Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Cultural Development Officer

🎯 Role Definition

The Cultural Development Officer drives cultural strategy, community arts programming and cultural partnership development to increase participation, support artists, protect heritage and deliver measurable social and economic outcomes. This role combines program design, project management, grant administration, stakeholder engagement and evaluation to deliver high-quality festivals, public art, community engagement initiatives and long-term cultural planning.

Keywords: Cultural Development Officer, cultural strategy, arts programming, community engagement, public art, grant writing, cultural policy, audience development, heritage management.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Community Arts Coordinator / Arts & Events Officer
Cultural Programs Assistant / Project Officer (Arts)
Heritage or Museum Officer

Advancement To:

Senior Cultural Development Officer
Cultural Development Manager / Head of Cultural Strategy
Director of Arts, Culture & Community

Lateral Moves:

Program Manager (Festivals & Events)
Public Art or Heritage Coordinator
Partnership & Philanthropy Officer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop, implement and oversee a multi-year cultural development strategy aligned with municipal priorities, including arts programming, public art, heritage conservation, festivals and creative industries initiatives to increase cultural participation and visitation.
Lead the design and delivery of community arts programs and events from concept through evaluation, including budgets, timelines, risk management, contractor coordination and post-event reporting.
Prepare, write and manage successful grant applications and funding proposals to state, federal and philanthropic sources; manage grant reporting, acquittals and compliance for externally funded cultural projects.
Build and maintain strong partnerships with artists, cultural organisations, Indigenous communities, local schools, businesses and government stakeholders to co-design culturally relevant programs and maximize resources.
Manage procurement, contracts and negotiations with artists, curators, suppliers, venue operators and consultants, ensuring fair contracting practices and clear deliverables.
Commission, manage and deliver public art and temporary installation projects, including site selection, conservation requirements, artist briefs, permits and community consultation.
Oversee project budgets and financial reporting for cultural programs; forecast expenditures, track income, manage sponsorship agreements and ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget.
Develop audience development and access strategies to broaden participation, prioritise inclusion (including Indigenous engagement), reach underserved communities and measure demographic impact.
Lead community consultation and engagement processes—facilitate workshops, focus groups and stakeholder meetings to gather input, build ownership and inform cultural plans.
Develop and implement monitoring and evaluation frameworks for cultural programs, including KPIs, surveys, qualitative case studies and impact reports for internal stakeholders and funders.
Manage staff, casual hires, contractors and volunteer teams involved in cultural delivery; provide mentoring, performance feedback and rostering to ensure high-quality program delivery.
Develop marketing, communications and content strategies for cultural programs, coordinating with digital teams to create web content, social media, promotional materials and media relations to drive attendance and awareness.
Advocate for cultural policy, advise councils and senior management on cultural planning, heritage considerations and the integration of culture across economic development and urban planning projects.
Ensure compliance with legal, safety and heritage protections for cultural activities, including permissions, insurance, copyright, accessibility standards and Indigenous cultural protocols.
Coordinate venues and logistical arrangements for exhibitions, performances, workshops and community events, including technical riders, staging, security and accessibility arrangements.
Facilitate artist development initiatives—residencies, mentorships, commission programs and professional development workshops to strengthen local creative capacity.
Manage databases, CRM and project documentation for cultural programs; maintain accurate records of participants, participants’ feedback, artist profiles and contract deliverables.
Identify and secure sponsorships, in-kind support and partnerships to supplement public funding and expand program reach; prepare sponsorship proposals and stewardship reports.
Conduct cultural mapping, research and needs assessments to inform cultural strategies, policy development and targeted program initiatives that respond to community needs.
Represent the organisation at industry forums, local networks and intergovernmental meetings; prepare briefing notes, presentations and reports for stakeholders and elected officials.
Lead accessibility and inclusion planning for all cultural activities, ensuring programs are accessible for people with disability, culturally safe for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and welcoming to diverse communities.
Design and implement risk assessment and mitigation plans for public-facing cultural activities, including emergency response planning, crowd management and artist safety protocols.
Produce high-quality written materials including program briefs, funding reports, policy submissions, evaluation reports and promotional copy that meet funder and stakeholder standards.
Monitor sector trends in arts, culture and creative industries (e.g., digital practice, cultural tourism) and integrate innovative practices into program design to increase impact and sustainability.

