The Artistic Associate, Engagement plays a central role in the creation, ideation, implementation, and management of engagement initiatives at ACT. These programs are central to our mission of connecting artistic ambition to civic engagement. This role will ensure that ACT Engagement programs make a long-term impact within our community. The Artistic Associate, Engagement will navigate projects from ideation to completion and work in tandem with the rest of the artistic team to help identify and carry out the day-to-day artistic operations of the theatre. They are a key member of the Artistic Department that shapes the activation of this core mission at ACT.
The Artistic Associate, Engagement is a highly collaborative, creative, and strategic thinker, strong project manager, and can lead individuals from various departments towards the execution of engagement initiatives. This individual must have a passionate belief in the transformational power of the artform and be dedicated to reaching underserved communities.
This role has a significant public-facing element and stewards communications related to engagement to all prospective partners and collaborators. As a cornerstone of the Artistic Department, they will both lead and participate in the exploration into the potential of the theatrical engagement model and how it can reach as many communities as possible. The Artistic Associate, Engagement embeds themselves in the arts and cultural community establishing strong ties with partner organizations, target communities, and local government. They will flex ACT’s resources including staff, Core Company, and the Board of Trustees in accomplishing tasks and achieving goals. This role will actively participate as a key member of ACT staff in helping achieve all goals related to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Belonging.
Responsibilities Include (But Are Not Limited To):
Community Engagement Programs – 65%
- Develop programming that has the potential to generate excitement for our productions throughout the community at large, partnering with the Artistic Director in planning, and leading the collaboration to bring these programs to successful fruition
- Identify community partners and cultivate lasting relationships with them on both a play-specific and a company-at-large basis
- Contribute to the Artistic Department’s exploration into the potential of the theatrical engagement model’s expanded parameters
- Propose engagement programs reflective of the needs of our community
- Collaborate with the Artistic Department in fostering bridge-building strategies to develop long-lasting relationships with as many communities in Seattle as possible with the intention of furthering ACT’s goals of existing as a civic-minded institution
- Routinely participate in activities and attend events throughout the region with the goal of introducing ACT and its mission to these communities
- Organize and oversee pre- and post-show discussions with artists and community members alike, including panels and audience talkback events
- Written communication furthering the mission and values of ACT Theatre and the Engagement Program, including but not limited to penning program articles, newsletters, and emails
- Collaborate with ACT staff in engagement opportunities and events
- Serve as a liaison for the Closed Captioning, Audio-Described, and ASL Interpreted accessibility program
General Artistic Department – 30%
· Work in collaboration with the Artistic Associate, Education in forming community partnerships that support the goals of the institution
· Take an active public role, deeply connected to the community, in representing ACT and its mission and values, including but not limited to authoring letters, articles, participating in interviews, community discussions, panels, and leading tours
· Partner with the Curation Committee and Artist Ethics Committee
- Demonstrate the initiative to learn and enhance skills that promote anti-racism, cultural competency, and an understanding of oppression and its impact
- Participate in intentional learning efforts, including events relating to understanding institutional racism and building cultural competency and exhibit a commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Belonging
Qualifications/Skills
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience preferred
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in the arts engagement sector
- Commitment to leading with anti-racist, equitable, inclusive, and humanity-first principals
- Collaborative, effective communicator, active listener
- Adroit at setting up a system of managing multiple activity pipelines and their various needs, often vying for attention at the same time
- Participate in the give-and-receive process of rational, thoughtful constructive criticism
- Strong budgeting skills preferred
- Successful project management skills
- Confident and assured public speaker, comfortable in a variety of settings
- Maintain an enthusiastic outlook on the processes of developing and supporting new work
- Demonstrated ability to handle budgets, producing, and project management in a creative setting
- Organizational and administrative management experience including calendaring, written and verbal communication, strategy building, and providing reports.
- Intermediate to advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and Slack
- Distinguished interpersonal and communication skills
- Drive to collaborate to achieve common goals, flexible, sense of humor, problem-solver, detail-oriented, support driven, work independently on multiple projects at a time
- Flexibility in scheduling, occasional weekend and evening work will be required based upon program calendar
Equity and Inclusion
ACT strives to be an anti-racist, fully accessible, multicultural theatre that is truly welcoming to all. Employees will:
- Demonstrate the initiative to learn and enhance skills that promote anti-racism, cultural competency, and an understanding of oppression and its impact
- Participate in intentional learning efforts, including events relating to understanding institutional racism and building cultural competency and exhibit a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion
Physical Skills/Work Environment
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and stand for periods of time; move through a variety of environments, use a computer keyboard and screen, use a telephone, speak, and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Ability to lift and carry at least 25 pounds.
Work environment includes administrative offices, public spaces, theatrical spaces, scenic, paint, and costume shops, dressing rooms, backstage, and break areas.
Salary Range: $53,000 - $56,000
Benefits include health insurance, paid sick, vacation, and holidays, 403b plan, access to $5 downtown parking, and free tickets to ACT productions. COVID-19 vaccination is a condition of employment.
To Apply
Submit resume and cover letter with “Artistic Associate, Engagement” in the subject line to [email protected]