Director, Northern Kentucky Creative Placemaking

ArtsWave seeks a community-focused, collaborative and innovative Director of Northern Kentucky Creative Placemaking to join our team and lead efforts to enhance cultural vibrancy and engagement through the arts in Northern Kentucky. The ideal candidate will have a passion for leveraging arts and culture to create inclusive, thriving spaces as well as knowledge of/experience in the northern Kentucky counties. Jointly funded by ArtsWave and Meet NKY, this position will spend approximately 80% of time in Northern Kentucky and 20% of time at ArtsWave headquarters in Over-the-Rhine, Cincinnati.

Position Description

Director, Northern Kentucky Creative Placemaking

ArtsWave seeks a community-focused, collaborative and innovative Director of Northern Kentucky Creative Placemaking to join our team and lead efforts to enhance cultural vibrancy and engagement through the arts in Northern Kentucky. The ideal candidate will have a passion for leveraging arts and culture to create inclusive, thriving spaces as well as knowledge of/experience in the northern Kentucky counties. Jointly funded by ArtsWave and Meet NKY, this position will spend approximately 80% of time in Northern Kentucky and 20% of time at ArtsWave headquarters in Over-the-Rhine, Cincinnati.

Reports to: Vice President, Community Investments

Position Classification: Full-Time, Exempt

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

1. Strategy Development:

• Collaborate with Northern Kentucky community partners, including Meet NKY, One NKY, local arts organizations, local businesses, CVG Airport and NKY town/county governments to identify, develop and execute creative placemaking and arts-centered projects within NKY.
• Serve as an ambassador for ArtsWave and as a shared resource for Northern Kentucky in integrating the arts into community economic and social development plans.
• Help advance ArtsWave’s Strategic Plan as the engine behind an arts-engaged community and an impact-focused arts sector.

2. Project Management:

• Lead planning and coordination of creative placemaking projects and partners in Northern Kentucky.
• Manage project budgets, success metrics, timelines, and partners/stakeholders.

3. Artistic Programming:

• Curate, coordinate and/or collaborate on artistic installations, performances, and events that contribute to the cultural richness of Northern Kentucky.
• Work closely with arts organizations to leverage their artists, programming capabilities and facilities for wider audiences or civic purposes.
• Work closely with artists on commissioned projects and public showcases.
• Work closely with ArtsWave’s Marketing & Communications team to promote NKY’s artistic programming broadly throughout the tri-state region.
• Act as one primary point of connection and activation between Northern Kentucky investors and BLINK^®.

4. Community Engagement:

• Build and nurture relationships and collaborative opportunities with Northern Kentucky artists, community leaders, and cultural organizations.
• Facilitate community workshops and meetings to gather input, ensure diverse perspectives are considered in the placemaking process, and connect NKY arts projects to the larger ArtsWave promotional and grantmaking infrastructure.
• Represent ArtsWave at NKY civic events.

5. Fundraising and Public Relations:

• Work with ArtsWave’s development team to identify and secure funding opportunities through grants, sponsorships, and partnerships that can support creative placemaking initiatives.
• Prepare compelling grant proposals, supporting materials and reports to demonstrate the impact of the projects.
• Work with ArtsWave’s communications team to create engaging content that highlights the cultural and community significance of the projects.

Required Competencies

• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and work independently.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for building relationships with diverse stakeholders externally and internally at ArtsWave.
• Passion for arts and culture, a deep understanding of their impact on community well-being, and appreciation of citizen-supported arts investments.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in the arts, arts management, urban planning, or a related field.
• 3-5 years proven experience in creative placemaking, community development, arts engagement or a related field, with some of that experience being in Northern Kentucky.
• Familiarity with nonprofit development strategies.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range: $65,000 to $75,000, commensurate with experience
• 401(k) retirement plan which makes safe harbor matching contributions equal to 116.66% of an employee’s elective deferrals up to 6% of the employee’s compensation.
• Hybrid work environment.
• Paid parking.
• Health, dental, vision, and life insurance available.
• 10 pre-determined paid holidays per calendar year.
• PTO accrual based on years of service.
• Professional development opportunities.

About ArtsWave

With the help of tens of thousands of donors, ArtsWave supports more than 100 arts and community organizations that make our region an amazing place to live. We believe that the arts—music, dance, theatre, museums, festivals, and more —create a vibrant regional economy and a more connected community. ArtsWave is an equal opportunity employer and is strongly committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment where a variety of backgrounds, cultures, orientations, ideas, and talents can flourish.

ArtsWave is Silver Level certified with Ellequate. Ellequate-certified employers meet standards of performance and accountability in six key measures of workplace culture, demonstrated by people-first policies, practices, and benefits, as well as employee experience.

To Apply

If you are a creative and driven individual who is passionate about transforming spaces into vibrant, culturally rich environments, we invite you to apply for the Creative Placemaking Director position and be an integral part of our mission to build thriving communities through the power of the arts.

Send resume and cover letter in one document to hroffice@artswave.org. Please use the words "Creative Placemaking Director" in the Subject line. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. No calls, please.