Job Bank

Go Back

Duties and Responsibilities

About the Folklife Program

Since 1995, the WheatonArts Folklife Program (known as the Down Jersey Folklife Center for many years) has operated with a mission to research, document, interpret, and present the various ethnic, religious, occupational, social, and geographically related traditional cultures in NJ’s southern eight counties. Programming, grounded in fieldwork, has included exhibitions, demonstrations by artists/tradition bearers, performances, festivals, classes, training for educators, lectures, and seminars. A small permanent collection representing the rich cultural diversity of our region further reflects many meaningful relationships built with artists and communities over the years.

The Folklife program is a member of the New Jersey Folklife Network Program (NJFN), an initiative created by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts (NJSCA) over 30 years ago in collaboration with cultural specialists, folk artists, nonprofits, and leaders from diverse communities throughout the state.
The regional folklife programs are supported by a NJSCA Cosponsored grant program that advances the NJSCA’s goals through the implementation of five key activities (recently identified as the “Five Pillars”). The implementation of the “Pillars” is relative to regional focus, cultural landscape, organizational mission, and local needs of each host organization. Informing the core work of the Folklife Program Manager, the “Pillars” currently include:

1. Ethnographic Fieldwork, including (but not limited to) site visits, formal and informal interviews with and documentation of artists in their working environments; photo/video logs, field notes, etc.
2. Artist-led “Arts Where You Are” programs providing folk arts-based experiences for individuals unable to travel or otherwise unable to easily access public programming.
3. Folk Arts in Education programs (FAIE), bringing folk artists into K-12 schools to undertake curriculum-aligned residencies and assembly programs.
4. Free Public Events such as exhibitions, presentations, performances, and workshops with compensated folk and traditional arts/artists and cultural practitioners
5. Artist Services: support to, and collaboration with, folk artists and cultural practitioners, including networking, professional development, providing space, opportunities, and technical assistance.
The WheatonArts Foklife Program Manager will report directly to the WheatonArts Director of Public Programs and Engagement, while working closely with the Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer. The Folklife Program Manager is also the primary liaison with the NJSCA Folklife Program Officer, working in partnership to advance the goals of the NJSCA and the NJ Folklife Network.

Primary Responsibilities:
 Conduct professional ethnographic fieldwork and research. Coordinate documentation and archives. .
 Plan/curate engaging folklife-specific exhibits, programs, and events, based on fieldwork, with community and artist engagement.
 Oversee folklife interns, volunteers, teaching artists, and docents.
 Coordinate folklife in-school residencies and other off-site programs, as per the NJSCA guidelines.
 Collaborate with other WheatonArts program staff to integrate folklife into exhibitions, artist studio activities, education programs, special events, and other Wheaton initiatives.
 Establish relationships with regional folk artists and tradition bearers, and support them in their participation in professional development opportunities, including programs sponsored by the NJSCA.
 With consultation by the Museum staff, provide stewardship of the Folklife permanent collection.
 Provide folklife-related content for WheatonArts publications, social media, and the website.
 Work with the WheatonArts Development department staff to identify potential funders/sponsors and provide content for grant applications and reports.
 Work with the Senior Accounting Manager and Executive Director to oversee the annual budget for folklife programs. Support efforts to assign costs to specific project grants.
 Attend biweekly management staff meetings, inter-department meetings, planning meetings, and occasional board meetings.
 Attend monthly meetings with the New Jersey Folklife Network, hosted by the NJSCA.
 Represent WheatonArts at appropriate local community, regional, and national field-related gatherings.
 Other duties as assigned.