SCOPE The Equity in Arts Leadership Program Associate works under the supervision of the Equity in Arts Leadership Program Manager to assist in and support the design and implementation programs to enhance the skills of diverse emerging arts administrators and assist local arts agency, public sector, and private sector leaders in adopting and implementing policies and programs that move the arts sector and communities-at-large toward cultural equity. Since our founding in 1960 as the National Assembly of Community Arts Agencies, Americans for the Arts has retained a core focus on the deep and persistent role of the arts in every community. Systemic barriers that exist within the U.S. arts field challenge that vision and have kept field leadership from representing the full diversity of the communities in which the field operates. Changing that reality requires supporting leaders through the career spectrum and impacting the creative workers and public and private sector partners responsible for those systems. By reinforcing a pathway for leaders from historically underrepresented demographic backgrounds and supporting local arts, public, and private sectors in systems change, we believe we can shift the systems and create leadership that reflects the full breadth of American communities today. The Equity in Arts Leadership Program Associate will support the Manager in engaging with program leads across the organization to affect local impact. The position sits within the Local Arts Advancement Department, which works to incite a feeling of relevance and necessity around the arts in America by cultivating local arts advancement in communities across the country; developing and implementing programs and services that strengthen and validate local arts agencies and others that advance arts, culture, and artists at the local level; and creating opportunities for professional and leadership development, field convenings, and peer networking opportunities. At Americans for the Arts, we deeply believe in the relevance of the arts in America, and we want others to also. We pursue healthy, equitable, vibrant communities by empowering leaders through a broad set of programs and services to strengthen, validate and advance arts, culture, and artists at the local level. KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES National Early-Stage Training Programs In conjunction with various members of the Local Arts Advancement department, as well as other internal and external partners, the Equity in Arts Leadership Program team will facilitate training programs particularly designed to impact and support college and post-graduate students as they decide whether and how to enter the arts field. The Associate will provide staff support and assistance to the Manager in this work, particularly related to the National Diversity in Arts Leadership Internship Program. Support will include: - Collaborate with the EAL Manager to coordinate the annual solicitation, selection, matching and placement of interns, local arts agency coordinators, arts organization hosts, and business mentors in the program. Coordinate logistics for trainings, toolkits, a standardized evaluation system, and ongoing guidance to local arts agency partners in the 3 non-NYC communities, as well as their associated arts organizations and business mentors.
- Support local arts agency partners in conducting their duties.
- Serve as the primary lead in implementing the New York City Internship as the local organizing body.
Arts Pipeline Expansion Programs Support the work of the Equity in Arts Leadership Manager, the Director of Local Arts Services and the Local Arts Advancement Program Manager, to attract, engage, and retain people traditionally untapped for arts leadership through the DIAL Mid-Career Mentorship and the Arts and Cultural Equity Fellowship. Duties include: - Create a system for tracking, communicating with, and engaging intern and Fellow alumni.
- Co-develop, with the EAL Manager, guides, manuals, and/or toolkits to assist national program partners in implement internship operations.
- Support design and implementation of professional development and networking opportunities for mid-career leaders from historically underrepresented groups.
- Assist in annual selection and placement processes.
- Support the selection of consultants, participants, and public and private sector partners.
- Analyze data to glean insights and provide recommendations on program improvements.
Aligning Strategy and Communications around AFTA’s Cultural Equity Work In addition to the programmatic focus above, the Associate will support the Manager in coordinating a standing committee of programming leads within Americans for the Arts who have programs or services related to cultural equity to identify common goals, timelines, and themes, as well as core stories to communicate, pathways to funding, and strategies for sustainability and evaluation. This includes supporting the creation of (internal and external) communications strategy, developing materials for seeking strategic alliances, and staying current on the state of the field and cultural equity in the arts. Additional Responsibilities - Maintain files of intern and Fellows program communications and documentation of standardized processes.
- Update and manage relevant web pages and content.
- Coordinate program alumni tracking and networking.
- Contribute actively in discussions about program roll out and implementation especially as it relates to making systems more equitable. Represent Americans for the Arts in a professional manner in the field.
- Stay abreast of opportunities for local or national funding and strategic relationship building.
- Contribute to grant applications, budget maintenance, and number served documents.
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