Job Description: Northern Lights.mn Artist Council Manager 

Deadline: September 11, 2020.  Deadline extended: September 20, 2020
To apply, send letter of interest with details of relevant experience to jobs@northern.lights.mn.

Northern Lights.mn (NL) supports artists in the creation and presentation of art in the public sphere. Our largest and most visible program is the Northern Spark (NS), a free, late-night, public arts festival that takes place in June. To create NS, we work with many art, culture, and neighborhood organizations and the ongoing Artist Council (AC).  Initiated for Northern Spark 2017, the AC is a group of individual artists who are paid by and work with NL to shape the theme, artist and partner opportunities and public participation in the festival.  Read more about the history of the Artist Council (formerly called the Program Council) here. 

The Artist Council Manager (ACM) manages the Council and supports some functions of Northern Spark related to Community Partners.   

The ACM is chiefly responsible for overseeing the operations of the Artist Council, recruiting members, managing relationships, designing and facilitating meetings, and coordinating the AC’s presence on the night(s) of the festival. This position also coordinates between the AC and the designated Community Partners for Northern Spark for occasional joint meetings.  A core function of this position is to help build and nurture relationships with and between Council members, NL staff, and Community Partners. 

We are looking for an individual who has experience working with community-based artists, and is skilled in meeting design and facilitation. Self introspection and a commitment to anti-racism is necessary. Prior experience with NS as an artist, partner or attendee is strongly preferred. Experience working with or knowledge of arts-based economic development is helpful. 

Salary: $12,500 for 8-10 hrs/week
Status: Contract, 10 months (September 2020 – June 2021)
Works with: Executive Director, Northern Lights.mn

Responsibilities: 

• Schedule, design and facilitate Artist Council meetings
• One-on-one meetings with Artist Council members as needed
• Coordinate with Community Partners as needed for joint meetings 
• Design and conduct informal evaluation of Council once a year
• Recruit members; manage recruitment process with Council committee
• Strategize improvements in AC process with NL’s ED 
• Weekly check-in with NL’s Executive Director  

Required skills and experience:

• Awareness of Northern Spark, including attending the festival at least once in recent years. 
• 3-5 years experience working with multidisciplinary artists in community contexts and cultural organizations and/or art organizing  
• Excellent organizational and communications skills 
• Experience with meeting design and facilitation, including familiarity with anti-racist practices and communication strategies
• Leadership ability and experience
• Project management skills
• Good interpersonal skills; ability to work with and learn from different kinds of people
• Ability to work with a small, busy team of colleagues and self direct when necessary

Desired skills and experience:

• Knowledge of arts-based economic initiatives and organizing strategies
• Experience with Google Docs and Asana

Other requirements: 

• Must have own computer, access to the internet and transportation
• Ability to work a flexible schedule with occasional weekend and evening meetings
  

NL has an office in Minneapolis but all staff are working from home / remotely due to COVID-19 for the foreseeable future. Artist Council meetings take place on Zoom using an organizational account.  

To apply, send letter of interest with details of relevant experience to jobs@northern.lights.mn.
Deadline: September 20, 2020.