SAMPLE-STUDIOS IS LOOKING FOR A COMMUNICATIONS & DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR/ FUNDRAISING FELLOW
Sample-Studios is seeking a dynamic professional to join our team at a crucial time in our growth plans.
Contract: Full time 39 hour week, 24 month fixed term contract with a three-month probation period.
Salary: €30,000 GROSS per annum, plus performance-based bonus.
Location: based primarily in Sample-Studios, Churchfield, Cork City, with hybrid working options available.
Deadline: 5pm, April 10th 2024
We are delighted to offer this newly created full-time Communications and Development Coordinator role as part of the Fundraising Fellowship, Ireland 2024-2026 by Business to Arts in partnership with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. The Fellowship is an exciting opportunity that provides the selected candidate with a unique opportunity to develop fundraising skills, networks and avail of bespoke support from Business to Arts.
Sample-Studios is one of two organisations selected nationally to be part of this fundraising capacity-building programme from Business to Arts. The successful candidate will participate in a structured and supported two-year programme of mentoring and development activities delivered by Business to Arts and their partners, supported by Sample-Studios’ Artistic Director, who is herself an alumni of the Fundraising Fellowship, Ireland 2018-2020. The Fellowship aims to provide training and professional development to enhance long-term careers in fundraising and development for the Irish cultural sector. Click here to find out more.
The Communications & Development Coordinator will report directly to the Artistic Director, who will support the new team member throughout the Fellowship, and work closely with the Programme Coordinator, leveraging the Sample-Studios Board.
Who We Are
Sample-Studios is one of Ireland’s largest artist studios. At Sample-Studios, we launch, support and sustain creative careers and practices in Cork. We provide affordable studios, professional development, mentorship and residencies for over 125 artists and arts practitioners and present an ambitious programme of public exhibitions and events in The Lord Mayor’s Pavilion, Triskel Arts Centre and sites throughout Cork City, which engage over 27,000 people annually.
We deliver Graduate Studio and Postgraduate Curatorial Residencies, the Studios of Sanctuary Programme for artists from an asylum seeker, refugee or migrant background and partnership summer residencies with Spike Island and Cork College of FET. Sample-Studios delivers a year-round programme of professional development workshops and events for its members, in support of their artistic practices. We engage the community through four education and outreach programmes, including the Cork Creative Careers Programme, the Cork Young Curators and Critics Programme, A City Rising Programme and PhotoGo Photography Programme. We work in partnerships with other artist studios nationally and internationally to deliver exchange programmes and other development initiatives.
As our membership and programming continue to grow, and as our focus turns to establishing a central premises in which to achieve all of our ambitions, Sample-Studios now seeks to recruit a Communications and Development Coordinator at this critical and exciting juncture in our journey – a new role made possible by support from Business to Arts and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
Key Responsibilities
The Communications and Development Coordinator will play a key role in the delivery of Sample-Studios’ Fundraising and Marketing and Communications Plans, as part of our Strategic Plan 2023-2028. Sample-Studios believes in a holistic approach to strategic development, whereby communications form the basis of effective fundraising campaigns. The Communications and Development Coordinator will devise and deliver the day-to-day membership, programming, institutional and strategic communications to support our fundraising goals our stakeholders advocacy and to increase visibility and awareness of Sample-Studios amongst membership, partners, prospects and audiences locally, nationally and internationally.
Fundraising
The Communications and Development Coordinator will:
- Work with the Artistic Director and Fundraising Consultant to revise our Fundraising Policy and Procedures
- Be centrally involved in grant writing and reporting in relation to existing funders to retain and expand existing support
- Support the cultivation of new funders to identify relevant and appropriate new sources of public funds
- Work with existing corporate partners to maintain excellent working relationships and identify potential new alignments
- Research and maintain a prospect pipeline of potential corporate sponsors
- Support the preparation of partnership proposals, pitch documents and presentations
- Support the cultivation of new philanthropic partners to identify relevant and appropriate new sources of philanthropic support and major gifts
- Develop programmes to grow support from individual donors and organisational patrons.
- Develop existing and potential sources of self-generated income, to support Sample-Studios’ sustainability.
Communications
The Communications and Development Coordinator will have particular responsibility for
- Digital Communications: managing the regular updating of our digital platforms including our website, social channels and booking platforms, and the continual improvement of their functionality and user experience, monitoring analytics, ensuring consistent frequency and tone cross platform, and promoting positive engagement and growth of our following.
- Membership Communications: supporting membership engagement and peer-to-peer engagement through impactful monthly newsletters, direct mail campaigns, managing membership information and enquiries, mailing list data management and relationship management through use of Salesforce
Programmatic & Institutional Marketing:
- Supporting the Artistic Director & Programme Coordinator in creating tailored promotional campaigns for exhibitions and events, education and outreach programming
- Compiling and issuing press releases, managing media queries and media monitoring
- Documentation of ‘live’ events for purposes of records, reporting and social coverage
- Liaising with external suppliers in relation to advertising, videography, photography etc
- Providing event support and responsible for invitations and supporting hospitality, speakers, event management
Supporting Strategic Development
The Communications and Development Coordinator will enhance understanding of the impact of Sample-Studios amongst our existing family of supporters and seek to increase visibility and awareness of Sample-Studios through meaningful and impactful cultural, civic and business partnerships locally, nationally and internationally by:
- attending partnership development meetings
- delivering impactful partnership communications campaigns
- preparing reports on partnership outcomes
- attending networking events
- seeking out opportunities to platform Sample-Studios at high profile events
- reviewing relevant local/national media for relevant programmatic and strategic content for Sample-Studios.
Who are we looking for?
Ideal Attributes
- A strong knowledge of, and interest, in the arts, particularly visual art
- Demonstrable experience in a business development, marketing and/or fundraising role or have proven commercial and/or fundraising achievements
- Knowledge and experience of the key aspects of marketing and fundraising and demonstrated flair and creativity to devise effective marketing and fundraising strategies
- Strong research skills, presentation skills, and excellent writing skills with keen attention to detail
Essential Attributes
- Excellent time and project management skills, be motivated, energetic and results-driven
- Strong organisational skills, be able to work in a busy work environment and an effective communicator
- Computer literate, design packages (desirable)
- Proficient across social media platforms
- A natural capacity to forge long-term, productive relationships with funders, partner organisations, staff and volunteers
- Combine vision with the ability to make things happen, and can work on their own initiative
- A strong desire to engage fully with the Business to Arts Fundraising Fellowship Programme, to realise the full opportunity the Fellowship offers and to bring their learnings to the wider team.
To apply for the role:
Applications can be emailed to director@sample-studios.com Please include:
- CV outlining relevant experience (max. 2 pages)
- A letter of motivation outlining relevant skills, experience and your reasons for applying. (max. 2 pages)
Please include ‘Communications and Development Coordinator’ in the subject line. Please note that the cover letter and CV should be contained in one document only. Application closing date: April 10th 2024 at 5pm. Start Date: June 2024
Recruitment Process:
It is our policy to acknowledge receipt of all applications. We cannot accept late applications. Applications will then be shortlisted. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview in the week commencing April 15th 2024.