Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance

The Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy (OACCE) closes the gap in access to quality cultural experiences and creative expression by supporting and promoting arts, culture and the creative industries; connecting Philadelphians to enriching, arts-infused experiences; linking local artists and cultural organizations to resources and opportunities; commissioning public art which reflects the diversity of Philadelphia and its rich cultural landscape, and preserving the City’s public art assets.

OACCE oversees the City’s Percent for Art Program which was started in Philadelphia in 1959 and requires that one percent of the budget of a City-funded construction project is designated for site-specific public art. Philadelphia’s Percent for Art Program is a model that has been replicated in cities across the country, reflecting the importance of having art in our public spaces and in our daily lives. The Program commissions beautiful and enduring artworks, which reflect the diversity of Philadelphia’s residents and visitors, its many histories, and the variety of public spaces in Philadelphia’s communities

OACCE seeks a full time Percent for Art Project Manager who will be assigned to manage specific Percent for Art projects. This position will support an increase in the City’s public art projects due to Philadelphia’s Rebuild program, a historic capital investment in the city’s community facilities which has triggered Percent for Art requirements. Under supervision, the Percent for Art Project Manager will be responsible for managing aspects of the day-to-day tasks that will lead to successful, permanent, site-specific public art installations at these City-owned sites. The Percent for Art Project Manager will report to the Public Art Director and will work closely with both the Public Art Director and Assistant Public Art Director to successfully complete tasks. The job includes coordinating artists submissions, managing meetings and communications with artists and Percent for Art Committees, preparing materials for community engagement and speaking at events with the public.

RESPONSIBILITES

Function as the project manager, day to day point of contact, and liaison between artists, design professionals, and City departments on assigned Rebuild Percent for Art projects and other public art projects.
Assist with coordination and facilitation of special public art projects as needed, including assisting with community outreach and engagement, correspondence with artists and project committees, and assisting with projects related to conservation and collection management of the City of Philadelphia’s 1000+ works of public art.
Work with project design teams to identify appropriate locations for incorporating site-specific public art within projects, and work with artists to conform their concept to the technical parameters of the site.
Speak at public meetings or workshops, both in-person and virtual, to share information about the Percent for Art Program and about specific opportunities with Philadelphia’s diverse communities.
Manage ongoing correspondence, coordination activities, meetings and approval of artwork at specific milestones. Schedule and prepare materials for meetings with the design team, Percent for Art Committees, artists, community engagement sessions, and the Philadelphia Art Commission.
Draft Percent for Art Call to Artists, distribute via web, email, and partner organizations, and respond to questions from artist candidates.
Draft press releases and various types of correspondence.
Research and invite committee members to serve on the Percent for Art Committee as part of the selection process for assigned projects.
Organize artists’ digital submissions, create Power Point presentations, and prepare materials to facilitate the artist selection process;
Design surveys, questionnaires or other print and digital materials for community engagement.
Organize, summarize and track results from community engagement meetings and surveys, and Percent for Art Committee adjudication. Track artist submissions data, project data, and update Public Art database with project details.
Complete other duties as needed.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Has a passion for public engagement and is comfortable with public speaking and managing public discourse in diverse, urban communities,
Pro-active, self-directed, and shows an enthusiasm to take on new projects,
Highly organized, detail-oriented, self-motivated and creative,
Excellent communication skills (both written and verbal),
Ability to multi-task and manage multiple projects simultaneously,
Experience in planning, budgeting, reporting, and tracking project milestones,
Ability to effectively work under pressure to meet deadlines,
Capacity to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team,
Proficiency with Microsoft Office,
Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite is a plus.

QUALIFICATIONS (EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE): Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent educational experience is required. The ideal candidate will have a minimum 2 years of project management experience. Experience in the arts and culture sector is a plus. Experience with community outreach and engagement is a plus. Knowledge of and familiarity with Philadelphia’s diverse neighborhoods is a plus.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Must be a Philadelphia resident. Must have valid driver’s license. Candidate must pass a background check. Must be able to work a hybrid combination of remote and on-site at a City of Philadelphia government building.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS: Position requires a high level of mental concentration and commitment. Position requires travel to project sites and meetings throughout the city.

COMPENSATION: $50,000-60,000 range. Includes an excellent benefits package (health, dental, and vision). This is a full-time exempt position.

To apply, please upload a resume, cover letter, 3 samples of projects you have managed, and 2 writing samples (one page each) to the City of Philadelphia “Percent for Art Project Manager” opportunity on Smart Recruiter: http://jobs.smartrecruiters.com/CityofPhiladelphia/743999880572433-percent-for-art-project-manager Phone calls will not be accepted. Application materials are due by 11:59pm, February 26, 2023.

ABOUT REBUILD PHILADELPHIA

Rebuild is a historic investment of hundreds of millions of dollars in neighborhood parks, recreation centers and libraries across Philadelphia. Proposed in Mayor Jim Kenney’s first budget as a part of his vision for a more equitable Philadelphia, Rebuild’s promise to acknowledge history, engage the community and invest intentionally, seeks to uplift pivotal community spaces, empower neighborhoods, and promote economic opportunity through diversity and inclusion.