Associate Arts Program Specialist

The Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) is dedicated to strengthening New York City’s vibrant cultural life by providing funding and support to New York City’s cultural community, including the 39 institutions that comprise the Cultural Institutions Group (CIG) and more than 1,100 non-profit cultural organizations that receive regular annual support. This constituency represents a diverse array of organizations - including performing arts groups, museums, theaters, zoos, botanical gardens, visual arts and film centers, community-based organizations, and arts education programs – that are central to the life of communities in every corner of New York City. DCLA also manages a significant portfolio of cultural capital projects; provides free donated materials and supplies for arts programs and arts educators through its Materials for the Arts program; provides capacity building and technical assistance support to cultural groups; and commissions works of permanent public art through the City’s Public Art Program.
The Department of Cultural Affairs is seeking an Associate Arts Program Specialist (Program Officer) for the Programs Services Unit, which manages approximately $75 million annually, receiving over 1,400 applications for these funds and distributing them to 1,100+ organizations through a number of grant programs. The Associate Arts Program Specialist is part of a cohort of program officers, each of whom manages a portfolio of approximately 150 organizations. Program officers are key links in the agency’s relationship with City government and the cultural community and are part of a team that acts as facilitator and administrator of public monies to the cultural community and its public. As a member of the Programs unit, the Program Officer’s responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Participating in equity-based reforms to the agency’s signature grantmaking process, the Cultural Development Fund (CDF).
- Reviewing and evaluating Cultural Development Fund (CDF) competitive grant applications, final reports, and renewal applications from over 1,200 New York City-based nonprofit arts and cultural organizations of various budget sizes and disciplines.
- Processing grant materials for both CDF and City Council Initiatives (CASA, SU-CASA, Coalition of Theaters of Color, Violence Prevention and Intervention for Youth and Young Adults, and Cultural Immigrant Initiative) grantees.
- Evaluating nonprofit organizations and cultural programs, including conducting audits of events, and visiting organizations’ facilities.
- Analyzing and evaluating organizations’ overall operating budget and fiscal health, in the context of their grant applications and ability to execute proposed programs.
- Providing technical assistance to organizations through articulation of agency policies, guidelines, and procedures, conveying panel feedback on grant applications, as well as conducting seminars, workshops, and other trainings.
- Preparing for and facilitating grant panels for CDF competitive grant applications.
- Conceiving of and facilitating new grant programs and new ways to engage in the field as opportunities and funds are available.
- Participating in regular assessment of agency programs and processes.
- Evaluating the impact of programs administered by the agency on local communities and the sector.
- Representing the agency at cultural events as well as meetings with other agencies or relevant stakeholders, as needed.
- Contributing to the execution of other unit business and DCLA requests as needed.
ASSOCIATE ARTS PROGRAMS SPECIA - 60496

1. Five years of full-time experience in planning, coordinating, budgeting, producing, organizing, administering or directing a cultural program or a cultural institution; or

2. Four years of full-time experience as a practitioner in any of the performing or visual arts plus at least one year of experience described in (1) above; or

3. A baccalaureate degree issued by an accredited college, including or supplemented by 24 credits in one of the visual or performing arts or in arts management plus one year of full-time experience as described in 1 above; or

4. Education and/or experience equivalent to "1" or "2" or "3" above. However, all candidates must have at least one year of experience as described in 1 above. Experience of a substantial nature will be considered on a pro-rated basis, if it is not full-time.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.