Visual Arts Program Manager

The Alabama State Council on the Arts (ASCA) is seeking an experienced arts professional to serve as Visual Arts Program Manager
, providing leadership for the agency’s grants, programs, partnerships, and services supporting visual artists and visual arts organizations throughout Alabama.

The Visual Arts Program Manager serves as ASCA’s primary staff resource for the visual arts field and manages a diverse portfolio of responsibilities that includes grant administration, applicant and grantee support, statewide field engagement, program development, professional partnerships, and oversight of the Georgine Clarke Alabama Artists Gallery. The position works directly with individual artists, museums, galleries, arts organizations, educational institutions, community partners, and other stakeholders to strengthen opportunities for visual artists and expand access to high-quality visual arts experiences across the state.

This position requires both strong knowledge of the visual arts field and excellent program-management skills. The successful candidate will be comfortable moving between detailed administrative work, long-range program planning, one-on-one assistance to artists and organizations, public presentations, professional relationship building, and collaborative work with colleagues across the agency.

The Visual Arts Program Manager supervises the Exhibitions and Digital Production Specialist, who is responsible for many of the technical, production, art-handling, printing, and installation functions associated with ASCA exhibitions and traveling exhibition projects.

• Manage grants, programs, and activities within ASCA’s Visual Arts program area in alignment with Council priorities, policies, procedures, and strategic goals.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for visual artists, arts organizations, museums, galleries, and other applicants seeking information about ASCA funding opportunities and programs.
• Provide equitable, consistent, and professional technical assistance to applicants throughout the grant process while maintaining appropriate impartiality in application review and evaluation.
• Help applicants understand grant guidelines, eligibility requirements, evaluation criteria, application procedures, and expectations for funded projects.
• Manage visual arts applications through the review process, including preparing materials for panel review, coordinating with panelists, reviewing evaluations, and accurately documenting panel discussions and recommendations.
• Review grant amendments, project changes, final reports, and other post-award documentation to ensure appropriate stewardship and accountability for public funds.
• Maintain familiarity with projects and organizations receiving visual arts funding and identify opportunities for site visits, technical assistance, relationship development, and improved program outcomes.
• Contribute to the ongoing evaluation and improvement of ASCA grant programs based on applicant experiences, field needs, program outcomes, and Council priorities.

• Serve as a professional resource and representative of ASCA to Alabama’s visual arts community.
• Develop and maintain productive relationships with individual artists, museums, galleries, arts organizations, educational institutions, community groups, and other partners throughout the state.
• Meet with artists and organizations to better understand their work, opportunities, challenges, and emerging needs.
• Conduct site visits and attend exhibitions, programs, meetings, conferences, and other activities that strengthen ASCA’s knowledge of the visual arts field and its relationships with constituents.
• Provide guidance to organizations and communities interested in developing or strengthening visual arts programming and connecting their work with available resources.
• Identify emerging opportunities, needs, partnerships, and program models that could strengthen Alabama’s visual arts ecosystem.
• Participate in workshops, grant presentations, professional development events, conferences, and other public…