CULTURAL AFFAIRS COORD II

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Cultural Affairs Coordinator II

DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS AND SPECIAL EVENTS (DCASE)

Visual Arts Division, Exhibitions

Number of Positions: 1

Starting Salary: $71,772

Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59pm CDT on 11/6/2026

All qualified and interested candidates must apply online at

Chi.gov/DCASEJobs

The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) supports artists and cultural organizations, invests in the creative economy, and expands access and participation in the arts throughout Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods. As a collaborative cultural presenter, arts funder, and advocate for creative workers, our programs and events serve Chicagoans and visitors of all ages and backgrounds, downtown and in diverse communities across our city — to strengthen and celebrate Chicago.

DCASE produces some of the city’s most iconic festivals, markets, events, and exhibitions at the Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park, and in communities across the city — serving a local and global audience of 25 million people. The Department offers cultural grants and resources, manages public art, supports TV and film production and other creative industries, and permits special events throughout Chicago.

The Cultural Affairs Coordinator II, Exhibitions position will report to the Program Director of Exhibitions and plan, coordinate, and oversee the selection and installation of temporary art exhibitions and their related public programs at the Chicago Cultural Center and other DCASE or City facilities. The position will also support the overall curation of the exhibition program, collaborate with artists, arts and cultural organizations, and DCASE visual arts colleagues, and engage with the art community or relevant stakeholders and communities in the development of exhibitions and their related programs and engagements. In this capacity, the position will perform the following duties:

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

·        Coordinate and oversee the exhibition selection process and their respective timelines and deliverables

·        Manage and maintain clear, organized, and current exhibition and related program guidelines, proposals, schedules, budgets, calendars and corresponding files and resources

·        Maintain consistent and clear communication with artists or partners for exhibitions throughout the entire exhibition process

·        Create necessary additional guiding tools for artists or arts organizations to successfully complete the exhibition process

·        Collaborate with the visual arts team to arrange for artists, art galleries, museums, and related organizations to place exhibition objects on temporary exhibits

·        Assist in the research and cataloguing of objects to ensure their security in exhibits, including the completion of incoming and outgoing condition reports

·        Prepare, write, or edit exhibition interpretive materials, including gallery text, catalogs, brochures, and other informational, learning or engagement materials

·        Support community engagement activities related to exhibitions and public programs and overall inclusive exhibition practices consistent with department goals and priorities

·        Oversee exhibition expenditures within the designated budget, including artist commissions, installation fees, and related contracts, and collaborate with visual arts team to manage overall exhibition budgets

·        Collaborate with partner artists, organizations and DCASE colleagues to identify and develop artistic and cultural themes for art installations and exhibits

·        Develop and maintain contact and communication with local, national, and international arts communities and networks, and remain informed of current trends in the visual arts field

·        Develop and maintain strong relationships with Chicago-based artists, including visiting studios when relevant

·        Support artists and arts organizations in the development of public programs associated with the exhibitions

·        Collaborate with DCASE audience engagement and education staff in the development of learning materials and programs for exhibitions

·        Assist with the overall installation of temporary exhibitions and artwork preparation and transport

·        Support grant writing efforts to solicit outside support and funding

·        Give gallery talks and lectures or presentations on art topics and exhibitions, as needed

·        Perform other related duties as assigned

Additional duties may be required for this position.

LOCATION:     Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE)

                        78 E Washington St., Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL 60602

Hours:             9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Monday - Friday

THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICE