The Position
The Council is seeking applications from suitably qualified candidates with relevant experience for the position of Arts & Cultural Diversity Officer (A&CDO).
The position will also be key to advancing two of the strategic priorities of the ongoing Framework Agreement between Donegal County Council and The Arts Council, i.e. those of ‘Enabling more and a greater diversity of citizens to engage with the arts in the county’ and ‘Supporting artists and arts organizations in the creation and dissemination of new artistic work.’
Thus the aim of the position is, on one hand, (i) to advise and assist Donegal County Council Culture Division, and arts and cultural organizations in the county generally, 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; and on the other, (ii) to assist and encourage culturally diverse artists and communities in Donegal to maintain, develop and promote their own arts and cultural practice, so enriching the overall cultural identity of the county.
The position will be based in Letterkenny. The Arts & Cultural Diversity Officer will be part of the Arts Service team within Culture Division.
- Intercultural Art in Action Research Project: A Donegal Framework (Donegal Intercultural Platform, Donegal County Council, 2019).
- Equality, Human Rights and Diversity Policy (The Arts Council, 2019).
- Working in Intercultural Contexts. Guide for Local Authorities and Cultural Providers (Mayo, South Dublin and Donegal County Councils, Kath Gorman, 2020).
- Black and Minority Ethnic Inclusion. A Strategy for County Donegal. (Donegal County Council, Inishowen Development Partnership, Donegal Intercultural Platform, 2022).
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.
