Cultural Engagement and Participation Manager; Arts & Cultural Programming

Job Description

SUMMARY :

Reporting to the Dean of the College of the Arts, the Cultural Engagement and Participation Manager is responsible for developing and managing the Arts and Cultural Programming’s cultural engagement and participation initiative, which serves primarily the students of Montclair State University, as well as faculty and staff. The ongoing initiative will both complement and extend the PEAK Performances program, a program of ACP (PEAK Performances is a small season of highest-quality, professional, live, presented public performances.)

This is a 10-month position during the academic year, with employment commencing each year on August 1 and concluding on May 31.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES :

• With the ACP Director and select faculty, reconceive and articulate the desired outcomes and impact of the program, which will be directly related to an expansively defined concept of the live performing arts, (including but not limited to music, dance, theater, cinema and talks) serving an inclusive community of young adult students, most between the ages of 18 and 24.
• Design a creative and innovative strategy for delivering inclusive, mission-driven education, engagement, participation and learning opportunities for our students on campus, including for specific PEAK Performances and their associated visiting professional artists.
• With participating MSU faculty and visiting artists, design and plan the following discipline-specific activities: post-performance talkbacks, master classes, student workshops, symposia, open rehearsals and special events produced specifically with and for MSU students.
• Make formal linkages between specific courses and their learning objectives and specific performances and artists in the PEAK Performances season.
• Make active and visible efforts to offer MSU students free tickets to the PEAK Performances season. (Currently, we fill approximately 20% of available seats with MSU students. This is approximately 750 tickets per year.)
• Conceptualize, develop and implement effective online and digital strategies for participation and engagement.
• Liaise with a wide range of academic departments at the university to design programs that embody ACP’s co-curricular mission.
• Recruit students for an ACP Student Advisory Board, and work with them throughout the academic year.
• Work closely with the Director, General Manager and Marketing Manager of PEAK Performances/ACP, as well as a number of part-time staff.
• Monitor activities in the program toward reporting participation metrics and anecdotal feedback.
• Maintain excellent working relationships with a diverse range of individuals, including faculty, students, staff, volunteers, and the public with an emphasis on tact, diplomacy, flexibility, professionalism, and discretion.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Management retains the right to add or change job duties at any time.

QUALIFICATIONS : REQUIRED :

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience with a professional company (producer or presenter) or a university arts training program in the production or presentation of live dance, theater, music, opera or cinema.
• Basic knowledge of three of the following disciplines: arts education, dance, music, theater, musical theater, and cinema.
• Flexible schedule and ability to work evenings and weekends as required by performance and event schedule.

PREFERRED :

• A demonstrated commitment to igniting a passion for live performance within an inclusive community of young adults between the ages of 18 and 24.
• Basic understanding of the various elements of the live performance process – teaching/learning, rehearsal, production, technical and performance.
• A Bachelor’s degree with a concentration in performing arts, education, communication or humanities.
• Ability to engage university faculty across the academic disciplines and build strong and sustained working relationships with them.
• Prior experience planning, developing and implementing education programs in a performing arts context.
• Work experience with an academic institution, preferably in cultural engagement or its equivalent.
• Ability to work…