Folklife Specialist

Division of Engagement and Community Development within the Arts Institute of Middlesex County (AIMC) promotes arts, culture, folklife, and history as essential to vibrant communities and economic vitality. As part of the Department of Economic Development, AIMC fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, advances equity and inclusion, and supports New Jersey artists and cultural institutions. We seek a detail-oriented Folklife Specialist eager to engage with the diverse cultural landscape that makes up Middlesex County and the greater Central Jersey region. The ideal candidate is passionate about arts, culture, history, and public service, with strong communication skills to engage artists, nonprofits, municipal entities, and the public.

Reporting to the Engagement and Community Development Division, The Folklife Specialist is a county employee who serves the public through a folklife lens. The Folklife Specialist is responsible for advising on folklife programming, grants, and initiatives within AIMC. This includes fostering relationships with organizations and artists, cultivating new opportunities, and managing AIMC’s role as a Regional Folklife Center for New Jersey.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Folklife Grants Oversight and NJ Regional Folklife Center Designation

– Build and maintain strong relationships with regional folklife and cultural grantee organizations and stay informed about their work, the communities they serve and their continuous impact.

– Coordinate site visits to folklife grantee organizations to ensure compliance with grant requirements and identify areas for support.
– Identify and cultivate potential new applicants, while supporting current grantees in expanding accessibility to folklife programming.
– Lead efforts to strengthen our designation as a Regional Folklife Center:
Serve as a point of contact for the Regional Folklife Center cosponsored project with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
– Track and report on Arts Council funds and grant activities.
– Ensure compliance with contract terms.
– Budget planning and monitoring in collaboration with the Division of Administration and Education.
– Support Arts Institute Cultural Programs and Initiatives

Program and Event Assistance:
– Support cultural programming, including but not limited to:
– FolkLIVE Festival Series and other large-scale events in accordance with County protocols.
– Folklife Residencies, Performances, and Workshops
– Support the County’s efforts to attract regional audiences and increase awareness and appreciation of the region’s diversity and cultural richness.
Conduct fieldwork with the mission of helping our partners, cultural providers, and community members make their lifeways, artforms, stories, and traditions visible, accessible, and relevant to the public.

Public Awareness and Communications

– Increase general awareness and participation in arts, culture, and history by interpreting programs and initiatives through a folklife and community-based lens.
– Maintain a comprehensive and updated inventory of folklife and cultural institutions, artists, and practitioners, contributing to the Arts Institute’s broader regional database.
– Support the design and implementation of grassroots outreach strategies, expanding a network of trusted community partners.
– Ensure updates are made to com with Arts Institute-led folklife programming, events, and initiatives, in coordination with the Arts Institute -Communications Coordinator.
– Engage with other State-designated Regional Folklife Centers in cross-promotional and collaborative opportunities.
– Verify promotional requests for folklife programs and events are submitted to the Program Content Manager through Wrike, ensuring accurate and timely promotion across platforms.
Record Keeping
-Update a file management system within the County-file guidelines for proper documentation, organization, and archiving of all folklife-related files, reports, and operational records for historical reference.

Qualifications:

– 3+ years of experience in Arts or Folklife Administration strongly preferred, with experience in the public sector a plus.
– Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s preferred in folklife, folklore, folk arts or a related field.
– Strong organizational, project management, and communication skills.
– Proficient in Microsoft Office and Zoom, with the ability to learn new software.
– Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across teams.
– Valid driver’s license and ability to travel within Middlesex County.
– Availability for occasional evening and weekend events.
– Multilingual a plus, especially Spanish, Hindi, or Gujarati.
– Must be able to work onsite 4-days per week in New Brunswick, NJ.