Urban Gateways: Center for Arts Education is a nonprofit organization that provides multicultural literary, performing, visual and media arts programs for children, teachers, and parents in the Chicago metropolitan area. Â For nearly 50 years, its goal has been to improve the quality of education for children by incorporating the arts into their daily lives. Urban Gateways programs create shared and lasting experiences that strive to connect participants to their individual culture, to community, and to their creative potential.
Program Coordinator – Artists-in-Residence
Urban Gateways is seeking to fill the position of Program Coordinator – Artists-in-Residence. In partnership with the Program Manager, the Program Coordinator – Artists-in-Residence will manage all aspects of the Artists-In-Residence Program with particular emphasis on programming during the school day. The position is heavily defined by coordinating and scheduling tasks aimed at orchestrating artists’ residencies in schools and communities. The optimal candidate will possess a deep curiosity and interest in the unique roles that artists play in these settings. Potential candidates should have interest in and familiarity with the fields of teaching artistry and contemporary art, visiting artist residency models, arts partnerships, teacher/artist collaborations, and navigating the cultures of schools and communities.  He/She will be familiar with the basic principles of artistic process and must show a willingness to serve as a detail-oriented liason willing to take the lead on nurturing strong relationships between Urban Gateways, artists, and our schools and community partners.
Essential duties and responsibilities
- Develop, coordinate, and realize all aspects of Artists-In-Residence program. This includes working with artists and potential partners to develop individualized residencies, coordinating artists’ schedules, creating budgets, executing service agreements and preparing contracts.
- Market and promote Urban Gateways and the Artists-In-Residence program in partnership with other members of the UG staff by maintaining an active role in the local arts, arts education, education, and youth development communities.
- Assist in the assessment of the success of individual residencies and the Artists-In-Residence program by executing program and residency evaluations.
Qualifications:
- Demonstrated professional experience with the coordination of arts educational programming
- Bachelors degree in the arts or related field of study
- Strong administrative, interpersonal, oral and written communication skills
- Ability to prioritize and multi-task
- Sensitivity toward and ability to collaborate and work with diverse populations
Competitive salary with excellent benefits. Regular evening hours; occasional extended hours. Position requires some local travel; car preferred.Â
How to Apply:
Interested candidates should send cover letter and resume to Jill LeCesne Potter, Director of Education, at hr@urbangateways.org. No phone calls please.