Arts Education Program Coordinator

How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Summary

The University of Michigan Arts Initiative seeks to illuminate and expand human connections, inspire collaborative creativity, and build a more just and equitable world through the arts. The Arts Initiative seeks a Program Coordinator for Engagement to make arts experiences more accessible to all U-M students, regardless of major or campus, and to make meaningful connections through the arts across all of the university's schools, colleges, and campuses.

The U-M community has indicated that one key role that the Arts Initiative can play is to connect units across campus through the arts. The Program Coordinator for Engagement is an active partner with units and departments across campus, including the Flint and Dearborn campuses, to develop arts opportunities and connect units to existing events and programs, facilitating the integration of the arts across the University of Michigan. The Program Coordinator develops new and ongoing programs with unit partnership (internal engagement), and connects U-M students, faculty, staff, and community partners to Arts Initiative signature programs (external engagement).

The Program Coordinator for Engagement reports to the Associate Director of the Arts Initiative. This position is based in Ann Arbor, MI and will be hybrid in nature working both remotely and on site, which may require some evenings and weekends for events.

Responsibilities*

The Program Coordinator for Engagement has the following duties and responsibilities:

Programming Development and Implementation (70%)

• Co-create programs and ongoing opportunities with the Arts Initiative team for students and other U-M community members to actively engage with the arts and experience meaningful arts encounters with units across campus.
• Identify and recruit regional teaching artists and facilitate their time on campus for short workshops that enable hands-on art-making or performance by identified campus audiences. Connect artists to groups on campus both logistically and programmatically.
• Establish coalitions across the university related to developing arts opportunities - work with others to tailor arts experiences to varied needs of schools, colleges, departments and determine best strategies for each partner's needs.
• Lead the full cycle of the Graduate Student Arts Research Grants funding program: marketing, review coordination, award notification, financial transfers, reporting, and community-building events.
• Lead coordination of student-facing programs including the Student Creative Fellowship and Creative Careers Residency.
• Recruit students for Arts Initiative programs, including Culture Corps internships, Creative Fellowships, and Creative Careers Residents.
• Maintain relationships with arts organizations on campus: co-curricular student groups, departmental groups, and informal groups. Arrange events for community-building programs.
• Coordinate special projects or community-focused segments of large Arts Initiative projects that convene and invite participation by diverse constituents both from the university and the regional community.
• Align program and administrative strategies to the larger goals of the Arts Initiative through regular internal planning with Arts Initiative colleagues. Carry out special projects and events related to Arts Initiative priorities, such as symposia, workshops, and exhibitions.
• Coordinate with arts programming staff to develop strategies for greater reach and to connect units across campus to arts opportunities already being offered. Generate ideas and take targeted programs forward with internal and wider university colleagues.
• Work with student interns and work study students toward the implementation of programming imperatives.

Communication and Documentation (15%)

• Follow up with sponsored partners to archive documentation of events and programs, and to track impacts.
• Work with Arts Communications staff to develop web, press, and social media content and promotional materials related to programs and events.
• Post activities on internal and U-M shared calendars as appropriate.

Administration (15%)

• Work with the administrative coordinator to ensure payment to community partners.
• Develop agendas and timelines that aid in project implementation.

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor's degree, preferably in an arts or humanities field or museum studies.
• Experience developing arts programs for broad audiences
• Some combination of experience with production/ project management, academic programming, arts or museum programming, event planning, administrative support
• Arts background, familiarity with and knowledge of current arts practices and concerns, and the power of the arts to create community and foster well-being, especially in higher education settings.
• Experience identifying barriers to arts or educational access and finding ways around them.
• Experience with community development and relationship-building
• Occasional flexible scheduling needed to accommodate evening and weekend programs.

Desired Qualifications*

• Master's Degree related to museum studies,
• Preferred experience fostering existing and new connections between departments, units, and arts institutions at UofM.
• Knowledge of arts institutions and artists in Southeast Michigan.
• Experience teaching or facilitating group workshops

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO/AA Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.