Live Arts Curator

YERBA BUENA CENTER FOR THE ARTS • San Francisco, CA

5d • $85,300 - $85,300 • Onsite

About The Position

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) seeks a collaborative, systems-oriented Live Arts Curator to support the launch of the Shared Stages Initiative, a new, one-year pilot program focused on building shared cultural infrastructure across Downtown San Francisco, with a particular focus on the Yerba Buena Arts District. This temporary position will also support the execution of the FY27 performing arts season and will curate the FY28 live arts season at YBCA in collaboration with the Chief of Curatorial Initiatives. This role will serve as the operational backbone of the Shared Stages initiative, which offers select local and downtown artists and arts organizations with subsidized access to YBCA’s professional performance venues, technical production teams, and shared marketing infrastructure. The Live Arts Curator will broker partnerships, manage shared-use logistics, and support collaborative live arts programming among YBCA and anchor institutional partners including San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) and Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD). Working closely with YBCA’s Chief of Curatorial Initiatives and General Manager, production teams, and external partners, the Live Arts Curator will design and implement systems that enable more coordinated, efficient, and sustainable collaboration across the arts ecosystem. The position combines curatorial work, program management, operations, partnership coordination, and live event production support within a highly collaborative environment. This is an opportunity for a cultural producer interested in shaping new models of shared infrastructure, institutional collaboration, and civic cultural stewardship in service of the broader field.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in live arts programming, with demonstrated project leadership and experience managing strategic partnerships and performing artists and companies
• Leadership experience in a performing arts organization, including a strong record of innovation, systems-building, and developing an artistic vision
• Demonstrated experience in developing effective collaborations and managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders
• Strong organizational and operational management skills
• Experience working with artists and cultural institutions
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Self-directed, able to work independently and effectively
• Applied knowledge of professional curatorial and programmatic principles, practices and procedures
• Flexible and collaborative
• Able to work evening and weekend hours in relation to performances and YBCA presentations
• Ability to create and successfully manage budgets
• Demonstrated organizational planning, problem-solving collaboration, and artist management skills
• Thrives in a highly collaborative environment that values diversity, equity, inclusion, and access, and works effectively with people of varied backgrounds, experiences, points of view, and aspirations

Nice To Haves

• Proactive and entrepreneurial, with the ability to develop a programmatic framework from scratch
• A collaborative connector across multiple institutions
• Rooted in the local live arts ecosystem with extensive knowledge of national and global artists
• A creative thinker with a talent for curatorial work and team-based management for live arts productions

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary day-to-day manager for Shared Stages partner relationships
• Facilitate communication and alignment among artists, organizations, venue teams, and institutional stakeholders
• Facilitate collaborative planning meetings, learning circles, and partner convenings
• Manage relationships with anchor partners, including SFMOMA and MoAD
• Coordinate shared-use scheduling and logistics across YBCA venues
• Develop and implement a framework that includes standardized Shared Stages policies, selection criteria, operational workflows, governance protocols, and collaborative staffing models
• Manage venue access planning for collaborative performances, residencies, convenings, and public programs
• Liaise with production, front-of-house, marketing, and facilities teams to ensure seamless execution
• Support the planning and delivery of 6–8 collaborative live arts projects during the pilot year, involving 3-5 local and downtown artists or organizations
• Track timelines, deliverables, budgets, contracts, and production needs
• Develop artist and partner onboarding processes and implement as needed
• Curate a diverse creative portfolio designed to test which collaborative formats yield the highest audience engagement and artistic impact
• Guide the development and execution of the FY27 season in collaboration with the General Manager and production teams
• Bring extensive knowledge of the field to engage in a dialogue with artists and companies under consideration for future YBCA seasons
• Source and help develop YBCA-presented performances for FY28
• Collaborate with YBCA’s marketing and communications teams on integrated audience development strategies
• Support cross-promotional initiatives and coordinated scheduling among partners
• Maintain shared calendars, planning tools, and communications workflows
• Develop and maintain the Shared-Use Framework, including templates, operational standards, and internal systems
• Track pilot metrics and gather qualitative and quantitative evaluation data
• Develop reports, funding updates, and future scaling plans
• Identify operational efficiencies and opportunities for long-term sustainability
• Draft pilot evaluation and coordinate documentation and evaluation activities related to pilot outcomes

Benefits

• PTO & some holidays
• Ability to participate in the 403(b) Retirement Plan
• Potential access to SF City Option programs
• Free/members admission price
• Discounts in the shop
• Discounts on ticketed events at participating North American Reciprocal Museum institutions with your YBCA badge

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed