Assistant Arts Officer

The Role:

The Assistant Arts Officer will work under the control and supervision of the Arts Officer or other designated officer. Holders of the office may be assigned to work in all appropriate areas in the course of their employment. The Assistant Arts Officer will support the work of the Tipperary Arts Office in the delivery of The Tipperary Arts Strategy, broader Tipperary County Council strategies and the TCC/Arts Council Framework Agreement as assigned by the Arts Officer.

➢ This position will be based in the Civic Offices, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary.

➢ This position is a permanent contract on a whole-time and pensionable basis.

➢ It should be noted that out of hours work is a requirement for this role.

➢ It should be noted that it is a requirement for this role that the successful candidate holds a full clean, Class B driving license and has access to their own vehicle.

Tipperary County Council’s current Arts Strategy (2023 – 2027) builds on a strong legacy of over two decades of arts provision in the county and aims to maximise opportunities for arts development in the years ahead. The Arts Office works to support and develop programmes and practices which enable artists, cultural producers, organisations and communities to realise their artistic ambitions, with a view to making Tipperary a better place through the arts.

Working with a range of partners and stakeholders, Tipperary Arts Office works to improve the artistic life of the county by integrating the arts into the County Council’s overall cultural, social and economic development policies to ensure the arts are central to civic life.

The work of the specialist team at Tipperary Arts Office in implementing Tipperary County Council’s vision for the arts is multi-faceted and imaginative, and encompasses a wide range of services, actions, and activities. This includes provision of information and advice, advocating for the arts at a local and national level, brokering partnerships and collaborations, undertaking research and planning, seeking investment for the arts, and supporting artists, cultural producers and the arts infrastructure through the management of a range of schemes and programmes.

The Tipperary Arts Strategy outlines four Strategic Priorities which informs our work.

This post will support delivery on the Tipperary Arts Strategy across all objectives and with a particular focus on Strategic Action 4, Creative Communities and Partnerships as outlined in our Framework Agreement with The Arts Council. This strategic action is concerned with the development and provision of opportunities for deepening the range and richness of encounters with the arts for all citizens.

Our ambition is to create greater public engagement and participation in the arts, particularly in contexts such as with older people, in the area of arts and disability, in the area of health, youth and community contexts. We also strive to ensure cultural diversity in our programmes and activities which reflects the diversity of our towns and villages.

This post holder will take a lead operational role in key existing arts engagement programmes such as Culture Night Programmes, Tipperary Youth Theatre and Youth Arts Development, in addition to progressing stated desired outcomes in our Framework Agreement under this strand which include:

• That more people in Tipperary feel welcome and valued as audiences, co-creators and participants in the arts

• Venues in Tipperary will have achieved a greater role in reaching out to new audiences, specifically marginalised groups and new communities who may have barriers in participating.

The Assistant Arts Officer will have a key role in carrying out and supervising administrative and operational responsibilities in the Arts Office. This role will support the strategic planning for the development and delivery of arts services and the delivery of community focused and inclusive arts programmes. Linking artists with audiences and communities is central to our approach across this strand of programming and activity. A key challenge is to find ways of working with a range of partners to increase participation in an appropriate and sustainable way, working in line with both Framework Agreement and Arts Plan strategies.

Duties of The Post Include:

Reporting to the Arts Officer, under the Directorate of Culture & Libraries, or other such nominated officer, the key responsibilities of this Assistant Arts Officer shall, in the context of Tipperary County Council’s current Arts Strategy and its successor include, but shall not be limited to:

• To plan, manage and deliver Tipperary County Council’s existing audience engagement programmes including Culture Night, Tipperary Youth Theatre, Tipperary Bealtaine Festival, artists residencies and partnership projects.

• To lead and support work with partner organisations delivering audience engagement programmes to build engagement strategies.

• To develop strategies for working with the arts infrastructure to ensure accessibility for marginalised groups, people with disabilities and to increase participation amongst these groups.

• To research needs in terms of access to the arts in health settings and for people with a disability and marginalised groups.

• To plan and develop a new strand of programming which addresses identified needs.

• To work with the arts infrastructure to make visible opportunities for participation by young people in the arts in Tipperary.

• To support youth arts development initiatives in partnership with relevant partners.

• To lead the development of socially engaged arts practice and planning across a range of settings for Tipperary Arts Office.

