Artist Engagement Manager

ACLU FOUNDATION OF TEXAS INC•, TX

68d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Artist Engagement Manager is a leadership role in the Communications Department responsible for integrating arts and culture into the strategic advocacy of the ACLU of Texas. Building on the organization’s past work and future 5-year plan, this position will scale the flagship artist-in-residence program, develop new partnerships with cultural leaders and institutions throughout the state, and manage arts-based projects and events across issue areas. This is a new position for the ACLU of Texas and the Artist Engagement Manager will have a hand in shaping the advocacy through the arts program from the ground up, building it into an intentional program that feeds into the work done by each of the six issue areas we work on. The position will grow to manage staff over time. The manager is expected to operate with autonomy while building shared ownership across and beyond the organization. Reporting to the Communications Director, this arts administration role requires statewide travel and the ability to work non-traditional hours as needed.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in art history, museum studies, arts administration, or a related field; work experience and/or alternative educational preparation may be substituted for formal education.
Five years of relevant experience in arts management, including team management, budgeting, timeline development, and cross-functional coordination.
Proven ability to simultaneously manage multiple projects with close attention to detail, meet deadlines, and refine systems and processes to improve workflow.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly and persuasively convey complex legal, policy, and artistic ideas.
Knowledge of equity-centered and community-engaged practices in arts and culture.
Ability to nurture a highly collaborative environment committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging with people of different identities and experiences.
Demonstrated commitment to advancing the ACLU of Texas’ values, mission, and goals, with an understanding of structural racism and interpersonal bias.

Nice To Haves

Track record of effective staff management and development.
Proven ability to manage successful, large-scale arts projects that include the supervision of consultants and/or artists.
Professional experience working on one or more of the following issues: border and immigrants’ rights, free speech and pluralism, justice system and carceral reform, LGBTQIA+ equality, reproductive freedom, and voting rights and democracy.
Fluency in Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Arabic, or another widely spoken language in Texas.

Responsibilities

Own the full lifecycle of the residency program and accompanying resident projects, while thoughtfully coordinating people, budgets, and strategy to ensure programs are both impactful and sustainable.
Lead the recruitment, selection, and public announcement of residents.
Plan and execute public-facing events introducing residents to community leaders and showcasing their final work.
Serve as the primary contact for residents for the duration of their residency, which includes triaging needs, coordinating cross-departmental resources and support, tracking and reporting on progress, and ensuring projects are aligned with organizational priorities.
Facilitate an evaluation of each residency with staff and external partners, using feedback to improve the program.
Produce and distribute multimedia documentation of each residency to expand public awareness.
Manage the program budget and partner with the Development Department on fundraising efforts.
Launch an alumni network with relevant programming to deepen relationships with and among residents.
Develop strong relationships with advisors, community partners, artists, and funders to advance program goals and organizational impact.
Build relationships with arts institutions and cultural centers statewide.
Recruit and steward a diverse circle of advisors to support the artists-in-residence program and the organization’s arts-based advocacy more broadly.
Develop a system for managing relationships with artists across the state.
Collaborate with cross-sector partners, coalitions, and funders on arts-based advocacy efforts.
Lead the ideation, planning, logistics, and evaluation of arts-based programs to ensure they are community-centered, culturally responsive, and impactful.
Pitch, design, and manage arts-based advocacy initiatives beyond the artist-in-residence program, including both projects and events, to advance strategic plans.
Identify and implement arts-based tactics into existing campaigns, programs, and events across departments and issue areas.
Pilot and build out a sustained engagement with Texas filmmakers to shape public narratives.
Coordinate collaborations with partners statewide to amplify impact.