Emerging Arts Professionals San Francisco Bay Area seeks a Bay Area-based, part-time (8–12 hrs/wk), hybrid virtual/in-person Program Assistant to support the programs and leaders of this active organization. Under the direct support of EAP’s Co-Directors, the Program Assistant will help coordinate programs with specific emphasis on the Artists’ Adaptability Circles (AAC), execute marketing and publicity tasks, manage schedules and documentation, connect individuals within the network, and facilitate communications amongst the various teams and groups that constitute EAP. 

About EAP

The Emerging Arts Professionals San Francisco Bay Area (EAP) is a network of arts workers and emerging leaders who are driven to improve the arts sector together. By empowering the individual arts worker with personal and professional development, and through the research development of new models in the field, our network works to shift the industry. Our end goal is an arts industry that is equitable for all people, is a valued and sustainable career sector, and honors the individual arts worker as a creative and whole person. 

Through the organization and programs, we seek to model and act as a laboratory for industry-shifting leadership methods. Our programs are designed to put our frameworks into action and include: the fellowship, a 9-month leadership cohort; Emergence, an annual network convening; MADE, a project incubator; Emerge, a pan-industry publication; Affinity Circles, events, and workshops. Our platforms prompt knowledge sharing (Emergence, Network Socials), community and individual empowerment (Fellowship, Emerge), and exploration of emerging models and topics (MADE, Affinity Circles). 

EAP is seeking a Program Assistant to work very closely with our Artist Adaptability Circles (AAC) Program. AAC is A Mutual Aid-based funding and cohort development program for Bay Area artists, arts workers, and culture bearers—Forged out of deep, sustained conversation among arts leaders, the program supports those hardest hit by COVID-19: Black, Indigenous and People of Color, LGBTQIA+ people, people with disabilities, and other historically under-resourced communities. It is a community-created and artist-led program designed to support Bay Area artists and arts workers creatively addressing issues arising in their lives and communities. 

Using a distributed leadership and funding model, the program provides grassroots arts and culture leaders, and their collaborators, with monetary stipends to meet independently, attend cross-circle gatherings, receive leadership development training (provided by EAP), and utilize flexible funding to implement their plans. Focused on process over product, artist circles are not expected to create any final project or event, but instead are expected to share their experience and learnings. 

Expectations and Compensation

The Program Assistant will be responsible for:

• Project management such as meeting scheduling and coordination, prep and follow-up, and task management and tracking
• Track program timelines and deliverables
• Support marketing and communications, e.g. email newsletters, basic website tasks, and social media management support

• Day-to-day organizational administration including calendaring, communications, and project management
• Acting as a lead project manager for the Artists’ Adaptability Circles program through the end of the calendar year (December 2024) with possibility of continuation/growth in 2025
• Support the directors by assisting with grant production including, but not limited to, editing grant language, gathering needed documents, application submission and reporting
• Under the supervision of the directors, support for program-related administration and process implementation (standard operating procedures, etc)
• Coordination of the organization’s file structure within Google Drive

Required Skills/Experience:

• Experience in the Arts & Culture field with a basic understanding of the Bay Area ecosystem
• Demonstrate the ability to work independently with clear directions, organize themselves and the workload of Co-Directors, excitement for tracking details
• Ability to work with and take direction from Black Femme leadership
• Ability to work both in-person and virtually, and through synchronous and asynchronous collaboration
• Ability to be flexible and responsive, learning/researching on the job as needed, and to execute both long-term and short-term initiatives
• Ability to work within our Equity Framework and Practices (please review at emergingsf.org/mission) 
• A steady and reliable schedule that aligns with arts and culture work (usually within the window of Mondays–Saturdays, 10–5pm), with ability to work occasional evenings or weekends for events
• Comfortable representing the organization in external-facing interactions as well as in diverse community settings
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to collaborate both internally and externally with compassion
• Solid communication skills with an ability to give clear updates on projects, express needs, and have collaborative discussions
• Excellent technical skills and demonstrate working knowledge of standard software for office settings
  • Google Workspace (Gmail, Google Drive, etc.)
  • Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin
  • Google and similar search engines

Preferred skills/experience (not required for application):

• Working knowledge of Eventbrite, Mailchimp, WordPress, AirTable
• Equity and diversity training/experience
• Facilitation or teaching experience

This would be a great position for:

• Graduate students
• Emerging arts administrators
• Teaching Artists looking for consistent compensation
• Arts and culture workers of color
• Lived experiences are valued and all backgrounds will be considered

This position is currently budgeted for 8–12 hours per week, at a rate of $35 per hour. This is a contract position and does not currently include structured benefits, but W2 employment may be available through our fiscal sponsor. The Program Assistant will report to EAP Co-Directors, Rhiannon Evans MacFadyen and Reyna Brown, and also work closely with members of the EAP Advisory Board, and AAC funders, artists, and mentors.

The Program Assistant will have ample opportunities for professional development through work with the Co-Directors and EAP community, including contact with EAP Fellowship and alumni, and special projects at the discretion of the Co-Directors. Position also has potential to grow to Network Coordinator in 2025.

Timeline and Process

To indicate interest, please submit a resume and short form cover letter to engagement@emergingsf.org, no later than March 15, 2024. 

Priority applications due March 1st. 

Interviews will be conducted mid- to late March. The hiring committee hopes to complete the hiring process before the end of March 2024.

Short Form Cover Letter Text

Brief cover letters (~½ to 1-page) should include the following:

• Full name
• Address
• Cell phone number
• Email
• Linkedin (or attach a resume)
• Bay Area cities/counties where you create, work, or have other connection
• How you know about EAP
• A few sentences about what interests you most about the position, working with EAP, and the network
• Two references, including name, phone, email, and how you are connected to them
• Website or links to projects or work you have done that you’d like to share
• Anything else you’d like to share