Cultural Art and Events Manager

Cultural Art and Events Manager

Damien Center

Damien Center empowers communities and people affected by HIV/AIDS in the state of Indiana by being a leading resource, provider, and advocate for comprehensive HIV/AIDS care, prevention, education, and related services. Damien Center, Damien Cares and Damien Pharmacy provide client-centered social services focused on care coordination, clinical and pharmacy services, mental health, housing, and nutrition to the Indianapolis community.

Position Summary:

The Cultural Arts and Events Manager will work across Damien Center's various locations with a special focus on the Oztara facility to create educational and culturally significant exhibitions and displays, facilitate educational and social events, coordinate art therapy-based programs, help generate awareness of HIV and LGBTQ culture, and increase attendance at activities. The manager will design, oversee, and implement programming that celebrates the rich traditions of the LGBTQ and HIV communities that will also create ongoing awareness of Damien Center's work. The manager's work schedule will be varied with some evening and weekend events as a normal part of the schedule.

Duties and Responsibilities:

This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. It should not be construed as an exhaustive list of all required duties, responsibilities, and skills.

Event Space Coordination

• Manage internal and external requests to utilize Damien Center space for educational, social, fundraising, or public events including during non-business hours.
• Establish a system to process and schedule activities in the Oztara facility including timely communication to those using the facility and strong customer service skills.
• Manage the logistics for all events scheduled, including being onsite or arranging for another staff person to be onsite, facility set up, returning facility to prior condition, and other logistics as needed.
• Coordinate with the café staff to manage food and beverage use for scheduled activities.
• Incorporate sustainable practices, such as minimizing waste and prioritizing eco-friendly materials and vendors.

Marketing and Promotion

• Maintain and promote an ongoing schedule of events and activities within the Oztara facility and when appropriate other Damien Center sites to create a safe space and promote social connectedness for the LGBTQ community.  
• In collaboration with the marketing team, lead the development and execution of marketing strategies to promote the Cafe's general operations, the Cafe's availability to the community to rent or utilize the space for events, and all established events happening within the Cafe utilizing social media channels and other marketing tools.

Cultural Space Creation

• Solicit, select, and coordinate the installation of visual arts across Damien facilities focusing on themes and artists relevant to HIV and LGBTQ communities.
• Develop strong relationships with Indianapolis-area arts community, including visual arts, performing arts, and local musicians, maintaining an active list of current and potential partners.
• Facilitate a safe place for the LGBTQ community to experience various cultural activities focusing on arts, performance, and social opportunities.
• Develop a structure to allow local artists to be featured or perform within the limitations of current spaces.
• Develop a written strategy for offering ongoing cultural programming in collaboration with Damien Center leadership.
• Build partnerships with local artists, cultural organizations, universities and schools, and community groups to expand Damien Center programming.
• Assist in identifying funding opportunities, such as grants or sponsorships, to support cultural programming and events.
• Lead focus groups, develop surveys, and seek regular feedback and input from the community being served and ways to integrate feedback.
• Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for cultural and educational programs, reporting on participation, community feedback, and overall impact.

Art Therapy

• Actively schedule and/or teach art therapy sessions for clients of Damien Center and the community with a focus on people living with HIV and members of the LGBTQ community.
• Develop or coordinate programming that seeks to improve physical, cognitive, and/or emotional wellbeing through active art-making and creative process to reduce conflicts and distress, improve cognitive functions, foster self-esteem, and build emotional resilience and social skills.
• Complete client assessments to determine appropriateness for art therapy needs and interest in participating in Damien Center programming.
• Document and maintain ongoing records and therapeutic progress for clients participating in art therapy programming within an appropriate scope of training.

Education and/or Experience

Bachelor's degree in arts, marketing, communications, social work, or similar required. Master's degree in Arts Therapy and Provisional Registered Art Therapist (ATR-P) certification preferred. Strong understanding of the unique cultural, social, and health needs of LGBTQ individuals and those impacted by HIV/AIDS. Knowledge of local arts community highly desired. Experience with event management software or platforms for scheduling, promotion, and execution preferred. Ability to travel locally to offsite events as needed. Personal transportation and evening and weekend availability required.

*Work experience may substitute for education requirements on a case-by-case basis.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Possess superior organizational and administrative skills. Excellent interpersonal and communication abilities. Excellent computer skills in a Microsoft Windows environment. Ability to work independently and achieve high standards of productivity, achieving deadlines and with superior product results. Strong calendaring, organizational, and document management skills required. Proactive approach to solving problems and communicating to leadership. Knowledge of office management systems, procedures, and office equipment required. Excellent time management skills and ability to prioritize work.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the basic knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  The individual in this role must display the highest level of integrity and confidentiality. The individual should have effective communication skills, attention to detail and organization, and flexibility and adaptability. The individual will also maintain knowledge of trends in their area of responsibility.

Physical Demands: 

The physical demands described here are general representations of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, reach with hands and arms, talk, and hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to touch and handle objects. The employee frequently stands or walks.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment: 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Office setting, with sustained use of a computer.
• The noise level in the work environment is minimal to moderate.
• Maintains personal/professional competence and works to create an environment of courtesy, respect, enthusiasm, and a positive attitude in all interactions both internal and external to the organization.

• FLSA Status: Non-exempt, Hourly, Full-Time,               
• Benefits: Complete Benefits Package Available 
• Leader: TBD
• Salary $57-60k

Damien Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer *Please apply at www.damien.org/job-opportunities

This position description does not constitute a contract of employment or guarantee of any terms or conditions of employment.  Damien Center employees are employed on an at-will basis. Nothing in this position description restricts Damien Center's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this position at any time.   

Salary : $57,000 - $60,000