Cultural Officer

 

Cultural Officer for Ireland

Los Angeles

 

The Consulate General of Ireland in Los Angeles is seeking to recruit a Cultural Officer.  The deadline for receipt of applications for this role will be 12pm PDT, Friday 30 July 2021.

 

The mission of the Consulate General of Ireland in Los Angeles (CGLA) is to promote and protect Irish interests and values in the region, working with Irish and Irish-American communities, and with local partners, to support and grow the strong partnership between the United States and Ireland.

Culture Ireland promotes Irish arts worldwide, creating and supporting opportunities for Irish artists and companies to present and promote their work at strategic international festivals and venues, and developing platforms to present outstanding Irish work to international audiences through showcases at key global arts events.

 

Introduction

Applications are invited for the post of Cultural Officer for Ireland in Los Angeles. This position will enhance the promotion of Irish arts and artists in Los Angeles and elsewhere in the Western United States, working to serve the needs of the Consulate General of Ireland (Department of Foreign Affairs) and of Culture Ireland (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media).

This is a new post created as part of the Irish Government’s Global Ireland strategy to widen and deepen our cultural presence and engagement worldwide, including through the appointment of specialist Cultural Officers in priority locations.  Within this context, the Government’s Strategy for the US and Canada states that “Ireland will double our impact by promoting our culture and nurturing our reputation across the US and Canada”. 

Los Angeles is a global creative hub, with a thriving commercial entertainment industry. While there have always been strong Irish cultural links in LA and the broader Western US, Ireland’s cultural footprint in the US has traditionally been more visible on the East Coast.   As such the Cultural Officer role in Los Angeles will have a significant focus on increasing the visibility of Irish culture in the Western US, developing new relationships, providing enhanced support to existing partners, and expanding touring opportunities for Irish artists. The successful candidate will work closely with the Cultural Officer for Ireland in New York.

The position will be offered on the basis of a three-year fixed-term contract.

Role and Responsibilities

Reporting directly to the Consul General with an additional reporting function to the Director of Culture Ireland, and working under the strategic guidance of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media (DTCAGSM), responsibilities will include:

• Promote Ireland’s cultural engagement throughout the Western United States, in line with relevant multi-annual strategies and programmes to promote Irish culture internationally.

• Work with Culture Ireland to extend and maximise touring opportunities for artists being supported to present work in the US, and develop a regional approach to cultural promotion across the Western US.

• Work to broaden the reach of Irish culture across the region, outside traditionally stronger locations, including through developing relationships with partner organisations on an ongoing basis and the meetings of the network of Irish cultural centres and organisations in North America.

• Map, cultivate and develop relationships with cultural organisations in the region, and broker partnerships between Irish and US artists, ensembles, institutions, venues and festivals, including the Irish artistic and creative diaspora resident in the region.

• Work alongside other European Consulates General and the EUNIC (EU National Institutes for Culture) network to situate Ireland and Irish culture in its European context, presenting Ireland as both European and Irish.

• Support Culture Ireland as required in the effective delivery of its showcase events, and assist in the development, delivery and promotion of cultural events generally on behalf of Culture Ireland, DFA and other relevant state bodies e.g. Tourism Ireland, including flagship or large-scale initiatives and cultural programmes for high-level visits by the President and Taoiseach.

• Support Screen Ireland and their office in LA to promote Irish film, television and animation.

• Work with relevant state bodies to develop links across other creative industries, e.g. architecture and design.

• Assist and advise regarding the promotion of Irish studies in the region, including the expansion of the DTCAGSM/Fulbright Commission partnership promoting the teaching of the Irish language in higher education institutions in the US.

• Work with CGLA and the offices of Irish State Agencies located in the Western United States to maximise the broader impacts of cultural events funded by the State and promote Ireland’s visibility and reputation. 

• Monitor and report on the impact of cultural events, including those organised by the Consulate General, those in receipt of Culture Ireland support across the Western US, and other partnership-based events.

• Navigate and adapt approaches as required to the evolving changes to Irish and US arts ecologies as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Candidate Profile

Candidates must be able to demonstrate:

 

• Capacity to take the initiative and to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Extensive and up-to-date knowledge of contemporary Irish arts as well as of the wider US arts and cultural sector, including festivals, venues and local agents and promoters.
• Proven ability to deliver arts and cultural projects.
• High-level networking skills including the capacity to develop and strengthen links with partner organisations.
• Strong organisational and administrative skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication.
• A high level of discretion, commitment and reliability.

 

Essential Requirements  

To be eligible the following qualifications are required:

 

• A third-level qualification, or a minimum of ten years’ professional experience in the arts and culture sector.
• The successful candidate must have a legal entitlement to live and work in the United States prior to recruitment.

 

How to apply 

 

Terms and conditions of employment

Starting date:	Estimated October 2021
Contract duration:	Three-year temporary fixed-term contract
Working hours:	Full time with out-of-hours work for cultural events
Starting Salary:	US$70,767
Annual Leave:	25 days
Probationary period:	1 year

 

General Data Protection Regulation

All personal information received will be kept in line with GDPR guidelines.

 

Security Clearance for Local Staff

Police vetting will be sought in respect of individuals who come under consideration for appointment. Enquiries may also be made with the police force of any country in which the applicant under consideration for appointment resided. If unsuccessful this information will be destroyed. If the applicant subsequently comes under consideration for another position they will be required to supply this information again.

Please note that canvassing will disqualify applicants.

The Consulate General of Ireland is committed to a policy of Equal Opportunity.

 

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Cultural Officer