Department: Programming, Community Engagement
Contract Status: Independent Contractor (November 1, 2024 – April 1, 2025)
Rate: $8,000 flat contract rate
SUMMARY OF POSITION
This temporary contract position oversees project management of Ailey Revelations Celebration, a dance-based community project taking place in four Boston neighborhoods in March 2025. The Project Manager will lead the design, management, and execution details relating to four large-scale dance workshops taking place in Roxbury, Mattapan, Hyde Park and Dorchester March 22-23, 2025. This role requires regular interaction with community members, local organizations, Celebrity Series staff and press relations team, production manager, plus staff and teaching artists with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Ailey Revelations Celebration is a community-based dance workshop where participants can experience first-hand the power and joy of Mr. Ailey’s iconic Revelations in one of four free workshops. This all-ages workshop invites residents to celebrate movement with a trio of Ailey artist-educators, learn from the masters, and engage with their community of creatives. No special equipment or dance experience is needed.
Alvin Ailey was a groundbreaking dancer, choreographer, and activist who founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1958. His vision was to create a dance company that reflected the diversity and beauty of the African American experience. Since 1968, Celebrity Series has been the sole presenter of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Boston. While the location may have changed and enlarged as audiences grew over the decades, Celebrity Series remains committed to bringing the dance company to town each year. The company has been in Boston nearly every year for the past 57 years since the first Boston performance.
Project Timeline:
November 2024 – February 2025 Design, Planning & Recruitment
Early March 2025 PR, Final Recruitment & Preparations for Workshops
March 22-23, 2025 Workshops
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Project Manager will:
- Design, organize and manage auxiliary programming to complement the core dance workshop, with corresponding local community partners (i.e. fan-making workshop, gospel choir sing-along, etc.)
- Manage Run-of-Show and all production details of activities at each location, with support on technical needs (staging, audio, etc.) from event planner and onsite staff
- Identify and meet with neighborhood connectors and associations in support of Asset-Based Community Development Principles
- Develop and drive forward recruitment plans in collaboration with pr team to initiate attendance, with a focus on groups and local Black communities
- Manage RSVP, check-in and onsite survey distribution process, in collaboration with CS Group Sales & Marketing Event Manager
- Serve as primary point of contact to community partners throughout the project process
- Assemble information for post-project reporting
- Monitor schedules, budgets and overall project timeline with a focus on proactive, creative solutions
Celebrity Series will:
- Provide its resources, connections, networks and relationships to help the Project Manager fulfill the list of responsibilities above, including select personnel, public relations and promotions support specific to this project.
REQUIREMENTS
- Minimum of 5 years of professional experience with project management and community organizing
- Demonstrated experience working with communities of color (experience within Boston a plus)
- Proven ability to achieve results when working collaboratively with a variety of people and ideas
- Strong listening skills and cultural sensitivity towards people of various ages, educational backgrounds, and life experiences
- Detail-oriented self-starter. Follow-through is essential to the success of this role
- Access to transportation for select in-person meetings within City of Boston
- Availability of 10-15 hours/week during business hours (9am-5pm weekdays) November 1, 2024 – April 1, 2025 and up to 40 hrs the week leading up to/including March 22-23, 2025
If you feel you can do this job well, even if your qualifications do not match all the requirements, we encourage you to apply and tell your story.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The Celebrity Series offices are located at 20 Park Plaza, Suite 220 in Boston’s Back Bay. The building is convenient to public transportation and fully accessible. Office hours are Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Work is often required off-site, yet within City of Boston. The Celebrity Series of Boston, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from candidates demonstrating diversity of race, age, gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, and national origin. Celebrity Series is committed to creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion, respect and integrity, artist and audience focus, and innovation.