Program Manager

Job Title

Program Manager

Executive Director

Full-Time Exempt

Hybrid: 3 days in office, 2 days remote, based in Fresno

$71,500/year to $85,000/year

The Alliance for California Traditional Arts (ACTA) supports the health, vibrancy, and evolution of the State’s diverse cultural traditions through advocacy, public programs, grantmaking, and connections for folk and traditional artists. ACTA was founded in 1997 by an alliance of traditional artists, cultural workers, and arts administrators and has become nationally recognized for its cultural equity leadership, intellectual capital, and excellence in program administration.

Over the past 28 years, ACTA has grown into a $5+ million, statewide organization headquartered in Fresno, with field offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco, and remote staff located in various parts of the state.

The Fresno Program Manager will anchor ACTA’s newly expanded programming and field presence in Fresno and the San Joaquin Valley. This position plays a key role in ACTA’s place-based strategy to strengthen cultural infrastructure in under-resourced communities and expand public access to the traditional arts. As part of ACTA’s program team, the program manager will build local relationships with artists, cultural leaders, and organizations;

provide technical assistance; support grant seekers and fiscally sponsored projects; and coordinate regional public programs such as festivals, concerts, workshops, and convenings.

• Assist in program design, budgeting, and monitoring expenses.
• Are chief implementers of their program areas, working in close collaboration with colleagues.
• Are capable of supervising others.
• Are required to travel, think holistically about programs statewide, and work cross- programmatically.
• Participate in the raising of funds and support the evaluation and reporting of program activities.
• Regularly prioritize their own work and the work of others based on the organization’s mission and the competing needs of a variety of programs and program deadlines.

This program manager anchors ACTA’s work with Fresno-based artists, culture bearers, and community organizations, while contributing to statewide initiatives, as appropriate. This role combines remote responsibilities with regular in-person fieldwork and media documentation, relationship-building, and community engagement throughout Fresno. The position plays a central part in strengthening ACTA’s presence in the region by connecting with cultural leaders, attending community events, and identifying opportunities that reflect Fresno’s diverse traditions.

Through regular engagement across neighborhoods, collaboration with partner organizations, and support for intergenerational programs, such as apprenticeships and community cultural gatherings, the program manager helps build a more connected cultural network in Fresno—supporting local leadership and expanding opportunities for artists to share their work with the public.

• Provide individualized support to artists and groups through technical assistance, grant advising, and fiscal sponsorship coaching.
• Plan and implement local programming, including a new major folklife festival in Fresno.
• Build relationships with community partners, cultural leaders, and institutions to shape programming and outreach.
• Coordinate with ACTA staff and contractors to deliver effective public programs, including workshops, cultural asset mapping, and concerts.
• Provide written reports, program descriptions, and program evaluations.
• Represent ACTA in the field and take the initiative to design and implement convenings to grow and develop the Fresno area.
• Convene quarterly meetings of a Fresno-based consortium of folklife partners as an advisory group.
• Be available to represent ACTA on panels and field meetings locally, regionally, and nationally as necessary.
• Identify and/or develop content for media distribution that highlights and educates the general public.
• Contribute to ACTA’s media, evaluation, and fundraising efforts by preparing content, documenting activities, and participating…