• To work with Tipperary County Council to build this strand of service provision as required.

• Support Tipperary County Council in the ongoing development and delivery of arts services provided by the local authority.

• Manage the delivery of projects to a high artistic standard within budget and within prescribed timeframes as determined by the local authority.

• Manage arts office open calls (both annual and newly emerging) including bursaries, schemes and awards to support artists and arts practice.

• Demonstrably increase the levels of public engagement in the arts throughout the county.

• Improve opportunities and support for artists and those working in the arts.

• Identify and prepare funding applications seeking to secure additional resources to enable the implementation of the Tipperary Arts Strategy and assist with existing annual funding applications.

• Have responsibility for the day-to-day management of agreed arts budgets.

• Work with the Arts Office team to complement and support the design and delivery of Arts Office led programmes and policy initiatives and deliver tasks that will be assigned from time to time at the discretion of the local authority.

• Assist with and contribute to the implementation of the County Arts Plan. This may include sourcing and providing specialist advice and information, programme design and scheduling, devising contracts, monitoring, assessing and evaluating performance against agreed targets, and ensuring that the necessary financial and management systems are in place.

• With the County Arts Officer, identify, negotiate, develop and maintain partnerships, within the local authority, with external agencies, networks and individuals ensuring clarity over respective aims, roles and responsibilities to grow resources for the sector.

• Provide mentoring, information, advice and guidance both internally and externally in the field of arts development, as appropriate.

• Assisting in the preparation of plans for the development of the arts as may be required by the Local Authority.

• Prepare documentation and reports as appropriate.

• Represent the Arts Service and Tipperary County Council at internal and public meetings, events and functions as required.

• Carry out all duties in compliance with appropriate policies and procedures including the maintenance of records and information.

• Work in a flexible manner in line with the organisation’s corporate objectives and role and to be willing to perform such other appropriate duties in relation to the arts in the region as may from time to time be assigned by the Council.

• Travel throughout the county as required by the role.

In addition, the appointee will be required to:

• Ensure compliance with all regulations relating to procurement of services.

• Comply with Health and Safety legislation at all times.

• Ensure an efficient and effective response to all stakeholders.

• Attend training as required.

• Participate in corporate activities and responsibilities appropriate to their grade.

• Undertake any other duties of a similar level and responsibility as may be required, or assigned, from time to time.

• Deputise for other employees of a higher grade as required.

The particular duties and responsibilities attached to the post may vary from time to time, without changing the general character of the duties or level of responsibilities entailed. The post holder may therefore be required to perform duties appropriate to the post, other than those detailed above, and to take instructions from and report to, the Arts Officer or such designated Officer as may be assigned from time to time by the Council.

These duties are indicative rather than exhaustive and are carried out under general guidance.

Persons employed will be required to work in any location within the Tipperary County Council administrative area.

Qualifications:

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.

Citizenship

Candidates must, by the date of any job offer, be:

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; or

g) Non-EEA citizens with a valid work permit.

Education, Training, Experience, etc.

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

• Hold an ordinary degree (Level 7 or higher on the National Framework of Qualifications) in an Arts, Arts Administration, Event Management, Festival/Event related studies, Project Management or related discipline.

• Have at least three years satisfactory relevant arts development and administration experience including experience in the area of programme development and budget management.

• Have a satisfactory knowledge of public service organisation.

• Hold a full clean, Class B driving license and have access to their own vehicle.

Salary:

Current Salary Scale: €52,239 - €62,484 (2nd LSI)

The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time.

The employee shall pay to the local authority any fees or other monies (other than his/her inclusive salary) payable to or received by him/her by virtue of his/her employment or in respect of services which he/she is required by or under any enactment to perform.

Entry point of this scale will be determined in accordance with Circulars issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage. In accordance with Departmental Circular Letter EL 02/2011, a person who is not a serving local authority employee on or after 1 January 2011, will enter the scale for the position at the minimum point (currently €52,239).

Remuneration is paid fortnightly by PayPath directly to the employee’s nominated bank account. The current wage pay cycle may be revised during the period of employment.

Remuneration is subject to all statutory deductions, for example P.A.Y.E. and P.R.S.I.

Increments are paid annually subject to satisfactory attendance, conduct and performance and national agreements. Increments may be withheld if performance, attendance and/or conduct are not satisfactory.

All posts will be offered on the basis of the candidate working whole-time.