Civic Arts Programs Coordinator

This is a one-year grant funded position only.
The Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) is dedicated to strengthening New York City’s vibrant cultural life by providing funding and support to New York City’s cultural community, including the 34 cultural institutions that comprise the Cultural Institutions Group (CIG) and more than 1,200 non-profit cultural organizations. This constituency represents a diverse array of internationally renowned cultural organizations, including performing arts centers, museums, theaters, wildlife centers, botanical gardens, visual arts and film centers, as well as community-based organizations and arts education programs. DCLA also manages a significant portfolio of cultural capital projects; provides free donated materials and supplies for arts programs; provides capacity building and technical assistance support to cultural groups; and commissions works of public art.
In recent years, the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA)’s public art efforts have expanded and evolved from primarily commissioning permanent public art on city property through its Percent for Art program, to becoming the City’s clearinghouse for all things art-related within the public sphere. This includes but is not limited to overseeing the commissioning of public monuments, as well as utilizing temporary art more frequently as a mechanism of engagement with communities in broader conversations about city life. With respect to temporary civic art specifically, DCLA has established a number of civic art programs that are rapidly gaining momentum and national recognition: The Public Artist in Residence program (PAIR), which embeds artists within municipal agencies for a year to develop public works that engage agency constituents; and City Canvas, which permits temporary art installations on sidewalk protective shed and scaffolds,and Public Art as Community Engagement (PACE), which utilizes artist-led temporary art, convenings, and interventions as tools for community engagement around specific public art projects.
At this time, DCLA is seeking a Civic Arts Programs Coordinator to oversee a suite of temporary art programs and special projects. This one-year grant funded position is a full-time opportunity within the agency’s Public Art unit. DCLA’s civic arts programs are high-touch and demand a high-level of project management, consensus-building, and knowledge of public art development and installation. Reporting to the Public Art Assistant Commissioner, the Civic Arts Program Coordinator is solely responsible for the implementation of these arts programs. With great latitude for independent decision-making, specific responsibilities include:

• For PAIR – implementing all program aspects including annual agency and artist recruitment; facilitating legal and financial program aspects; moving projects along throughout the year from
• Enhancing programmatic frameworks for existing civic arts programs, with guidance from agency leadership
• Operationalizing programs, in close coordination with other agency units and external stakeholders. Specifically:

scope development to fabrication to implementation; facilitating weekly calls to keep projects on track, trouble shoot issues as they arise, and ensure all stakeholder interest are aligned;
identifying potential additional resources, coordinating media outreach with various communications teams, etc.

• For City Canvas – implementing all aspects of the program including permit and artwork review, coordination with NYC Department of Buildings and other stakeholders, etc.
• For PACE – implementing all aspects of the programs including artist recruitment, facilitating legal and financial aspects; moving projects from scope development to fabrication to

implementation; facilitating weekly calls to keep projects on track, trouble shoot issues as they arise, and ensure all stakeholder interest are aligned; coordinating media outreach with various
communications teams, etc.

• Establishing ways to build and nurture network of artists engaged in agency civic arts programs
• Facilitating, with resources provided, the development of an online archive of past and current civic arts projects
• Facilitating panel discussions and public presentations around civic art projects; joining other public discussions on relevant topics as a representative of the agency
• Working collaboratively with other DCLA units including Legal, Communications, Finance, and IT.
• Managing all general administrative work for the projects
• Documenting residency processes and final projects for archival/research purposes, etc.
• As time allows, joining other Public Art efforts including participating in artist selection panels; providing expertise on materials, maintenance, budget and project feasibility

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties described above; or
2. High school graduation or equivalent and six years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties as described above; or
3. Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least one year of experience as described in "1" above.

The Civic Arts Program Coordinator is a highly skilled professional with demonstrated experience in the public art realm. Preferred skills include:

• Ability to work productively under pressure, both independently and collaboratively, building relationships at all levels of engagement
• Ability to effectively engage with a diverse constituency and manage an array of internal and external stakeholders
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal and writing skills
• Knowledge of art commissioning processes, particularly in public space, including fabrication and installation
• Master’s Degree in arts-related major or BA with 5+ years of experience in related field
• Expert ability to speak competently and comfortably in public, representing the City, the agency, and specific projects in various public settings
• Ability to handle multiple and changing demands in a fast-paced environment
• Extensive, effective project management experience
• A general knowledge of City government is a plus

Only those candidates under consideration will be contacted. No phone calls. For more information about DCLA, visit us at www.nyc.gov/culture
All appointments are subject to OMB approval.
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New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.