Public Art Engagement Specialist, Calgary Arts Development

(Full-time, salaried)

We are recruiting a full-time engagement specialist to join our team. This position will be responsible for acting as a connector between the Calgary Arts Development public art program, team, projects, artists, the arts community and the public.

This role will support work related to ensuring Calgarians can connect with the public art process, and projects that impact and tell the stories of their relevant communities. This individual may work directly with artists and on the ground in support of public art projects and programs, supporting artist-informed engagements and delivering upon project specific initiatives.

This role is involved in the delivery of information sessions about the program, ensuring artists and Calgarians are well informed about opportunities and programs in their community, and Calgarians are able to learn more about public art.

It is expected that the individual in this position will be a core member of the public art team, working closely and collaboratively to support project managers, project leads and artists to identify public engagement opportunities; develop, implement and deliver project specific engagement strategies and plans; coordinate content with communications staff; and connect with community groups and other stakeholders to understand their perspectives and strengthen external relationships. This role will also collaborate with the Indigenous Engagement and Reconciliation department at CADA.

The individual in this role will work toward embedding the values of equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility in all relationships and processes related to this position. This includes Truth and Reconciliation, and right relations with First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities in Treaty 7, in part realized through the activation of the White Goose Flying Report, a local adaptation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report with calls to action that can be influenced locally.

Accountabilities

This is a recent department and position at Calgary Arts Development, and as such accountabilities may shift as the program is developed.

As a member of the public art team, the public art engagement specialist will:

• Develop and implement strategies and plans for community engagement connected to public art projects and programs.
• Create engagement plans and schedules, monitor budget and activities, coordinate events and manage relationships.
• Support reporting and accountability with The City of Calgary at key junctions, which may include engagement statistics and metrics, activities and feedback heard, and compiling other information to aid in the drafting of reports, presentations, etc.
• Prepare engagement information, tools and tactics, and coordinate communications assets as necessary. This may include but is not limited to creating surveys and gathering responses, developing printed materials, etc.
• Plan and deliver engagement activities in connection to public art projects and programs, which may include event coordination, facilitation, public presentations, contributing to information sessions, working with focus groups, etc.
• Support artist-led engagement activities and act as a resource to artists selected for public art projects in determining those activities that may best support their projects.
• Identify and mitigate risks.
• Collaborate with relevant teams and individuals across Calgary Arts Development, The City of Calgary and various consultants and contractors.
• Support communications of public art projects to ensure a strategic approach to disseminating project information.
• Identify opportunities for partnerships or shared work with the community aligned with Calgary Arts Development’s public art vision.
• Create awareness of opportunities for community-led public art projects.
• Act as a connector between artists, the community and the public art program.
• Build and maintain good relationships both internally and externally.

Who Are You?

For this position, we are looking for someone who is active in Calgary’s arts community and enthusiastic about acting as a connector so communities can learn more about public art.

You understand multiple audiences may have different and sometimes conflicting priorities, and that differences in priorities do not delegitimize the needs of either group. You are someone who can listen and respond to different wants and needs considerately.

You understand the commitment to transparency and accountability as public dollars are invested in programs on behalf of the citizens of Calgary. As the public art program is new at Calgary Arts Development, you will often act as the first point of contact and as an ambassador in building new relationships. Your approach to working with community is relational, versus transactional, and you recognize that relationships develop at the speed of trust.

Please read the full job description on our website for an extended version of this section.

If you see yourself in this opportunity, we would love to have a conversation with you.

We are also open to having conversations with individuals in advance of the submission of an application to clarify questions about this posting.

Please email us at publicart@calgaryartsdevelopment.com and reference Public Art Engagement Specialist Questions in the subject line.

How to Apply

Please indicate your interest by emailing jointheteam@calgaryartsdevelopment.com with your resume and cover letter. Please use the subject line: Public Art Engagement Specialist Posting.

In addition to sharing your interest in this position, your cover letter should address the question: “What role do you believe public art plays in fostering diversity, equity and inclusion?”

If you would like to request application assistance, please contact jointheteam@calgaryartsdevelopment.com or call 403.264.5330 to arrange assistance.

Details around application assistance are listed in detail in the full job description on our website.

For best consideration apply by September 9, 2022. We are hoping to fill this position by October 10, 2022, but our commitment to finding the right fit may require more time.

Minimum annual salary is $60,000 in addition to an extended health benefits package, and a matching RRSP program.