Creative Places Coordinator

The Position and Role

Kildare County Council and partner organisations continue their successful award for the Arts Council Creative Places programme for Athy. Creative Places Athy will develop the creative potential of the town and environs, through engagement with creatives and the community. A ground up approach will embrace a culturally diverse creative programme, centered on capacity building, collaboration, sustainability, and community development principles.

Vision and Mission

Creative Places Athy is an ambitious community based artistic programme for Athy and will continue to be developed in collaboration with project partners for maximum cultural and social impact. Underpinned by socially engaged art practice and community development principles, it will be informed by the community's stories, experience and Athy's social, economic, and cultural traditions.

The 4 priority areas for development which have been identified are:

Community Participation – a continued and deepened focus on developing socially engaged art projects with the local community. This work should have a particular focus on working with disadvantaged and marginalised groups within the community including young people, older people, ethnic minorities and other marginalised and less engaged groups.

Creative Spaces – the urban environment is an integral element of Athy’s identity given its unique history as a historic town. This priority area should focus on creative placemaking in the built environment but also include the many wonderful green and blue spaces that the town has.

Supporting Local Artists – Athy can and should have a thriving artist community. The focus of work under this priority would be on working with and supporting existing and established artists and creatives and proactively seeking to engage with new and less established artists with a view to supporting the emergence of a dynamic and vibrant artist community that can help drive the Creative Places Athy programme and the broader creative and cultural development of the town.

Capacity Building and Long Term Sustainability – Athy views Creative Places as providing a starting point and a catalyst for developing a more vibrant, socially engaged arts infrastructure and community in Athy. This will be a gradual and ongoing process that will require building capacity within local organisations and stakeholder groups to develop and manage socially engaged arts projects and programmes.

Aims

• Cultivate a ground up approach to arts and creative engagement

• Grow existing synergies between artists and communities

• Develop new opportunities for a diverse range of artists working with communities

• Embed a rich, supportive, and sustainable culture for socially engaged art

• Create high quality socially engaged art

• Co create with partners an innovative programme of opportunities for artists and communities to innovate and work together creatively

Key Functions

The Co Ordinator is responsible for the development, implementation, and delivery of Creative Places Athy programme of socially engaging arts and collaborative arts commissions and creative community consultations in partnership with Kildare County Council, local partners, and stakeholders, for communities and artists.

The Co Ordinator will take a leading role in all areas of project management, programme delivery, producing, marketing, and communicating with artists, community members and local and national stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities

The duties of the post of the Creative Places Athy Coordinator include, but are not limited to:

• Work in partnership with stakeholders and agencies in the Athy area to ensure the effectiveness of the project and to augment the work that is happening in the area currently

• Support decision making process around programme delivery to maintain a ground up approach

• Work with stakeholders and the Creative Team to design and deliver a series of creative community consultations and meetings to support the community to identify its needs within this programme and within the resources available

• Work with stakeholders to write briefs for artistic call outs, residencies, bursary awards, commissions, training, and capacity building to support the community to identify and select artists for same

• Manage the Creative Places budget and seek additional funding to sustain the programme beyond this 3 year period

• Ensure that project timelines, concepts and marketing needs are met at regular intervals throughout the project and organising documentary evidence of all related programme activities

• Support skill development for artists, creatives and community facilitators development opportunities related to the project

• Support artists in residence to make work with the local community that is socially engaged and support community groups and individuals to participate in the making of the work to be produced within all best practice guidelines

• Support the artists and community through commissioning processes

• Show commitment to supporting artists and programmes that represent inclusion and cultural diversity

• Lead the development of a long term vision plan, beyond 2028, with strategic partners

• Build an evaluation framework from the start to capture ongoing data and be able to disseminate the learning from the Creative Places Athy programme through the next 3 year programme

• To actively participate in documentation and evaluation of the programme and ensure that evaluation is embedded in all programmes and support the independent evaluator and commissioned artists in this regard

• Participate in information sharing and support opportunities provided by the Arts Council, for the Creative Places programme countrywide, through the Coordinators network

• Risk assess and manage the risk and insurance for Creative Places Athy

• Have cognisance for Kildare County Council Corporate Plan, Local Area Plans and Climate Action programme and use environmentally friendly practices

• Support the establishment of an identity, brand and social media presence for Creative Places Athy

• Build relationships with local, national and international press and media to market the work and update and maintain websites, blogs, social media sites, electronic bulletins etc

The duties shall be such as may be assigned to the employee from time to time by the Local Authority and shall include the duty of deputising for other employees of the Local Authority, when required, and such duties as may be assigned to them in relation to any other area of the Local Authority.

