The National Folk Festival comes to Greensboro, North Carolina, beginning in the fall of 2015, continuing a 75-year tradition of celebrating the roots, richness, and variety of American culture through music, dance, traditional crafts, and food. The “National,” as it’s commonly called, will feature more than 30 performing groups on seven stages with continuous music and dance performances, along with children’s activities, a folk arts marketplace, regional and ethnic foods and more. The FREE, three-day festival is expected to draw visitors from across the United States.
ArtsGreensboro seeks seasoned candidates to serve as our local festival coordinator, a complex and exciting full-time (up to three-year) position that requires significant experience in management, large event planning, fundraising, and marketing. Also crucial is a belief in this endeavor and a desire to be an integral part of the effort to establish this community-building event in Greensboro.
At the highest level, the Local Coordinator will ensure that the National Folk Festival’s residency in Greensboro is tremendously successful.
From an administrative perspective, the Local Coordinator will:
- Prepare for and run operating committee meetings and coordinate other committee meetings
- Operate in a manner consistent with maintaining 501(c)(3) status
- Represent the festival as needed at speaking engagements and with the press as needed
- Supervise seasonal staff; oversee committees and volunteers
- Contract services in consultation with NCTA and ArtsGreensboro
- Oversee the process of selecting, contracting and managing food and crafts vendors
- Develop and execute a plan to maximize earned revenue from the sale of beverages, food and crafts
- Act as a liaison between local merchants, restaurants, arts groups, and other festival stakeholders
From an event-planning perspective, the Local Coordinator will:
- Work with the operating committee to recruit a volunteer coordinator and other committee members as needed
- Participate in planning meetings with the NCTA and ArtsGreensboro
- Arrange for American Sign Language interpretation
- Work with NCTA to implement plans for event & site services, and support systems for the festival
From a fundraising and development perspective, the Local Coordinator will:
- Assist in coordinating the fundraising effort for the festival
- Work with NCTA and ArtsGreensboro to develop fundraising materials as needed
- Manage corporate sponsor relationships on a day-to-day basis as assigned at different levels
- Administer grants/reporting as needed
From a marketing perspective, the Local Coordinator will:
- Supervise the execution of a marketing plan with the NCTA, ArtsGreensboro, the marketing committee, and graphic/web designers to include TV, radio, print and social media opportunities
- Help to develop the official program and site guide, fundraising materials, advertising materials, etc.
- Work with local media on pre-event and on-site publicity and coordinate press conferences and interviews before and during the festival
Qualifications:
- Personal qualities of integrity, honor, credibility, and dedication to ArtsGreensboro’s mission and to the local arts community
- Bachelor’s degree or higher
- Five or more years of professional experience in festival management or event planning
- In-depth experience in marketing and fundraising
- Ability to forge strong relationships and collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders
- Self-starter who can juggle deadlines and projects
- Familiarity with Microsoft Office
Please send resume, cover letter, references, and salary requirements/history to: Eleanor Schaffner-Mosh: ESMosh@artsgreensboro.org, or by snail mail to: Festival Coordinator Search, ArtsGreensboro, P.O.Box 877, Greensboro, NC 27402.
Application Deadline: September 12, 2014, or until the position is filled. No phone calls please.
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