SEASONAL ARTS ASSOCIATE

OVERVIEW

Governors Island is a popular year-round destination located in the middle of New York Harbor. For almost two centuries, the Island was closed to the public, operating as a military base for the U.S. Army and, later, the Coast Guard. Today, an award- winning new park is complemented by dozens of unique historic buildings, educational and cultural facilities, a rich arts and culture program and a 22-acre National Monument managed by the National Park Service. Looking ahead, the Island is envisioned to be further activated as a resource for all of New York City, with expanded educational, nonprofit, and commercial facilities. The Trust is currently in the process of expanding the Island’s arts and cultural program, as well as anchoring its growth through attracting a hub of educational and research partners dedicated to addressing the global climate crisis.

POSITION

The Trust for Governors Island seeks candidates to support seasonal programming led by Governors Island Arts, the Trust for Governors Island’s arts and culture program.

The Seasonal Arts Associate position is an hourly, seasonal (estimated 6-month term from late April 2025 to late October 2025) on-site position on Governors Island working Wednesday - Sundays. Reporting to the Trust for Governors Island’s Associate Curator and Producer, and Head Curator, the position serves a critical role in supporting Governors Island Arts programs and produced events, including a public art exhibition, performances, Organizations in Residence, and other duties as assigned. The Seasonal Arts Associate assists with on-site event set up and break down (including A/V and sound equipment operation), docent and visitor services duties, resident organization administrative duties, communication, and liaising, and more. The Seasonal Art Associate offers the highest level of customer service to all visitors, partners, and artists, creating a welcoming environment for everyone. This position requires weekend and holiday working availability.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• BA, associate’s degree, or comparable training and vocational education with a focus on visual art, art history, project management, arts administration, or related fields.

Experience:

• 1-2 years’ experience in residency programs, art production, events, public programming, producing, and/or live performance.
• Experience operating sound equipment (PA systems, audio mixers, mics, cables), portable/generator power, and other production equipment related to small/mid/large-scale events.
• Familiarity with working with artists.
• Experience working in an outdoor event environment is preferred.

Responsibilities:

• Act as on-site liaison with resident organizations, artists, and other Governors Island Arts partners and larger weekend Trust staff.
• Provide Governors Island Arts on-site information to the public.
• Manage RSVP and ticketed lists for Governors Island Arts programs and events.
• Collect relevant Governors Island Arts visitor information.
• Greet visitors attending events presented by Governors Island Arts on Governors Island.
• Ensure audience engagement and safety protocols are adhered to.
• Notify supervisory staff and/or security staff of any emergency situations immediately as they occur.
• Assist in management of audience capacity as related to Public Art, performances, and other events
• Assist in setting up and breaking down events, including A/V equipment, chairs, tables, extension cords, signage, etc.
• Ability to respond to unexpected situations and act quickly to ensure the safety of partners, artists, and visitors

Skills and Abilities:

• Strong organizational and communication skills, with an ability to prioritize, multi-task, and meet tight deadlines
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently, follow through on all assigned projects and maintain open lines of communication at all times
• Comfort working in an outdoor environment for long periods of time and in varying weather conditions
• Comfort setting up and operating sound and lighting equipment
• Experience working in a theater, venue, museum, art gallery, or outdoor public space environment preferred
• Demonstrated interest in public art and Governors Island, and be comfortable speaking with visitors to share information and insights on the artwork, presenting partners, the artist’s practice, Governors Island, and related historical context
• Ability to work a combination of weekday and weekend shifts, including holidays, on an as needed basis
• Proficient in using Microsoft Word, Excel, Google suite, and other similar cloud based applications
• Valid Driver's License required
• Resident of the greater New York City region
• Ability to lift up to 50lbs and stand for long periods of time
• Proficient in using Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Salary Range: $19-$22 per hour

Location & Schedule: All positions are located on Governors Island. The position is in-person five days a week (Wednesday through Sunday).

TO APPLY

We realize that not all applicants match 100% of the qualifications for a role. If you meet many but not all the criteria and feel you may be a good fit for this role, we encourage you to apply.

Please send a cover letter and resume as a single PDF document to jobs@govisland.org with “Seasonal Arts Associate” in the subject line. No phone calls please.

The Trust for Governors Island values the importance of inclusion, accessibility and a diverse pool of applicants. The Trust for Governors Island does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, genetic information, marital status, membership in an employee organization, military service, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including gender identity), sexual orientation, sexual and other reproductive health decisions, or other non-merit factor.

ABOUT THE TRUST FOR GOVERNORS ISLAND

The Trust for Governors Island (The Trust) is a nonprofit corporation created by the City of New York. It is responsible for the redevelopment and operation of 150 acres of Governors Island. The Trust's mission is to realize the full potential of Governors Island for the inspiration and enjoyment of all New Yorkers, demonstrating a bold vision for public space. For more information, visit www.govisland.org

ABOUT GOVERNORS ISLAND ARTS

Gov­er­nors Island Arts, the pub­lic arts and cul­tur­al pro­gram pre­sent­ed by the Trust for Gov­er­nors Island, cre­ates trans­for­ma­tive encoun­ters with art for all New York­ers, invit­ing artists and researchers to engage with the issues of our time in the con­text of the Island’s lay­ered his­to­ries, envi­ron­ments, and architecture.

We achieve this mis­sion through:

• Pub­lic Art Com­mis­sions: Long term and tem­po­rary works from mul­ti­dis­ci­pli­nary artists that are sit­ed with­in Gov­er­nors Island’s park and his­toric landscapes
• Orga­ni­za­tions in Res­i­dence: An annu­al open call invit­ing cul­tur­al orga­ni­za­tions to present exhi­bi­tions, hold free pub­lic pro­grams and host artist res­i­den­cies with­in the Island’s his­toric for­mer mil­i­tary hous­es. Over the next decade, the City of New York and the Trust for Gov­er­nors Island will invest in evolv­ing this sea­son­al pro­gram into year-round per­ma­nent homes for cul­tur­al orga­ni­za­tions on Gov­er­nors Island
• Pub­lic Pro­grams: Free events and pro­grams, often pre­sent­ed in part­ner­ship with a diverse range of NYC cul­tur­al organizations