Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Community Arts Coordinator

🎯 Role Definition

The Community Arts Coordinator plans, implements, and evaluates inclusive community arts programming that increases public access to arts and culture. This role builds strategic partnerships with local artists, schools, cultural organizations, and funders; manages youth and adult arts classes and workshops; coordinates public events and exhibitions; and ensures programs meet goals for access, participation, equity, and artistic quality. The Coordinator is both a program manager and an outreach specialist who champions community-centered arts engagement and cultural participation.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Arts Education Instructor / Teaching Artist
Program Assistant or Community Outreach Assistant
Volunteer Coordinator in arts or cultural nonprofit

Advancement To:

Senior Community Arts Manager
Program Director, Arts & Community Engagement
Director of Cultural Programs or Creative Placemaking

Lateral Moves:

Development Associate (grant writing/fundraising)
Marketing & Communications Manager for arts org
Artist Services or Venue Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Design, develop, and manage a full calendar of community arts programs, workshops, residencies, and public events that align with organizational goals, community needs, and cultural equity principles; oversee program lifecycle from concept through evaluation and reporting.
Lead outreach and engagement activities to recruit participants, build audiences, and strengthen relationships with local schools, community centers, cultural organizations, and neighborhood stakeholders, ensuring programming is accessible and responsive to diverse populations.
Coordinate and support teaching artists, facilitators, and community partners by developing curricula, providing orientation and training, contracting artists, and acting as the primary liaison to ensure consistent program quality and adherence to safety and inclusion policies.
Manage event logistics for exhibitions, performances, public art activations, and festivals, including site selection, permitting, production schedules, artist load-in/out, tech riders, vendor coordination, and on-site supervision to deliver professional public programs.
Write, develop, and submit grant applications, sponsorship proposals, and donor-facing program narratives; prepare required grant reports, budget justifications, and impact statements to secure and steward program funding.
Oversee program budgets, track expenses, manage purchase orders and vendor invoices, and provide monthly budget reconciliation to ensure programs remain on budget and financially sustainable.
Develop recruitment and volunteer strategies; recruit, train, schedule, and supervise volunteers and interns to support program delivery, audience services, and event operations.
Create and implement participant registration systems and audience data collection processes (online forms, ticketing, sign-ins), maintain accurate program records, and analyze participation metrics to inform program improvements and reporting.
Create curriculum, lesson plans, and activity guides for youth and adult arts education programs that align with learning outcomes, assessment metrics, and organizational priorities in arts access and cultural learning.
Build and maintain strategic partnerships with local cultural institutions, schools, city departments, neighborhood organizations, and businesses to co-create programming, share resources, and expand reach.
Serve as a public-facing representative of the organization at community meetings, neighborhood councils, schools, and arts coalitions; advocate for arts access and community-based creative initiatives.
Develop and execute promotion and marketing strategies for programs and events, including social media campaigns, email newsletters, print materials, press outreach, and community distribution to maximize attendance and visibility.
Ensure compliance with health, safety, accessibility, and child protection policies across all programming; coordinate background checks, permissions, and safety protocols for in-person and off-site activities.
Facilitate artist payments, contracts, and hospitality arrangements including negotiating fees, processing contracts, and ensuring timely payments in line with organizational policies and funder requirements.
Implement evaluation frameworks and instruments (surveys, focus groups, observation protocols) to measure program impact, participant satisfaction, learning outcomes, and community value; synthesize findings into reports for stakeholders and funders.
Curate and coordinate content for exhibitions, pop-up galleries, and community showcases that highlight local artists and community-made work, including artist selection, installation logistics, and interpretive materials.
Support accessibility and inclusion by adapting programming formats, providing materials in multiple languages, arranging ASL interpretation or sensory-friendly accommodations, and addressing barriers to participation.
Manage on-site operations during programming and events—front-of-house coordination, box office or registration, signage, safety communications, and immediate problem-solving to ensure positive participant experiences.
Maintain and update program documentation, artist rosters, community partner directories, resource guides, and instructional materials to support program continuity and institutional memory.
Collaborate with the development and communications teams to produce compelling participant stories, impact statements, photos, and testimonials for reports, grant renewals, and donor stewardship.
Coordinate community arts projects that include public art planning, mural partnerships, and place-based creative placemaking initiatives, collaborating with municipal partners and neighborhood stakeholders to integrate art into public spaces.
Stay current on best practices in community arts, arts education, cultural equity, and nonprofit management; attend professional development, conferences, and local arts networks to inform programming and bring innovative approaches back to the organization.

