Arts & Cultural Diversity Officer

The Arts Service

The Donegal County Council Arts Service is part of the wider Culture Division which also includes the Regional Cultural Centre, the Library Service, the County Museum, the Archives Service, the Heritage Office and the Biodiversity Office. In addition, both An Grianán Theatre and The Abbey Arts Centre, Ballyshannon, are owned by Donegal County Council and are managed by independent management companies under Cultural Use Agreements with the Council.

The Arts Service operates on a county-wide basis, assisting artists, arts organisations, and communities to create and to engage with the arts. To do so, the Service manages the provision of a wide range of supports including direct revenue funding to a number of independent, professional arts organizations in the county, a bursaries scheme for individual artists, supports towards the creation of new artistic works, and contribution to Culture Division’s year-round, festivals and events programme, which includes Letterkenny Trad Week, Bealtaine Festival for Older People, Cruinniú na nÓg, National Heritage Week, Culture Night, Wainfest (Festival of Arts & Books for Young People) and Donegal Bay and Blue Stacks Festival.

Duties

• Liaising with minority ethnic and culturally diverse communities and cultural practitioners in Donegal, to create new links and creative partnerships between the communities themselves and with the network of established cultural providers in the county.

• Working with the Arts Service and the Culture Division of Donegal County Council to assist and advise on how to appropriately reflect the increasingly multicultural make-up of the Donegal community in the services they provide, the programmes they deliver and the opportunities for engagement that they offer.

• Working with the arts and cultural organizations in Donegal to assist and advise on how to appropriately reflect the increasingly multicultural make-up of the Donegal community in the services they provide, the programmes they deliver and the opportunities for engagement that they offer.

• Assisting and encouraging culturally diverse artists and communities in Donegal to maintain, develop and promote their own arts and cultural practice.

• In consultation with minority ethnic and culturally diverse communities and practitioners in the county, devising and delivering programmes and services that respond to the recommendations relating in particular to Artists and Practitioners, Social Spaces and Community Creativity, New Skills and Experiences, as suggested in the Donegal Intercultural Art in Action Research Project, 2019.

• Publicising and promoting the work of the Arts & Cultural Diversity Office(r) through press and other media outlets and through social media.

• Creating and managing budgets.

• Making and assisting with funding applications and submissions.

• Creating project reports and evaluations.

• Contributing to the preparation, development and delivery of policies and strategies, on the theme of cultural diversity, at a local and national level.

• Any other duties that may be assigned from time to time.

The duties and responsibilities attached to the post of Arts & Cultural Diversity Officer may vary from time to time, without changing the general character of the duties or level of responsibility involved. The Arts & Cultural Diversity Officer may be required to perform duties appropriate to the post and grade, other than those detailed above, and to take instructions from and report to an appropriate senior officer as may be designated by the Chief Executive.

Note: A satisfactory competence in the Irish language is deemed desirable and beneficial. The Donegal Gaeltacht is Ireland’s second largest Irish speaking region and boasts strong and vibrant Irish language arts community. As such, it is desirable that the Arts & Cultural Diversity Officer can demonstrate a satisfactory competence in the Irish language. Donegal County Council will provide support in bringing the language skills to the agreed standard over two years, should the Arts & Cultural Diversity Officer require such support

Qualifications & Requirement of the Post

(a) Character

Candidates shall be of good character. Candidates for the post of Arts & Cultural Diversity Officer are subject to Garda Vetting. Prior to appointment, candidates must undergo and satisfactorily complete the Garda Vetting process.

(b) Health

Candidates shall be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service. Successful candidates will be required to undergo a medical examination carried out by the Council’s Occupational Health Doctor prior to appointment.

(c) Education, Experience

Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms:

(i) Hold an Ordinary Degree (level 7 or higher on the National Framework of Qualifications) in an Arts or Cultural discipline, Or alternatively 3 years relevant Training, and appropriate Experience at a high level in the area of Arts and Cultural Development in a culturally diverse context.

(ii) Have satisfactory experience of work in the area of Arts and Cultural Programme delivery and/or the area of Arts and Cultural Development in a culturally diverse context.

Particulars of the Post

(a) General

Donegal County Council proposes to make an appointment to the position of Arts & Cultural Diversity Officer. The appointment will be at Grade V on the Local Authority Appointments scale for pay purposes.

(b) Probation

The successful candidate shall be required to be on probation for an initial period, as determined by the Council. This period may be extended at the discretion of the Council.

(c) Remuneration

The current annual pay-scale is €52,761 minimum to max LSI2 €63,109. (as per Circular EL 04/2026). Holders of the post will be paid at the appropriate point on the salary scale in accordance with the relevant Department Circular. New entrants will commence on the minimum point of the scale.

(d) Base

The base for the post of Arts & Cultural Diversity Officer shall be Letterkenny. The role of Arts & Cultural Diversity Officer may involve some travel, with some trips involving overnight stays and associated costs covered by the appropriate allowances.

(e) Residence

Holders of the post shall reside in the district in which their duties are to be performed or within a reasonable distance thereof.

(f) Working Hours / Annual Leave

The normal hours of work will be 35 hours per week. Due to the nature of the position however, this will often involve evening work and work on weekends. A system of time-in-lieu (TOIL) is operated by the Council to compensate employees for additional time worked, over and above the 35 hours in one week. Annual leave allowance will be a maximum 30 days for all applicants.

(g) Requirement to Drive

Candidates may be required:

(a) to possess a full current category B Driving Licence.

(b) to have their own vehicle available for use while performing their duties and the associated costs will be covered by the appropriate allowances.

(h) Citizenship Requirements

Eligible candidates must be, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms;

(a) A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or

(b) A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or

(c) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or

(d) A non-EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA or UK or Swiss citizen and has a stamp 4 visa; or

(e) A person awarded international protection under the International Protection Act 2015 or any family member entitled to remain in the State as a result of family reunification and has a stamp 4 visa or

(f) A non-EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of, and resident in, an EEA member state or the UK or Switzerland and has a stamp 4 visa.