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City of Port Townsend Job Description
Arts and Culture Coordinator
Classification title: Arts and Culture
Coordinator
Working title: Arts and Culture
Coordinator
Department: Community Services
Department
Union: Non-represented
FLSA status: Exempt Wage Classification: 616
Hours: 40 Effective date: Jan. 2026
Reports to: Community Services
Director
Civil Service: No
JOB SUMMARY
Under general direction, develops, coordinates, and implements 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
Plans, leads, creates 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 directs 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 Submits annual report to ArtsWA.
o Submits 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.
Arts and Culture Coordinator
Prepares program budgets and presenter contracts and assists with tourism promotion contracts,
developing new program initiatives and alternative funding sources.
Researches and writes grants; fulfills grant requirements. Ensure timely deliverables and contract
administration
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.
Demonstrate flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances, such as shifting priorities,
unexpected challenges, or variations in the workload, while maintaining composure and
effectiveness.
Ability to maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with co-workers, peers,
management, elected officials, and the general public.
Ability to effectively and efficiently communicate with team members, managers, the general
public, and other departments, both verbally and in writing, using tact, patience and courtesy to
convey instructions, provide feedback, receive feedback, and resolve issues.
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.
Communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact with diverse groups of people.
Arts and Culture Coordinator
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.
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.
Arts and Culture Coordinator
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. All employees must comply with all City
policies and procedures relevant to their position as a condition of City employment.
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.