Assistant Arts Officer

The Role of the Assistant Arts Officer

The Assistant Arts Officer will be a key post within the Louth County Council Arts Service and will report to the County Arts Officer under the Directorate of Social Development. The Assistant Arts Officer will support the strategic planning for the development and delivery of all arts services. The role involves developing and implementing programmes and initiatives that increase participation and learning in the arts, paying special attention to social and cultural diversity. The role will work with internal and external partners to create opportunities to engage in the arts across the county. This will include working on the development of programmes and initiatives that:

• Cultivate artistic excellence for artists, arts organisations and the wider arts sector.
• Acknowledge the value of amateur and volunteer participation in the arts.
• Recognise the role of the arts in celebrating and interrogating a wide range of social and cultural traditions and values.

The ideal candidate shall have:

• Have knowledge of the structure and functions of the local government, of current issues and strategic direction of Arts Services and an understanding of the role of the Assistant Arts Officer in this context.
• Good knowledge of current arts practice and the organisation of the arts in Ireland.
• Good knowledge base of local, national and international policy relating to Culture and Arts Development and Public Art as it applies to Local Authority Arts Service.
• Evidence of arts and cultural project management.
• Experience of working with artists, arts organisations and various communities of place and interest.
• Have effective project and budget management skills.
• Have a strong sense of commitment to delivering quality public services and be willing to take on a challenge.
• Have experience of planning/prioritising to meet targets and deadlines.
• Have experience of problem solving and decision making.
• Demonstrate openness and willingness to adopt to new ways of working.
• Flexibility to work after hours and at weekends as and when required.

The ideal candidate will also:

• Be self motivated with ability to work on his/her own initiative;
• Have strong interpersonal communication skills and be capable of representing the Council in a professional and credible manner with all stakeholders;
• Have an awareness of Health & Safety Legislation and Regulations, the implications for the organisation and the employee, and their application in the workplace.