Arts Communications and Marketing Specialist

Position Summary

The

Arts Communications and Marketing Specialist will increase the visibility of the arts at Vanderbilt by promoting the work of the Curb Center for Art, Enterprise and Public Policy; the Vanderbilt University Museum of Art (VUMA); and the A&S Arts Project. The candidate will position Vanderbilt as a vibrant hub of art and learning on campus, in Nashville, and in the broader fields of the arts, museums, and higher education. The candidate will develop and implement communications and marketing strategies to drive visitation to the Curb Center and VUMA and position the two units as destinations for arts engagement among the Vanderbilt community and throughout Nashville.

The ideal candidate is a self-starting, hands-on marketing professional who can translate the strategic goals and initiatives of the Curb Center and VUMA into compelling digital content. The candidate will be enthusiastic about collaborating in planning processes and have the ability to execute responsibilities independently. They will bridge curious, innovative thinking with results-driven execution to communicate the work of the Curb Center and VUMA to new and existing audiences.

The Specialist will work on the Communications Team in the Vanderbilt College of Arts and Science (A&S) and will report to the A&S Chief Communications Officer but will also work closely with the Curb Center and VUMA teams and will have a dotted line reporting to the Program Manager of the Curb Center. The candidate will collaborate with staff members on the A&S Communications Team, the Curb Center, and VUMA.

This is a hybrid position, with some days working in the office and some days working remotely.

About the Work Unit

The Curb Center, VUMA, and the A&S Arts Project are housed within Vanderbilt’s College of Arts and Science. A&S is the largest, oldest, and most academically diverse school at the university, offering over 100 majors and minors across a range of fields of study.

The Curb Center for Art, Enterprise and Public Policy is committed to elevating art as a mode of inquiry, a way of understanding, and a celebration of the human spirit. Through exhibitions, artist

residencies, performances, and programs for communities at Vanderbilt and throughout Nashville, the Curb Center seeks to promote creative and artistic expression as a means of advancing dialogue around pressing issues.

The Vanderbilt University Museum of Art is a globally minded laboratory where the spirit of curiosity meets visual expression to engage with the most critical human issues, build empathy, and inspire wonder across Vanderbilt University and throughout Middle Tennessee.

The A&S Arts Project is a strategic initiative to elevate, expand, and connect the various arts initiatives happening across campus. The project offers events and programming, fosters collaboration between various arts units, and supports a faculty fellowship.

Each of these entities’ programs and offerings are a vital resource to Vanderbilt’s students, faculty, and staff, as well as the wider community.

Key Functions and Expected Performance

• Develop effective marketing strategies for the Curb Center and VUMA that further each unit’s missions and goals. Propose new ideas and develop relevant strategies to position Curb and VUMA within the arts community.
• Create and disseminate marketing content for the Curb Center and VUMA.
• Manage the social media accounts for Curb and VUMA, including planning, writing, and posting content, and sourcing images for posts.
• Write news articles, profile pieces, and press releases on arts programming and artists, including conducting interviews, writing and editing, and posting to the website.
• Conduct local media outreach to pitch press releases, raise awareness of programming, and engage local audiences.
• Create and disseminate newsletters that highlight Curb, VUMA, and the Arts Project. Manage mailing lists, create content, design newsletter (using an email marketing platform), disseminate newsletter, and use analytics to determine opportunities for improvement.
• Develop exhibition and program graphics, including posters and flyers, for use on web, social media, and print.
• Develop and maintain an arts communications calendar that includes news articles, email newsletters, events, social media posts, and other print and web efforts that align and promote the programming and messaging about the Curb Center and VUMA.
• Manage the Curb Center and VUMA websites, ensuring they are current, user-friendly, and accurate.
• Manage advertising campaigns that promote exhibits.
• Develop metrics for evaluating the success of marketing strategies; recommend changes and/or new approaches to maximize the effectiveness of marketing initiatives.
• Foster relationships and connections with the arts community in Nashville to raise awareness of Curb and VUMA and to create partnerships and collaborations.
• Develop internal processes among VUMA and Curb Center staff that systematize collaboration on marketing communications.
• Engage student workers and interns in marketing and communications workflows as necessary, especially to foster student engagement with the Curb Center and VUMA; may supervise dedicated marketing student workers and/or interns if appropriate.

Supervisory Relationships

• This position does not supervise any staff; may hire and supervise student workers who assist with marketing tasks.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, public relations, graphic design, or a related field.

• 3-5 years of experience in marketing, communications, social media management, and/or public relations.
• Demonstrated experience developing compelling digital content that drives engagement for organizations.
• Superior writing and editing skills; facility in creating communications that adhere to Vanderbilt’s style guidelines and conventions of communications in higher education settings.
• Ability to design and edit graphics using Adobe Creative Suite.

• Proficiency in leveraging analytics to inform marketing and communications strategies and priorities.

• Enthusiasm for art, its value, and the role it plays in public life.

• Eagerness to support the work of Vanderbilt students, faculty, and staff.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education and/or in a museum or arts organization.

• Experience editing web content using WordPress or similar platforms.

Required Application Materials

• Resume

• Cover Letter

• Work Samples: Please provide a writing sample, both long-form (such as an article or press release) and short-form (such as a social media post). If relevant, please also

provide any graphic design work.