Assistant Director for Programming and Assistant Curator for Performing Arts

Wesleyan University’s Center for the Arts (CFA) is both a complex of eleven buildings, designed by Kevin Roche/John Dinkeloo and Associates, and an initiative of the University that centers artist-led interdisciplinary projects. Inaugurated in 1973, the CFA incubates new modes of practicing beyond disciplinary boundaries, bringing artists together with practitioners from a variety of fields, and drawing on the University’s renowned curriculum in experimental and traditional arts from across the world.

At the threshold between the campus and the broader public, the CFA invites artists and audiences alike to engage in the campus’ long and rich history of centering creative practice as a mode of research that can transform how one knows and shapes the world.

Reporting to and working closely with the CFA Director, the Assistant Director for Programming and Assistant Curator for Performing Arts will be responsible for supporting and advancing the CFA’s visiting artist programs. The Assistant Director/Assistant Curator will lead efforts to bridge research and practice in integrating the arts across Wesleyan’s liberal arts education and foster interdisciplinary projects that prioritize the impact the arts can make in shaping the future. This position is also essential in connecting artists to campus resources, realizing innovative programming, fostering strategic partnerships, and cultivating meaningful relationships with artists, donors, and the community.

Responsibilities include:

Project Management

• Assist in the design, management, and production of artist residencies and associated events.
• Draft artist contracts and ensure all terms of the contract are met.
• Maintain project budgets and data on audience engagement in support of the CFA’s impact reporting.
• Coordinate residency and related productions with on campus partners and resources, managing the feasibility of visiting artist engagements in a complex arts ecosystem.
• Serve as the point of contact for visiting artists, managing their needs and helping to scaffold meaningful engagements with the Wesleyan community.
• Work closely with the Director to advance visiting artist program, serving as a liaison with the Director contacts and providing support for scheduling meetings, communication, and other project management as necessary.

Program Development and Curation

• Research and propose potential visiting artists in alignment with the CFA’s mission and values.
• Provide information to and collaborate with University Communications to ensure accurate public representation across all channels about the CFA’s visiting artists.
• Assist with publication projects, both print and digital, that contextualize the CFA visiting artists for diverse audiences, expand communication strategies, and enhance access and engagement with the impact of visiting artist programs within a liberal arts context.
• Assist with writing marketing and promotional materials related to the CFA’s programs.
• Support outreach to faculty and students and serve as consultant for the campus on integrating the CFA’s visiting artists in various areas of the curriculum.
• Develop and maintain relationships with artists, actively participating in the professional field of contemporary performance, traveling to see performances and attend conferences and convenings relevant to the CFA’s work.

Strategic Partnerships and Fundraising

• Lead inter-office initiatives to develop more collaboration between the visual and performing arts, helping the CFA Director foster a unified curatorial vision for the Center.
• Collaborate with the CFA Director to establish multi-year programming goals that enhance and inform teaching and research initiatives across the university.
• Assist with building and nurturing strategic partnerships with academic departments, external institutions, and donors.
• Contribute to grant writing and reporting, supporting efforts to secure funding for CFA initiatives.
• Engage in donor cultivation and stewardship in alignment with CFA's development goals.

Other duties as assigned.

This is an on-campus position.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of four years of professional experience in managing arts organizations or programs, or an equivalent combination of education and related work experience.

Demonstrated interested in contemporary performance, and experience working directly with artists.

Experience in producing and/or managing complex projects with attention to detail and deadlines.

Experience fostering collaboration across artistic disciplines.

Excellent writing, research, and communication skills, with attention to detail and accuracy.

Demonstrated ability to take initiative and work independently as well as part of a team.

Ability to work a flexible schedule including some evenings, nights, and weekends.

Demonstrated commitment to work within a diverse environment and interact openly with individuals of different backgrounds.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Contribution to public programs, engagement, or publications that advocate for the transformative potential of the arts in an interdisciplinary context.

Familiarity with institutions of higher education and/or working with academic partners.

Experience in supervising staff.

Experience in drafting and negotiating contracts.

Experience in budget management.

Experience in grant writing and reporting.

Additional Applicant Instructions
Position is open until filled. First review of applications will occur on February 14, 2025.

All offers to external applicants are contingent on the candidate’s completion of a pre-employment background check screening to the satisfaction of Wesleyan University.

Wesleyan University, located in Middletown, Connecticut, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, age, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin, marital status, ancestry, present or past history of mental disorder, learning disability or physical disability, political belief, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or non-position-related criminal record. We welcome applications from women and historically underrepresented minority groups. Inquiries regarding Title IX, Section 504 or any other non-discrimination policies should be directed to Vice President for Equity and Inclusion, Title IX and ADA/504 Coordinator.

Wesleyan University complies with the Clery Act and maintains records of campus crime statistics and security policies. Copies of Wesleyan University’s Clery Act Report are available on request and online at https://www.wesleyan.edu/publicsafety/clery.html.

Experience is taken into consideration in the determination of salary offers. For more information visit https://www.wesleyan.edu/hr/handbook/compensation-practices/index.html

Wesleyan offers a broad range of employee benefits and development opportunities, including comprehensive group insurance plans, wellness programs and incentives, generous paid time off and retirement plans, flexible work schedules, employee and dependent tuition programs for those who qualify.

Detailed information on the benefits of working at Wesleyan is located at: https://wesleyan.edu/hr/careers/prospective-resources.html.