Address
Form of workJob Description
Who We Are
The National League of Cities is an organization based in Washington, D.C. comprised of city, town, and village leaders across the country that are focused on improving the quality of life for their current and future constituents. With over 90 years of dedication to the strength, health, and advancement of local governments, NLC has gained the trust and support of more than 2,000 cities, towns, and villages across the nation. Together, our mission is to strengthen local leadership, influence federal policy and drive innovative solutions. To learn more about our guiding principles click here.
The Opportunity
Cities of all sizes celebrate the arts and culture present in their communities and can benefit from innovative ways of working in partnership with artists. Cities are innovating to incorporate artistic practices within Governmental processes, improve workforce opportunities for the artistic sector, provide opportunities for their residents to engage with the arts, and develop creative placemaking programs that contribute to social cohesion and the celebration of identity. There is also growing recognition within cities of the connections between art and health. NLCI believes that the arts are fundamental to health and wellbeing in cities as they support the social and physical factors that determine population health outcomes.
NLCI seeks to build on the knowledge, resources, and relationships we have developed to date to increase the number of cities that understand arts and culture to be a tool for improved health and wellbeing, and to further engage and empower cities to undertake collaborations with artists and bolster placemaking efforts. NLCI specifically seeks a Fellow to undertake research and focus group efforts.
Project
NLC is looking for an early professional, graduate-level, or experienced undergraduate fellow (contract position) to conduct a landscape scan of existing municipal programs involving the arts, conduct focus groups to determine areas of need in the field, and collate findings for an internal audience.
Project Goals
Timeline for fellowship: Winter/Spring 2024 (with the option to extend through Summer 2024)
Complete a landscape scan of municipal trends in designing and supporting arts programs or working with artists. Conduct research based on a wide variety of sources. May be necessary to conduct informational interviews of experts in the field.
Organize and support focus groups between practitioners and NLC staff to explore emerging learnings from the landscape scan.
Prepare an internal report of research findings.
Develop member-facing materials such as blogs based on research findings.
Deliverables
The Arts in Government Fellow will be responsible for:
Engaging in outreach to cities and partners to learn about creative programs and understand their successes and failures
Completing a written landscape scan and synthesizing information into key take-aways
Contributing to planning, content development, and execution for the overall grant initiative
Timeline and Compensation
Contract begins as soon as possible
Hourly rate: $20-25/hour, for approximately 20 hours a week
No benefits available (this is a 1099 position)
Traits of a Successful Candidate
Strong communications skills
An organized self-starter who can work well with direction
Excellent research and writing skills, and ability to design and conduct a research project with limited guidance.
Ability to interact effectively with city leaders, practitioners, and NLC staff members
Desired: experience in the arts (any kind), creative placemaking, or arts administration field.
NLC Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access
NLC is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all persons and to prohibiting discrimination because of race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, marital status, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, status as a veteran, or any other protected status and/or conditions specified in federal and local civil rights law.
NLC strives to cultivate a culture of inclusion for all employees that respects their individual strengths, views, and experiences. We believe that our differences enable us to be a better team – one that makes better decisions, drives innovation, and delivers results.
NLC will take steps to ensure that people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. Accordingly, if a reasonable accommodation is required to fully participate in the job application or interview process, to perform the essential functions of the position, and/or to receive all other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Human Resources at hr@nlc.org