The Competition

The purpose of this recruitment campaign is to form a panel for Kildare County Council from which temporary posts may be filled at Athy Creative Places Coordinator as vacancies arise.

The Candidate

It is desirable that candidates demonstrate through their application form and at the interview that he or she:

• Experience working directly with artists and supporting their development

• Experience in arts production and public event planning

• A proven track record of leading projects and working collaboratively

• Strong understanding of socially engaged arts practice, community development and grassroots cultural participation

• Skilled in building partnerships across statutory, voluntary, and community sectors

• Experience in financial planning, reporting to funders and securing funding from multiple sources

• A proven track record of working within communities using a community development approach and understanding of community issues

• An understanding and experience of working in socially disadvantaged communities and socially excluded groups

• An understanding of the complexities of working in a local context

• In depth knowledge of the arts sector, including local and national arts policy, and ideally Arts Council reporting structures

• Public relations, marketing and social media skills

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

• Excellent group and community facilitation skills

• Excellent information and communications technology skills

• Self motivated, with strong initiative and problem solving skills

Candidates, if successful, will not be appointed to the post unless they:

• Agree to undertake the duties attached to the post and accept the conditions under which the duties are, or may be required to be, performed

• Are fully competent, capable and available to undertake the duties attached to the position

Qualifications and Requirements of the Post

Character:

Each candidate must be of good character.

Health:

Each candidate must be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Education, Training and Experience etc.:

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

a) Hold a degree (level 7 on the National Framework of Qualifications) in the area of Arts or Cultural Studies.

b) Have at least 3 years satisfactory relevant arts and administrative experience including experience in the area of programme development and budget management.

c) Have satisfactory knowledge of public service organisation.

Please supply copies of any certificates, diplomas or degrees you may have with the application form.

Non Irish Qualifications must be accompanied by a determination from Quality and Qualifications Ireland to establish their comparability against the Irish National Framework of Qualifications. Overseas qualifications must also be accompanied by a translation document.

Driving Licence

Applicants should at the date of application hold a full valid Irish or European Union licence, for Class B vehicles, or a licence acceptable to National Driver Licence Service for transfer to full Irish licence. They must be a competent driver and shall drive a car in the course of their duties and for this purpose provide and maintain a car to the satisfaction of the local authority. The council must be indemnified on their insurance.

Particulars of Employment

The Post

The post is a 3 year Fixed Term Contract.

Location

Kildare County Council reserves the right to assign the successful candidates to any premises in use by the Council, now or in the future. The person appointed will be required to report to their place of work by their own means of transport and at their own expense.

Commencement

Kildare County Council shall require a person to whom an appointment is offered to take up such appointment within a period of not more than one month and if they fail to take up the appointment within such period, or such other longer period as the Council in its absolute discretion may determine, Kildare County Council shall not appoint them.

Working Hours

The current working hours are 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Kildare County Council reserves the right to alter the hours of work from time to time in line with Government Circulars.

Kildare County Council also has a flexible time system in operation, details of which are available from the Human Resources Section. You may be required to work overtime on various occasions.

All hours worked are subject to and recorded in accordance with the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, and the Organisation of Working Time Regulations 2001. Kildare County Council requires employees to record their hours using a clocking system.

Reporting Arrangements

Creative Places Coordinator report directly to the County Arts Officer or other appropriate supervisor in the Section or to any other employee of Kildare County Council as the Director of Services or other appropriate employee may designate for this purpose.

A system of regular appraisal will be operated during employment, which will involve discussions between the employee and the line manager regarding performance and conduct.

