Director of Cultural Heritage

The Director of Cultural Heritage will lead the creation and implementation of a cohesive narrative of the community’s evolution as interpreted through its cultural traditions, which will be realized through cultural heritage programming and services. This position supervises the full-time Community Programs Coordinator and works in partnership with the museum's Collections and Exhibits staff.

Responsibilities:

Implement the vision of the Regional Folklife Center Strategic Plan to create a seamless connection between the Collection and cultural heritage programming

• Participate in the initiative to craft a new vision for connecting the museum’s Collection/the community’s history and our services to traditional artists.
• Direct staff in the creation of public programs including visual and performing arts, lectures, workshops, and so on that fulfill the vision
• Support traditional artists through existing and new initiatives, including:
  • Grant writing assistance to traditional artists and traditional arts organizations
  • Nominations for state and national awards
  • Use of the museum’s Digital Folklife Lab
  • Use of the museum’s Cultural Heritage Hub
  • Services provided through the Folklife Enterprise Initiative
• Create and implement an evaluation system for partnering artists and audience members.
• Grant writing and management
  • Annually write and submit grants to the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC), NEA, NEH, and others; write and submit semi-annual and annual reports.
  • Manage the implementation of existing grants, including budget management
• Develop a strategy for community engagement and for building a regional folklife network

Qualifications

Required:

• Considerable applied or public-sector cultural heritage work experience.
• Relevant degree in folklore, cultural heritage, cultural management, anthropology, arts administration, or related field, or significant, documented experience obtaining this knowledge through on-the-job training.
• Minimum 3 years developing and managing public programs
• Proven experience writing grants
• Ability to work effectively with diverse constituencies

Preferred:

• Experience managing staff and volunteers
• Experience creating project budgets up to $100,000
• Public speaking skills
• Ability to manage project budgets