Arts Officer

The Position

The Council is seeking applications from suitably qualified candidates with relevant experience for the position of Arts Officer (Grade VII).

It is proposed to form a panel of qualified candidates from which any vacancies which arise will be filled during the lifetime of the panel.

The Arts Officer

Donegal County Council has supported and promoted the arts across the county for over 40 years, playing a key role in developing the cultural sector through Culture Division programmes and a wide range of partnership supports for arts organisations, artists, venues, festivals, community groups and resource facilities.

The Council also played a leading role in establishing An Grianán Theatre, Earagail Arts Festival and the Abbey Arts Centre, and continues to support these organisations. It works in partnership with bodies including the Arts Council, Creative Ireland, Ealaíon na Gaeltachta and the Heritage Council.

In 2021, Donegal County Council entered into a Framework Agreement with the Arts Council, setting out a shared commitment to the following strategic actions:

• Supporting artists and arts organisations to create and present new artistic work. • Enabling wider public engagement with the arts across the county. • Strengthening Donegal’s international cultural connections through partnerships such as EDGES Three Sides of the Same Sea and the Donegal Newfoundland and Laurentic Conference Group. • Advancing cross-border co-operation and collaboration between Donegal County Council, Derry City and Strabane District Council, and the cultural sectors across the North West of the island of Ireland. • Contributing to the development of Donegal County Council’s festival strategy and programme by commissioning artists to create new work and explore new ways of working.

The Arts Office is based within the Planning, Communities and Culture Directorate of Donegal County Council. The Culture Division comprises the Library Service, the Arts Service, the Regional Cultural Centre, the Museum Service, the Archives Service, the Biodiversity Office and the County Donegal Heritage Office. The Arts Service delivers a countywide programme led by the Arts Officer and Arts and Cultural Diversity Officer.

The Arts Officer is the main point of contact for Arts Service operations and leads the planning, management and delivery of arts activities across the Council. The role includes advising on arts projects, developing partnerships, supporting artists and community groups, providing information on the arts in Donegal, and preparing letters of support for funding applications. The Officer will advise, assist and support local arts groups, organisations and artists who are applying for public funding from appropriate state agencies and government departments.

The Arts Officer also provides information on the arts in Donegal to a wide range of regional, national and international artists, arts groups and agencies. The Officer will negotiate, devise and implement projects in association with a wide range of local, regional, national and international partner arts groups and agencies.

The Arts Officer will be responsible for the management of the day-to-day operations of the Arts Office and will be expected to contribute to the development and implementation of policies and strategies to promote the Arts in County Donegal and to work closely with senior management and elected members to deliver such services to the highest standard.

The Arts Officer will work under the direction and control of the County Librarian or other Senior Officer designated by the Chief Executive or Director of Services as appropriate.

Duties & Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Service Development:

• Lead the strategic planning, development and continuous improvement of the Arts Service, its programmes, policies and procedures. • Support delivery of relevant Council and national strategies, including Cultúr le Chéile, the Donegal Culture & Creativity Strategy, the Council’s Corporate Plan, the Local Economic and Community Plan, and other relevant policies and frameworks. • Contribute to research, policy development and service innovation, and lead the local implementation of relevant national initiatives. • Monitor, evaluate and report on service plans, programmes and outcomes, and recommend improvements as required.

Management and Co-ordination of Arts Service Programmes:

• Manage and deliver a portfolio of Arts Service programmes, festivals, funding schemes and initiatives, including both Council-led and partnership-based activity. • Provide appropriate oversight and support to programmes delivered by external organisations and strategic partners. • Plan and oversee the delivery of local, national and international arts and cultural programmes, ensuring that they remain relevant, accessible and responsive to sectoral and community needs.

Project Development, Specialist Advice and Support:

• Provide specialist advice and support on arts and cultural projects to Council directorates, services and project teams, including public art, capital and regeneration projects where required. • Advise and support artists, arts organisations, schools, community groups and members of the public on arts development matters, funding opportunities and project delivery. • Develop, negotiate and implement projects and partnerships with local, regional, national and international agencies and stakeholders. • Support the development of the artistic sector through training, mentoring and other capacity-building initiatives.

