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City of Port Townsend Job Description
Arts & Culture Coordinator
Classification title: Arts & Culture
Coordinator
Working title: Arts & Culture Coordinator
Department: Community Services
Department
Union: Non-represented
FLSA status: Non-exempt Wage Classification: 614
Hours: 40 Effective date: Jan. 2024
Reports to: Community Services
Director
Civil Service: No
JOB SUMMARY
Under general direction and supervision, assists with developing, coordinating and implementing
cultural and arts related development plans and programs for the City. May serve as liaison to various
City advisory boards and community arts and cultural organizations; oversees assigned budgets;
facilitates art, economic, and cultural community partnerships; promotes cultural and arts tourism;
develops and implements special projects; prepares and administers grants; and oversees volunteers.
This position also oversees initiatives of the Port Townsend Creative District, including but not limited to
fundraising efforts, implementation of the Arts and Culture Plan, and event planning and
implementation.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Under the guidance of the Director, assists, plans, leads, creates in the development and
implementation of department goals, objectives, work plans, and long-range plans; establishes
division goals, objectives and priorities; and assists with various department presentations and
grants.
• Plans, organizes, and oversees special projects for the City; provides coordination with various
City departments and/or arts in relation to programs.
• Participates in City planning efforts associated with urban design, public works, and economic
development with regard to art in public places and public art.
• Creates and regularly convenes a Creative District Arts and Culture Plan Implementation Task
Force in consultation with community partners and Washington State Arts Commission.
• Develops an annual Creative District fundraising strategy and actively fundraises for its activities,
programs, and administration, working in coordination with the Implementation Task Force to
secure grants, sponsorships, and individual donations.
• Plans and implements public programs consistent with the Arts and Culture Plan for the Creative
District such as Soundcheck, Nexus, and various talks and classes for residents and visitors.
• Builds and maintains productive relationships with stakeholders including artists, local and
regional partners, Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA), funders, and coordinates
volunteers.
• Regular reporting to ArtsWA Creative Districts program, Port Townsend Arts Commission,
Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC), and other funders and advisors.
o Summits annual report to ArtsWA.
o Summits five-year Creative District recertification information to ArtsWA.
• Serves as staff liaison to a variety of boards, commissions, and committees and prepares and
presents staff reports and other necessary correspondence.
• Prepares program budgets and presenter contracts and assists with tourism promotion contracts,
developing new program initiatives and alternative funding sources.
Arts & Culture Coordinator
• Researches and writes grants; fulfills grant requirements.
• Develops and maintains partnerships to link arts, artists, business, education and beautification,
and promotes development of cultural tourism events and programs.
• Maintains the Artists Directory.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of:
• Operational characteristics, services, and activities related to cultural services programs, including
business and industry principles and practices related to work assigned.
• Community-based cultural arts organizations and a broad range of visual, literary, culinary, and
performing arts.
• The creative sector in Port Townsend.
• Marketing and cultural tourism principles and practices.
• Strategic planning principles and practices.
• Principles of volunteer recruitment and coordination.
• Program/project management techniques and principles.
• Grant writing techniques and principles.
• Effective strategies for community engagement and community donations.
• Structure, organization and inter-relationships of City departments, agencies and related
governmental agencies and offices affecting assigned functions.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and computer
applications such as: word processing, spreadsheets and statistical databases.
• Federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations related to assigned activities and programs.
Ability to:
• Forge new and collaborative relationships with stakeholders, partners, grantors, the media, and
other agencies.
• Meet deadlines and be detail oriented.
• Build consensus amongst diverse individuals and groups.
Skilled in:
• Research methods and report preparation and presentation.
• Short and long-term planning.
• Principles and practices of governmental budget preparation and administration.
• Interpersonal, networking, writing and communications; public speaking skills
• Grant writing and budgeting.
• Project management.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
• Bachelor’s Degree in Art, Arts Administration, or related field such as Cultural Planning,
Economic Development or Urban Design and three to five years of experience in public arts
administration, public art project planning and management, community arts programs or similar
related programs and services, preferably within a municipal or public sector environment; OR an
equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Valid State of Washington Driver’s License and ability to maintain a driving record acceptable to
the City’s insurance carrier.
Preferred
• Nonprofit, city government, and/or arts administration background.
• Volunteer supervision and budgeting experience.
Arts & Culture Coordinator
• Dynamic, versatile, and creative problem-solver with a positive attitude and a passion for arts and
culture.
• Experience with external content production including photography, social media, websites, and
graphic design
• Excels in a flexible and fast paced, team-based work environment
• Knowledge of Port Townsend’s arts community/creative sector.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Duties are performed primarily in an office environment with sitting for long periods of time, using
standard office equipment and personal computer. The noise level in the work environment is usually
moderately quiet. This position typically requires movement around the office, reaching, pushing,
grasping, finger dexterity, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions. Exerting up to 20 pounds of force
occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly
to move objects. This position sometimes must lift or move up to 50 pounds and set up
events/programs in outside settings. Extended periods of standing are sometimes required.
Position requires employee to be outside in all types of weather. Walking is done on sidewalks; walking
on streets up and downhill and on uneven surfaces for several hours at a time. Hours worked may vary
and may include evenings and weekends. Work is also performed a community setting with some hectic
or demanding situations that may involve issues working with the public. Must be able to withstand
conflict and hostility in a professional manner.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to
successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to
enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The City of Port Townsend is an equal employment opportunity employer. The City employs, retains,
promotes, disciplines and otherwise treats all employees and job applicants strictly on the basis of job-
related qualifications and competence. These policies and all employment practices shall be applied
without regard to any individual's sex, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sexual orientation
(including gender identity), pregnancy, age, marital status, military status, disability, genetic information,
or any other characteristic protected by law.
This job description in no way implies that these are the only duties to be performed. The employee
occupying the position will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any
other job-related duties requested by their supervisors.
This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the City and the employee
and is subject to change as the needs of the City and requirements of the job change.