Job Listing: Artist Liaison/Administrator

Workhouse Arts Center – Lorton, VA

Title – Artist Liaison/Administrator

Compensation – Up to $20/hr

Type – Part-time, 24-30 hours per week

Apply – Please submit your resume and cover letter to HumanResources@workhousearts.org. Please include "Artist Liaison" in the subject line.

Summary – The Artist Liaison/Administrator at the Workhouse Arts Center is responsible for being the primary point of contact for all artists affiliated with the Workhouse Artist Studios and Arches Gallery Programs. At the Workhouse, our artist community is a key group of stakeholders. It is our objective is to support them as a core program area and as the first face of the organization for the public. The arts are a crucial part of the mental and economic health of our region, and Workhouse artists represent a powerful and important voice in our organization and in our community.

Responsibilities –  

• Serves as principal point of contact and communication with all artists affiliated with the Workhouse Artist Studios and Arches Gallery Programs for all issues, concerns, and ideas. Ensures that concerns are addressed and resolved in a timely manner.
• Works with artists to ensure that they are aware of the opportunities to work across programs at the Workhouse. Work with program managers when artist involvement is utilized in programs across campus.
• Acts as principle point of contact for all on boarding and exiting artists, to include move in/out scheduling, key distribution and return, and studio assessments.
• Schedules and facilitates monthly building representatives’ informational meetings and campus-wide town hall meetings. Provides written meeting notes from these meetings to be emailed to all artists and other appropriate stakeholders/staff.
• Regularly visits artist studios to check on success and needs, touching base to assess each buildings’ general work environment.
• Updates and issues annual sublicenses and guidelines/term sheets for artists, ensuring all paperwork is appropriately administered and filed with the necessary Workhouse office. Works with administrative staff to ensure studio rental information is accurate and up to date.
• Manages new artist applications and jurying processes when studios come available. Communicates to potential artists the opportunities at the Workhouse and ensure the public is aware of studio openings and/or potential openings.
• Addresses situations in which artists are not in compliance with Workhouse policies, the terms of the sublicense, or community behavioral standards. Plans appropriate interventions with supervisor to resolve situations, to include dismissal from program if necessary.
• Supports maintenance requests from artists to the facilities staff as needed. Works closely with Facilities Manager to ensure maintenance requests/needs are addressed in a timely fashion.
• When available, attend artist-focused activities, events, and receptions to support and engage the artistic community; provide support as appropriate to Workhouse events to contribute to their smooth operation and success.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications –

• Previous experience working with artists, tenants, and/or customers. Background and experience in the visual arts preferred.
• Strong desire to ensure campus artists receive necessary support for their active engagement in art creation, and ability to foster an environment that enhances art appreciate that contributes to increase art sales.
• Ethics: Values and demonstrates honesty and integrity, based on strong ethical principles. Follows through on commitments. Treats people with respect. Upholds organizational values.
• Organizational Support: Supports WAF’s goals and values. Follows and supports policies and procedures. Completes administrative tasks correctly and on time, responding to management direction, as appropriate.
• Interpersonal Skills and Teamwork: Exhibits strong interpersonal skills. Works well with others to support the successful operations of WAF and the Workhouse Arts Center. Represents artists on project teams and day-today cross-organizational activities. Uses interpersonal skills to work through complex issues regarding artist issues; ability to mediate and resolve challenging issues and situations with a positive resolution of issues.
• Communication Skills: Speaks and writes clearly and persuasively in all situations. Effectively communicates in writing, in person and by phone. Listens and gets clarification. Represents the organization professionally.
• Computer skills: Competency with MS Office Suite and other relevant applications.
• Well Organized: Displays excellent organization skills.
• Detail Oriented: Delivers focus on accurate financial, accounting, and logistical details, which are essential for success in this position.
• Cost Consciousness: Operates and manages within approved budget. Focuses on conserving organizational resources. Develops and implements cost saving measures.
• Innovation: Displays original thinking and creativity. Meets challenges with resourcefulness, generates suggestions for improving work, develops approaches and ideas.
• Flexibility: Adapts to changes in the work environment, manages competing demands, changes approach or method to best fit the situation, able to deal with multiple assignments with deadlines.
• Ability to lift 15 pounds. Required to sit and walk. Some outside work, sometimes in bad weather.
• Ability to work independently, self-starter with the ability to operate with minimal guidance.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• This is an on-site, part-time position functioning as a member of the Workhouse staff. This position requires 24 hours per week. Special circumstances may require more time worked per week, not to exceed 30 hours in a single work week. Semi-flexible schedule with weekend work is necessary.
• This position has no direct reports, and reports to the Director of Museum and Visitor Experience.
• Compensation up to $20/hour.
• As with all Workhouse positions, this is an “at will” hire