AMP: Artists' Meeting Place and Resource Collective

from Franklin Furnace

423 W 55th Street, 7th Floor

New York, NY 10019

Job Description: Director of Public Programs

JUL 10, 2018

About The Shed

Opening in spring 2019 where the High Line meets Hudson Yards on Manhattan's west side, The Shed will be dedicated to commissioning, producing, and presenting all types of performing arts, visual arts, and popular culture. From hip-hop to classical music, painting and sculpture to literature, film to theater and dance, The Shed will bring together leading artists from all disciplines under one roof. The building—an innovative 200,000-square-foot structure designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro in collaboration with Rockwell Group—is designed to physically transform to support artists' most ambitious ideas. Committed to nurturing artistic invention, The Shed, led by Artistic Director and CEO Alex Poots, will work with artists from a broad range of genres and backgrounds, along with innovative thinkers from across the sciences and humanities, to advance culture in the 21st century.

About the Position

The Shed seeks a Director of Public Programs who exemplifies and promotes our values and strives to build inclusive communities and connections through engaging and participatory public programming and initiatives.

Bringing together artists, audiences, thought leaders, influencers, activists, and educators to exchange ideas and strengthen connections between the arts, sciences, humanities, and society, Public Programs at The Shed will provide context for our commissions and offer ongoing platforms for the exploration and expression of the urgent ideas embedded in our work. Programs will include artist-created events, lectures and conversations, podcasts, gallery talks and tours, panels, symposia, workshops, and courses.

In partnership with the Chief Civic Program Officer, the Director of Public Programs is responsible for envisioning and executing programs to make The Shed a welcoming, accessible, and inclusive environment for people of all backgrounds and abilities. They will direct all aspects of The Shed's educational programs for adults and access audiences as well as supervise the Assistant Producer who manages youth and community programs. They will research and develop program models that forge closer connections to the local community, to increasing access, awareness, and appreciation of The Shed’s commissions. The Director of Public Programs conceives and produces programs across a

wide range of artistic mediums and forms, including theater, dance, film, music, and visual arts. They bring connections to the creative community and have a track-record of collaboration with diverse partners. The Director of Public Programs will report to the Chief Civic Program Officer.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to

Work with curators, producers, and creative teams to plan and implement artist-created events, talks, special events, supplemental, and interpretive programming for Shed commissions

Research and develop civic productions programmed by the Artistic Director/ CEO, Chief Civic Program Officer, and Programming team

Produce community-based civic program presentations, public programs, and commissions with emerging practitioners (i.e. Open Call, Artist Residencies)

Develop and track program budgets

Organize guided exhibition tours and access programs and initiatives

Cultivate and nurture strategic public and civic program partnerships

Evaluate public programs to assess and improve impact and outcomes

Liaise with internal departments and staff to effectively communicate program updates

Develop summary proposals for program, creative, and development teams

Negotiate and finalize artist and vendor contracts

Create and manage production schedules and timelines with artists and creative team members, production staff, and other departments: marketing, finance, house management, etc.

Assist in oversight and execution of all logistical needs for public programs

Be on site for rehearsals and performances for the individual programs

Oversee artist transportation, accommodation, and hospitality

Oversee needs of all incoming public program artists and companies

Assist in obtaining appropriate rights and licenses as needed

Supervise the Assistant Producer

Qualifications and Qualities

Master’s degree or equivalent preferred; Bachelor’s degree required in art, art education, museum education, or a related field, or equivalent experience

9+ years of successful experience in the development and implementation of adult programming in a museum or similar arts education institution and staff management

Possess broad knowledge of culture, art, music, dance, performance, museums, and public dialogue

Experience working with diverse groups of adults and communities

Strong organizational and effective communication and presentation skills

Ability to thrive in fast-paced startup environment

Adept at multitasking

Ability to work nights and weekends

Compensation

Compensation will be commensurate with experience. Please provide salary requirements with your application.

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit résumé and cover letter in a single Word or PDF document saved as candidate’s first and last name. All submissions should be emailed to hr@theshed.org with “Director of Public Programs” in the subject line. Only résumés and cover letters submitted in this format will be reviewed. No phone calls, please.

The Shed is an Equal Opportunity Employer and committed to the goal of building a culturally diverse staff and strongly encourages applications from minority candidates.