Programs & Events Manager

Smack Mellon seeks a Programs & Events Manager who will be responsible for the Artists Studio Program, Art Ready Mentorship Program for high school students, and will assist with the organization’s events and general office management.

The position requires excellent organizational, time management and communication skills and the ability to articulate clearly to a variety of people, both verbally and in writing. The candidate must be extremely organized, creative, self-motivated and capable of working with minimal supervision. The position reports to the Executive Director for the Mentorship Programs and the Curator & Director of Exhibitions for the Artist Studio Program and gallery related work.

Key Duties include but are not limited to:

Artist Studio Program

• Manage the annual application process and review of applicants for the Artist Studio Program.
• Communicate with studio artists to maintain structure within the program.
• With Curator & Director of Exhibitions, organize Open Studio events and reception.
• Organize get-togethers for studio program artists and staff (4-5 a year)
• Assist Curator & Director of Exhibitions in coordinating studio visits from curators, critics, dealers and collectors.
• Maintain an up-to-date list of current and past studio artists’ achievements.
• Provide all Artist Studio Program support materials for Grant applications and marketing initiatives.
• Maintain the studio program space including the shared workspaces, kitchen and bathrooms.

Mentorship Program

Art Ready is a Mentorship Program designed to give public high school students the opportunity to experience first hand what it is like to be a professional working in a visual arts discipline. Participating students go on a series of studio visits and each completes a mentorship with a professional working artist in New York City. This is a school year long program that occurs weekly on Wednesdays from 4-6:30PM. Responsibilities include:

• Visit schools to meet with art teachers, counselors, and principals, and give presentations to recruit students.
• Oversee and supervise the annual application process and review of applicants for the Mentorship Program.
• Coordinate and lead student visits to Artist Mentor studios, museums and galleries.
• Communicate with students, parents, artist mentors, and school leaders to maintain structure within the program.
• With Curator & Director of Exhibitions, organize a final exhibition and opening reception.
• Administer evaluations to mentors and students.

Gallery Management and General Administration

• Prepare support materials for grants and marketing
• Provide administrative support to Executive Director and Director of Exhibitions.
• Maintain the office equipment, and office and gallery supplies. Order supplies as necessary
• Maintain up-to-date information about Smack Mellon’s exhibition, studio artists, and program alumni.
• Manage Smack Mellon’s Submittable profile
• Field general inquiries and answer questions about the organization, including space rental
• General maintenance of gallery, office, and studio spaces
• Manage interns

Events

Must be available to work events, including: First Thursdays, gallery openings, exhibition public programs, studio program events, and some rental events as needed
Assist with all aspects of the Annual Benefit and any additional fundraising events

Requirements

The ideal candidate must be extremely organized and a self-starter. Should be able to work collaboratively within a small office environment and be comfortable with handling many tasks at once. Should be energetic, enthusiastic and not averse to picking up a snow shovel, broom, mop or screw gun. Must be able to lift at least 40 lbs. Should be interested in learning how a nonprofit art organization runs and be willing to participate on every level.

• Prior administrative experience in a non-profit arts organization
• Prior experience working with high school students
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills in oral and written form
• Self-motivated, organized and ability to multitask
• Strong interest in contemporary art in the greater New York City area
• Familiarity with contemporary art, artists, galleries and museums
• Experience using online application platforms, Submittable preferred
• Mac proficient, competency in: Zoom, Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint, Google Suite, Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign and Photoshop), Google Analytics and knowledge of WordPress
• Cultural knowledge of public schools and the diverse populations of New York City
• The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this job; they do not purport to describe all functions of the position. Employees may be assigned other duties, and the essential responsibilities of this position may change or be changed from time to time.

Schedule: 32 hours per week, Wednesday-Friday as well as one weekend day, 10am to 6pm, with extended hours during events and programming, which will be offset by comp time. This position is fully in-person.

Salary: 40K. Benefits include: Smack Mellon contribution to the cost of your individual insurance plan, paid vacation and sick days, Smack Mellon matching contribution to Simple IRA.

Newly hired employees are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 (i.e., have received both doses of a two-dose vaccine or a single dose of a one-dose vaccine) and must provide proof of vaccination upon request by the organization. Requests for potential accommodation shall be considered in accordance with applicable law if and at such time as a conditional offer of employment is extended to a candidate.

As an equal opportunity employer, Smack Mellon is committed to building a staff and board reflective of the diverse artists and audiences we serve. We especially encourage and welcome applications from those in historically underrepresented communities in arts leadership, including but not limited to people of color, women, immigrants, LGBTQIA+ individuals, neurodiverse, and disabled people.