Secondary Functions

Assist with event logistics and on-the-ground coordination on the day of program delivery, including volunteer management, artist liaison and venue setup.
Support the preparation of budget reconciliations, funding acquittals and documentation required for audits and grant reporting.
Maintain cultural program databases, digital archives and program directories to enable accurate reporting and future planning.
Provide administrative support for cultural committees, working groups and advisory panels, including minute-taking and distribution of briefing materials.
Coordinate volunteer recruitment, training and rostering for cultural events and programs to ensure smooth delivery and positive visitor experiences.
Support marketing and communications activities by preparing social posts, promotional copy and media kits for cultural events and exhibitions.
Assist in research activities, including cultural mapping, participant surveys and collection of qualitative case studies to augment program evaluation.
Liaise with venue and facilities teams to coordinate setup, equipment hire, technical requirements and compliance checks for events and installations.
Support procurement processes by preparing briefs, evaluating supplier quotes and assisting in contract administration for cultural service providers.
Help coordinate community consultation logistics—book venues, prepare materials and collate feedback to ensure inclusive engagement outcomes.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Cultural Strategy Development — proven experience writing and implementing cultural strategies, action plans and policy documents aligned to local government or organisational priorities.
Grant Writing & Fundraising — demonstrated success securing public and private funding, preparing grant applications, acquittals and funder reports.
Project & Program Management — advanced skills in scoping, scheduling, budgeting, risk management and stakeholder coordination for multi-stream cultural projects.
Public Art & Commissioning — experience commissioning artists, managing fabrication and installation, and administering public art agreements and conservation plans.
Community Engagement & Consultation — practical skills facilitating workshops, community forums and culturally appropriate consultation processes.
Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting — capability in designing KPI frameworks, collecting qualitative and quantitative data, writing impact reports and presenting outcomes to stakeholders.
Budgeting & Financial Management — track record managing program budgets, sponsorship agreements and financial reporting for cultural projects.
Contract Negotiation & Procurement — experience negotiating artist and supplier contracts, managing procurement processes and ensuring compliance.
Digital & Content Production — competency producing digital content, managing social media campaigns, basic CMS updates and familiarity with online event platforms.
Heritage & Cultural Protocols — knowledge of heritage conservation principles, Indigenous cultural protocols and legal compliance relevant to cultural activities.

Soft Skills

Stakeholder Engagement — exceptional ability to build and maintain relationships with artists, community groups, government and commercial partners.
Communication — clear, professional written and verbal communications tailored to diverse audiences, including funding bodies and elected officials.
Cultural Sensitivity & Inclusivity — deep commitment to culturally safe practice, inclusion, and representation of diverse communities.
Strategic Thinking — ability to translate strategic objectives into operational plans and measurable outcomes.
Leadership & Teamwork — proven leadership for small project teams, with a collaborative and supportive approach to staff and volunteers.
Negotiation & Influencing — strong negotiation skills to secure partnerships, sponsorships and favourable contract terms.
Problem Solving — pragmatic, solutions-focused approach to resolving program delivery challenges and community issues.
Organisation & Attention to Detail — meticulous project administration, documentation and contract management.
Adaptability & Resilience — capacity to manage competing priorities and deliver under tight timelines, often in complex stakeholder environments.
Facilitation & Presentation — skilled at leading workshops, presenting to groups and mediating stakeholder discussions.

(These skills are aligned with industry-standard Cultural Development Officer job descriptions and reflect requirements common to municipal and arts organisations.)

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Arts & Cultural Management, Arts Administration, Public Policy, Community Development, Heritage Studies, Cultural Studies or a related field.

Preferred Education:

Postgraduate qualification (Master’s or Graduate Diploma) in Cultural Management, Arts Administration, Public Policy, Urban Planning or Heritage Conservation.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Arts & Cultural Management
Community Development / Social Policy
Heritage Studies / Museum Studies
Public Policy / Urban Planning
Cultural Studies / Humanities

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–7 years of relevant experience in arts & cultural program delivery, local government cultural roles, festivals management, public art or community engagement.

Preferred: 5+ years’ experience with demonstrated success in cultural strategy implementation, grant administration, public art commissioning and stakeholder partnership development.