Cultural Affairs Coordinator Ii

DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS AND SPECIAL EVENTS (DCASE)
Programming Division, Performing Arts

The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) supports artists and cultural organizations, invests in the creative economy, and expands access and participation in the arts throughout Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods. As a collaborative cultural presenter, arts funder, and advocate for creative workers, our programs and events serve Chicagoans and visitors of all ages and backgrounds, downtown and in diverse communities across our city — to strengthen and celebrate Chicago.

DCASE produces some of the city’s most iconic festivals, markets, events, and exhibitions at the Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park, and in communities across the city — serving a local and global audience of 25 million people. The Department offers cultural grants and resources, manages public art, supports TV and film production and other creative industries, and permits special events throughout Chicago.

• Serve as the lead Programmer of assigned special events, programs, and festivals by managing all performance aspects, including developing programmatic concepts, meeting schedules, project descriptions, marketing content, performance schedules, negotiating artist fees, contracts, and evaluation reports
• Events may include Dr. Martin Luther King Breakfast, Chicago Blues Festival, Chicago Jazz Festival, Chicago Gospel Music Festival, Chicago House Music Festival, World Music Festival, Millennium Park Summer Music Series, Taste of Chicago, Chicago Summer Dance, Tree Lighting Ceremony, New Year’s Eve Celebration, and other programs, special events, and festivals as assigned
• Confer and work with internal and external stakeholders, including the program director of performing arts, program director of production, deputy commissioner of programming, city departments, performers, talent agencies, managers, directors, technicians, partners, sponsors, media, composers, choreographers, technical contractors, arts organizations, venues, studio owners, and others as needed
• Manage the planning and coordination of programs and events to ensure the implementation of activities. Manage meetings, prepare necessary materials, participate in internal planning meetings, interdepartmental meetings, and external meetings. Ensure meeting follow‑up and next steps with key stakeholders
• Coordinate and advance program logistics, including scheduling, venue setup, staging, lighting, sound, seating, accessibility accommodations, and on‑site supervision in partnership with the production team
• Oversee programs, review performance and program descriptions in advance to determine technical needs, provide feedback, discuss areas for improvement, and make recommendations on effectiveness and future programming to ensure artistic needs and department rules are followed and programs remain within budget
• Oversee digital and archival documents of relevant artist roster, current and past productions of concerts, festivals, and special events. Maintain computer databases, files, records, contracts, performance schedules, production timelines and scopes of services
• Work with various DCASE teams and other city departments, such as the contracts team in the procurement process to negotiate service contracts, develop scopes of work for solicitations, and confirm budget allocations and contractor ordering when contracts are awarded
• Collaborate with the Operations and Permits team in overseeing the acquisition of permits, insurances, and licensing to ensure the public’s safety at events
• Support DCASE’s marketing and communications team to develop marketing materials, provide copy, obtain artist…