3Arts Job Application: Manager of Programs

POSITION: Manager of Programs  

STATUS: Full-time  

LOCATION: Chicago, IL (currently hybrid)  

Organization Overview and Culture  

3Arts is a nonprofit organization that advocates for women artists, artists of color, and Deaf and disabled artists working in the performing, teaching, and visual arts in the six-county Chicago area. Our investment in artists’ enterprises, agency, and wellbeing reflects an equal commitment to bolstering the creative spirit and wellbeing of every neighborhood in our city where they work and live. Our focus on justice and artists is designed to upend common systems of power by putting resources directly into the hands of the artists who propel needed and formidable ripple effects across our city.   

Through unrestricted cash awards, project funding, residency fellowships, and professional development, 3Arts helps artists build momentum in their careers over time. Since 2007, 3Arts has supported more than 2,300 artists across all program areas, representing approximately 68% women artists, 73% artists of color, and 22% Deaf and disabled artists working in the six-county metropolitan area, and distributed $7.4 million through our grantmaking. In the past five year span (2019-2023), 3Arts has supported artists living in 104 local zip codes: 48 within the city limits, 39 within other Cook County neighborhoods, and 17 in surrounding counties (DuPage, Kane, Lake, and Will).

3Arts is a 110-year-old organization that was founded as The Three Arts Club of Chicago to support young women studying the arts—eight years before women had the right to vote. For 15 years, we have operated as an arts service and grantmaking organization with an equity-based mission rooted in our history of arts and social justice.  

Our organization’s culture embodies creativity, responsiveness, collaboration, fluidity, integrity, and depth of purpose. Every member of our small staff is a representative of our mission, both behind and beyond our office doors. We strive to instill a balance between rigorous production and purpose-driven values, in which both organizational and sector-wide vision and advocacy are investigated and experienced. In each other, we value flexibility, good humor, openness, a collaborative spirit, curiosity, and positive energy. 

3Arts is always evolving; we are looking for someone to join our five-person staff who shares our drive and can implement our mission and vision as part of a close-knit team.   

Position Overview  

The Manager of Programs (MoP) is a full-time, salaried, and exempt position, reporting to and working hand-in-hand with the Director of Programs. As is true of the whole 3Arts organization, the MoP collaborates with all members of the staff on many aspects of activities that the program team oversees—including implementing our awards programs; crowdfunding platform; residency programs; professional development opportunities and artist convenings; regranting program; tracking and record-keeping; annual public event curation and content; and program evaluation. We seek a co- worker who is detail- and vision-oriented and is a data-comfortable communicator with terrific writing and presentation skills.   

This is the perfect position for someone with at least two+ years of relevant experience who is as passionate as we are about our mission, gravitates to change-making work, thrives in a creative and forward-thinking environment, likes to take on responsibility and work independently with loads of initiative, stays comfortably on top of deadlines, and pays exceptional attention to both high-level systems and the nuances of human-centered relationships. The ideal candidate will have a solid understanding of and connection to the local arts and culture sectors.   

Responsibilities  

The MoP collaborates with the Director of Programs on all aspects of our programming. Responsibilities include: 

• Lead the design and implementation of our artist mentorship program, accessibility workshop and accompanying microgrant, the Ignite Fund regranting program supported by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, and Make a Wave grants for artists. 
• Oversee the hiring process for a seasonal Ignite Fund Intern. 
• Provide facilitation and administrative support for other awards and grant programs, residency fellowships, disability culture initiatives, and project support. 
• Assist with curation and production of artist performances and other content for the annual 3Arts Awards celebration event. 
• Participate in the refinement and design of existing and future programs, including assisting with design, distribution, and analysis of artist surveys and other tools to support programmatic evaluation and data collection. 
• Track and organize of all program demographics, participation, and engagement throughout the calendar year. 
• Support communications and relationship-building with artists in the 3Arts network. 

Core Competencies 

• Mission alignment: understand and embrace the values and mission of 3Arts. 
• Adaptability: willingness to embrace change, test new ideas, and learn new ways of working. 
• Collaboration: eagerness to share resources/knowledge and work with others towards organizational goals. 
• Fluency with technology: appreciating that much of our work occurs in digital systems or online formats. 

Experience & Qualifications 

• At least 2 years of experience working in arts programming or in arts non-profit settings. 
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc). 
• Experience with email marketing systems (Constant Contact and MailChimp). 
• Familiarity with database and/or application management or past experience with CRM (3Arts uses Submittable and eTapestry). 
• Some proficiency with design software, such as PhotoShop or Canva, or willingness/ability to learn new skills such as these 

Salary & Compensation  

The MoP is integral to the success of our organization and the future of our work. This is a full-time, exempt position that offers a salary range of $60,000-$65,000, depending upon experience.  

Benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance; two weeks of paid vacation in the first year of employment, two weeks of sick time, plus paid time off from December 24 through January 1; 15 paid holidays and three personal days; paid parental leave; short term and long term disability insurance; life insurance; an optional 403(b) retirement plan with employer match; and opportunities for professional development. 3Arts also has a sabbatical policy in place for all staff who have worked at our organization for at least six years. And more!  
 

Working Conditions  

3Arts does not have a traditional or permanent office. We work remotely and in person at Impact House, a co-working space located in the Loop.  

This position primarily requires work on weekdays, with occasional events in the evening or on weekends. Specific working hours are flexible. 

3Arts is committed to supporting a diverse and creative workplace that reflects our mission and values.   

Apply  

Please proceed with the following application to apply. Application materials include contact information, a PDF of your resume, and a PDF of your cover letter. Cover letters should describe the candidate’s interest in the position and qualifications in 400 words or less.

The position will remain open until filled, but we do aim to fill it swiftly and ideally in the Spring of 2025. We expect this to be a competitive process. We encourage candidates to submit application materials by February 17.   

Due to our small team capacity, we will not respond personally to every application. However, every applicant will hear from us either to schedule an interview or when the position has been filled.    

If you have any questions about the application process, application materials, or would like to request access accommodations, please contact info@3arts.org.