Collaboration and Representation:

• Build and maintain effective working relationships across the Council, with external agencies, and with arts and community stakeholders to support joined-up service delivery. • Represent the Arts Service and the Council at meetings, committees and relevant networks, and advocate for the role of the arts in organisational, county and regional contexts. • Work collaboratively with planners, engineers and other Council services on place-making, public realm and development proposals where arts input is required.

Financial Management and Governance:

• Manage and monitor the Arts Service budget and associated financial administration, including budget submissions, expenditure, income, orders and payments. • Develop funding applications and pursue external funding opportunities to support services and projects. • Oversee the administration and governance of grants, bursaries, awards and other funding schemes managed by the Council. • Ensure appropriate governance, risk management, compliance, evaluation and reporting arrangements are in place for Arts Service activity and externally funded initiatives.

People Management:

• Manage, support and develop staff to ensure the effective delivery of Arts Service objectives. • Prepare and implement team plans and performance objectives in line with the Council’s performance management arrangements. • Promote learning, professional development and the effective use of staff skills across the service.

Reporting, Communications and Public Information:

• Prepare reports, briefings, submissions and other documentation for elected members, senior management, Council committees and external agencies, as required. • Contribute to public communications, marketing and audience development in liaison with the Communications Section, including website, media and promotional content. • Provide clear and timely information to the public and stakeholders on Arts Service programmes, events and funding schemes.

Corporate Responsibilities:

• Carry out duties in accordance with Council policies and procedures, including those relating to health and safety, child protection, data protection, sustainable development and business continuity, as relevant to the role. • Support the work of the elected Council, Strategic Policy Committees, Municipal Districts and other Council departments, as required. • Deputise for more senior staff when required and undertake such other duties appropriate to the post as may be assigned from time to time.

The duties and responsibilities attached to the post of Arts Officer may vary from time to time, without changing the general character of the duties or level of responsibility involved. The Arts 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 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 Officer require such support

Official Languages (Amendment) Acts, 2021

So that the Local Authority may meet its statutory obligations, a satisfactory competence in the Irish Language is deemed essential for appointment/assignment/re-assignment to Gaeltacht-based offices and offices serving Gaeltacht areas. Competence to be of a level where one can operate through the medium of Irish and provide services to the public in Irish, as per the provisions of the Official Languages (Amendment) Acts, 2021. An assessment of this competence may form an integral part of the recruitment and selection process.

Qualifications & Requirement of the Post

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has declared that the qualifications for Arts Officer will be as set out below:

Character:

Candidates shall be of good character.

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 Medical advisor prior to appointment.

Education, Training, Experience etc.

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

Education:

Hold a third level qualification (minimum Level 7 in the National Framework of Qualifications) in Arts or Cultural Discipline.

Experience:

Have at least 5 years satisfactory relevant experience in administrative procedures, including experience at management level in the area of team leadership and budgeting; and

Have a satisfactory knowledge of public service organisation

Please Note:

Non-Irish Qualifications must be accompanied by a determination from Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) to establish their comparability against the Irish National Framework of Qualifications, overseas qualifications must also be accompanied by a translation document.

Particulars of the Post

General

Donegal County Council proposes to create a panel of qualified candidates for the position of Arts Officer from which it will fill any vacancy that may arise.

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.

Remuneration

The current annual pay-scale is €61,217 minimum to max LSI2 €79,583. (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.

The base for the post of Arts Officer shall be determined by the Council and will depend on the particular area and service to which the post holder is assigned.

The role of Arts Officer may involve some travel, with some trips involving overnight stays and associated costs covered by the appropriate allowances.

Residence

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

Working Hours / Annual Leave

The normal hours of work will be 35 hours per week. The Council reserves the right to alter the hours of work from time to time.

Annual leave allowance will be a maximum 30 days for all applicants.