Probationary Period of Employment

Where a person is permanently appointed to Kildare County Council, the following provisions shall apply:

a) There shall be a period after appointment takes effect, during which such a person shall hold the position on probation.

b) Such period shall be twelve months, but the Chief Executive may, at their discretion, extend such period.

c) Such a person shall cease to hold the position at the end of the period of probation, unless during this period the Chief Executive has certified that the service is satisfactory.

d) The period at (a) above may be terminated on giving one weeks notice as per the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts.

e) There will be assessments during the probationary period.

Remuneration

€52,239 – €53,799 – €55,392 – €57,019 – €58,657 – €60,567 (Long Service Increment 1) – €62,484 (Long Service Increment 2)

On appointment successful candidates will be placed on the first point of the salary scale. Appointment to a higher point of the salary scale may apply to candidates employed elsewhere in the public service, subject to verification of service history.

Remuneration is paid fortnightly by PayPath directly to the employees 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 Pay As You Earn and Pay Related Social Insurance. 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.

Superannuation and Retirement

A person who becomes a pensionable employee of the County Council will be required in respect of their Superannuation to contribute to the Local Authority at the appropriate rate.

The terms of the Local Government Superannuation Consolidation Scheme 1998 as amended or the Public Services Superannuation Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2004 or the Public Service Pensions Single Scheme and Other Provisions Act 2012 will apply as appropriate on appointment.

Retirement age for employees is dependent on their relevant contract of employment, with due consideration being given to the rules of the Superannuation Scheme to which they belong.

• For appointees who are deemed not to be new entrants as defined in the Public Service Superannuation Miscellaneous Provisions Act, retirement is compulsory on reaching 65 years of age.

• The minimum retirement age for new entrants to the public service as defined in the Public Service Superannuation Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2004 is 65. There is no mandatory retirement age.

• Effective from 1 January 2013, the Single Public Service Scheme applies to all first time new entrants to the public service, as well as to former public servants returning to the public service after a break of more than 26 weeks:

Retirement age is set, initially, at 66 years; this will rise in step with statutory changes in the State Pension Contributory age to 67 years in 2021 and 68 years in 2028.

Compulsory retirement age will be 70.

Annual Leave

Granting of annual leave, payment for annual leave and arrangements for public holidays will be governed by the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 and the nationally agreed annual leave scheme for the sector. The annual leave year runs from 1 January to 31 December. The current leave entitlement for this post is 30 days.

The Chief Executive of Kildare County Council retains autonomy regarding office closures, for example Christmas Office Closure, any days arising from such closure will be reserved from the employee annual leave entitlement. Proposed office closure days will be reviewed and advised to all employees each year.

Residence

The person holding the office must reside in, or at an address convenient to the Local Authority, as approved by the Chief Executive.

Outside Employment

The position is a 3 year fixed term contract, and the officer may not engage in private practice or be connected with any outside business which would interfere with the performance of official duties.

Code of Conduct and Organisation Policies

Employees are required to adhere to all current and future Kildare County Council codes of practice including Code of Conduct of Employees and all current and future organisational policies including, but not limited to Health and Safety, Communications, Data Protection, Equality, Staff Mobility, Attendance Management and Use of Electronic Equipment.

Training

Employees are required to attend and participate fully in training programmes as may be decided by the Council from time to time and to apply their learning in the course of their daily working activities.

Health and Safety Regulations

Kildare County Council as an Employer is obliged to ensure, so far as it is reasonably practicable, the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work of all its employees. Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, the County Council has a legal duty to exercise all due care and take all protective and preventative measures to protect the Safety, Health and Welfare of its employees.

All employees also have a legal obligation under Safety and Health legislation to co operate with management and not engage in any improper conduct or behaviour or do anything which would place themselves or others at risk.

Canvassing

Any attempt by a candidate, or by any person acting at the candidate instigation, directly or indirectly, by means of written communication or otherwise influence in the candidate favour, any member of the staff of the County Council or person nominated by the County Council to interview or examine applicants, will automatically disqualify the candidate for the position being sought.