Job Description: Creative Arts Coordinator

POSITION DESCRIPTION – Part-Time
Reporting to the Creative Director, the Creative Arts Coordinator will coordinate the day-to-day operations of the Towne Bank and Norfolk Foundation Galleries at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, as well as the Box Office for the Suffolk Center’s Birdsong Theater. She/he is responsible for interacting with the public, liaising with artists, overseeing exhibitions and public programs, and overseeing ticket sales for performances and special events. The ideal candidate will be creative, highly organized, self-motivated, detail and systems-oriented, and an effective communicator and collaborator. This is a 4-day part-time position (10am-4pm) for someone who is looking to expand their career experience by joining a small, dynamic, and growing arts organization.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for coordinating the exhibition process for all annual exhibits, including engaging curators, artists, jurors, art handlers, teaching artists, etc.
• Responsible for handling Box Office day-to-day administrative functions such as, but not limited to, answering phone calls, selling tickets and assisting customers with any concerns in multiple modalities including phone, text, email, and in-person interactions.
• Coordinate ongoing gallery operations, including overseeing budget, managing inventory, replenishing gallery supplies, coordinating transportation of artwork, etc.
• Ensure the safety of the artwork through maintenance of insurance paperwork, education of art audiences, vigilant observation, and implementation of art handling best practices.
• Maintain documentation on consultants and vendors, including contracts and payment records; ensuring that invoices are submitted to the finance department for timely payment processing.
• Oversee the work of art handlers, technical consultants, and teaching artists.
• Design and schedule innovative public programming and community engagement initiatives that develop an artistically appreciative audience.
• Work with Suffolk Center Marketing Manager and Creative Director to design and distribute publicity materials, including exhibition postcards, e-blasts, press releases, social media, and website updates.
• Work with the Creative Director and Marketing Manager in creating a seasonal exhibition calendar.
• Liaise and maintain a productive and respectful relationship with internal and external stakeholders.
• Work on ad hoc projects determined by the Creative Director or the Executive Director.

REQUIRED SKILLS, EDUCATION, AND ATTRIBUTES:

• Bachelor’s degree in art management or another related field required.
• 3-5 years of gallery operations experience.
• Love for the arts and artistic innovation.
• Knowledge of social media and internet platforms.
• Strong interpersonal, problem-solving, planning, and organizational skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Proficient with MS Office Suite.
• Self-sufficient and proactive.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Detail-oriented
• Can prioritize tasks and manage time effectively.
• A commitment to Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts’ mission and values.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES:

• Graduate degree preferred, but not required.
• Experience with Ovation or other ticketing platforms
• Knowledge of the art scene in and around Suffolk, Virginia is a plus.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced, growing organization.

COMPENSATION:    

• This is a non-exempt (hourly paid), part-time position
• Pay range is $15.50 to $18.00 per hour ( $372-$432/week)

REQUIRED HOURS: Tuesday – Friday 10:00AM – 4:00 PM. Some evenings and weekends may be required for special events and public programs.

TO APPLY:
Please send a cover letter and resume to rick.byrd@suffolkcenter.org – with the subject line “Part-Time Art Gallery Coordinator”. Include in your letter:

• How you heard about this opportunity
• Why you are interested in the position
• How your work, professional, and/or personal history have/has prepared you for the role
• Your salary requirements.

CLOSING DATE: Position open until filled. No phone calls, please.

About the Suffolk Center

The Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts is the premier visual and performing arts venue for Suffolk and Western Tidewater. Our mission is to cultivate and promote the creative arts for all residents and visitors through programs and education. Located in the heart of downtown Suffolk, our historic building houses a 500-seat theater, where we host concerts, dance performances, dramatic works, films, lectures, and so much more. The Suffolk Center is home to two art galleries, which host an ever-changing array of visual art exhibitions. The Center has a robust educational program and offers a multitude of classes for the community, such as dance, painting, singing, pottery, drawing, and more, and we host summer camps and send artists to local schools to bring the arts to young people. We are a nonprofit organization with a staff of 15 and dozens of volunteers. We are committed to supporting the economic vitality of Suffolk by enhancing the life experiences of our citizens and visitors.

Fulfilling our mission requires a commitment to inclusiveness in every aspect of our organization—our programming, operations, outreach, and leadership. We recognize that we can succeed only when our organization fully reflects the richness of the communities we serve. The Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts supports diversity across all lines of difference, including race, age, economic circumstance, ethnicity, sex, range of ability, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity/expression. We invite applicants from all backgrounds for this position.