Secondary Functions

Support data collection and program evaluation efforts by maintaining participant databases, compiling attendance and demographic metrics, and assisting with qualitative impact documentation.
Assist in the creation of programmatic content for newsletters, annual reports, and social media channels; draft copy and gather imagery that highlights community impact and encourages participation.
Participate in cross-departmental planning and quarterly strategy meetings to align arts programming with fundraising, communications, and facilities management priorities.
Provide backup logistical support for facility rentals, classroom scheduling, and community bookings, ensuring spaces are set up, accessible, and inventoried for materials and equipment.
Identify opportunities for cost savings and in-kind contributions from community partners, local businesses, and municipal resources to enhance program sustainability.
Support emergency response and safety protocols during events and workshops, acting as point person for on-site incident reporting and coordination with venue staff.
Maintain relationships with local schools and youth organizations to coordinate field trips, after-school programs, and curriculum-aligned arts education activities.
Assist with artist residency logistics, including housing coordination, travel reimbursements, studio access, and community engagement planning.
Contribute to the organization’s cultural equity and inclusion initiatives by advising on program accessibility, translation needs, and culturally responsive outreach strategies.
Compile post-program impact analyses and draft preliminary program evaluation summaries for supervisors and funders.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Program design and project management for arts education and community programming, including timelines, deliverables, and contractor management.
Grant writing, foundation and government grant management, proposal development, and grant reporting (familiarity with NEA, state arts agency, and local foundation processes).
Budget development and financial tracking for program budgets, expense reconciliation, and basic accounting workflows.
Event production and logistics management (permits, vendor coordination, technical riders, site plans).
Artist contracting and payroll coordination, including experience with 1099 processes and vendor/payment systems.
Familiarity with program registration and ticketing platforms (e.g., Eventbrite, Brown Paper Tickets) and CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, CiviCRM) for audience management.
Basic arts curriculum development and pedagogical approaches for youth and adult learners; experience creating lesson plans and learning objectives.
Data collection and evaluation methods (survey design, qualitative interviews, impact metrics) and proficiency with spreadsheets and basic data visualization.
Marketing and communications skills including social media strategy, email marketing platforms (Mailchimp, Constant Contact), and community outreach tactics.
Facility and risk management knowledge for public events, including ADA accessibility requirements, child safety protocols, and insurance considerations.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office/Google Workspace and basic graphic tools (Canva, Adobe Creative Suite) for promotional materials and instructional handouts.
Familiarity with community partnership development and stakeholder engagement frameworks; ability to navigate municipal processes and neighborhood organizations.

Soft Skills

Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills with demonstrated ability to engage diverse communities, artists, families, and institutional partners.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills for outreach, grant writing, curriculum notes, and community representation.
Cultural humility and commitment to equity, inclusion, and anti-racist practices in program development and engagement.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple programs and deadlines simultaneously.
Flexibility, problem-solving mindset, and calmness under pressure when managing live events and dynamic community needs.
Facilitation and teaching skills; comfortable leading groups of varying ages and abilities in creative activities.
Creative thinking and program innovation to design compelling arts experiences that resonate with target audiences.
Collaborative team-player attitude and experience working across departments to align goals and resources.
Initiative and self-direction to identify community needs, propose program ideas, and drive projects to completion.
Empathy and active listening skills to center community voices and respond to participant feedback.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Associate degree or equivalent work experience in arts administration, community arts, nonprofit management, education, or a related field.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Arts Administration, Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Community Development, Cultural Studies, Education, Public Administration, or related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Arts Administration
Community Arts / Cultural Studies
Fine Arts / Performing Arts
Nonprofit Management
Education / Arts Education
Urban Planning / Community Development

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–5 years of relevant experience managing arts programs, community engagement projects, or cultural events.

Preferred: 3–7 years of progressively responsible experience in community arts coordination, program management, event production, or arts education, including documented experience with grant writing and partnership development.