the artist and alongside his studios in Ghana and Nigeria.

The first year is a builder's brief: mapping and engaging Portugal's finest fabricators and craft workshops, supporting the search for studio, storage and living space, establishing logistics and art-handling arrangements, and setting up the daily operation of the studio.

The role is conceived to grow. The right person becomes the artist's right hand in Europe, managing the studio, its team and its programme.

02Why ANO, and why Portugal

ANO Institute of Arts and Knowledge has spent fifteen years building cultural infrastructure in Ghana, from the Mobile Museum to the Cultural Encyclopaedia. It is now opening a satellite in Portugal, and this studio is its first project here.

El Anatsui was one of the first artists ANO worked with, more than twenty years ago. The studio will coordinate with his studios in Ghana and Nigeria, host a fellowship programme with a Portuguese university, and build a working network with Portugal's makers, foundries and craft workshops.

03Responsibilities

• Build and manage a directory of Portugal's best fabricators and specialist workshops: foundries and metal casting, stone, ceramics, clay, wood, cork, industrial engineering and conservation. Commission tests and manage production relationships.
• Source and acquire materials. Establish supplier relationships and cost and lead-time knowledge across the country.
• Support the property programme: scout and pre-assess studio, warehouse, secure art storage and residential options, attend viewings, and coordinate with agents, engineers and lawyers.
• Coordinate international shipping, art handling, insurance and secure storage to museum standards.
• Set up and run studio operations: budgets, schedules, records, maintenance, health and safety.
• Assist with installations, exhibition logistics and visits by institutions, galleries and collaborators.
• Support the artist practically during Portugal visits, including driving and itinerary logistics in the first phase.
• Over time, recruit and supervise studio assistants, including a fellowship programme with Portuguese institutions.

04Profile

• Prior experience working directly with an artist or artists is a distinct advantage. Candidates who have managed or held senior roles in the studio of an internationally recognised artist will be strongly preferred. Substantial experience in a major fabrication workshop or an equivalent senior arts-production role will also be considered. This is a senior appointment and not an entry-level position.
• Fluent English and Portuguese, both essential. French is an asset.
• Deep practical understanding of fabrication processes across several of: metal casting, welding, ceramics, stone, wood, large-scale assembly.
• Working knowledge of art handling, packing, shipping and insurance standards.
• Highly organised, practical and discreet. Comfortable building something from nothing.
• Full driving licence, own car preferred, based in or willing to relocate to the greater Lisbon region.
• An existing network in the Portuguese art, craft or fabrication world is a strong advantage.

05Terms

Contract

Full-time, permanent, following a probationary period

Start date

October 2026

Based

Lisbon region, with travel throughout Portugal

Salary

Competitive and commensurate with experience

07Process

14 August

Applications close

19 to 26 August

First interviews, held online

Late Aug / early Sept

Final candidates meet the artist in person in Portugal

October 2026

Appointment begins. A later start can be accommodated for a candidate serving a notice period.