Castle of our Skins seeks full-time director of community engagement
Who is Castle of Our SkinsOur Mission Castle of our Skins is a Black arts institution dedicated to fostering cultural curiosity and celebrating Black artistry through music. In classrooms, concert halls, and beyond, Castle of our Skins invites Black heritage and culture exploration, spotlighting both unsung and celebrated figures of past and present. Our Inspiration The name Castle of our Skins comes from the celebrated poet Nikki Giovanni’s poem for nina. The poem beautifully captures the sense of adoration and celebration for the very fabric that makes us who we are: our skin. Our Work Celebrating Black Artistry: Challenging inequities with cultural representation. Castle of our Skins is deeply aware of the lack of equity in composer representation on concert stages and the omission of important stories and figures in Black history. It is this lack of equity that we seek to change. Fostering Cultural Curiosity: Showcasing the beauty found within a richly diverse culture. Through carefully designed educational workshops and creative concert programs, we aim to highlight the achievements of Black artists and historical figures. Thought-Provoking Concerts: Combining music, history, spoken word and other arts. Our intergenerational and interdisciplinary concerts range in themes from Black love, African American quilting, Black Feminism, and Afrofuturism, to freedom, civil rights, visual arts and Black excellence. Interactive Education: Reaching audiences of all ages with music and storytelling. Through workshops, residencies, masterclasses, lectures, panel discussions and educational concert programs, we work to illustrate the breadth and depth of Black culture. Our Vision Black people and our arts, culture, and history are universally centered and celebrated across cultures and continents. |
How do i apply?Email cover letter, resume, contact information (phone/email), and two professional references with “Director of Community Engagement & Partnerships – [Name]” in the subject header to Dr. Ciyadh Wells at jobs@castleskins.org Application deadline is Monday, June 3rd, 2024 with anticipated start July 1st, 2024. Interviews will be held virtually between June 15th-30th, 2024. We know there are great candidates that may not have all of the qualifications listed above but possess intuitive knowledge or other fully transferable skills. If that’s you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself. |
Who is in leadership?
Ashleigh Gordon (she/her), Artistic Director
Ashleigh Gordon has performed throughout North America, Europe, and Hong Kong, ranging from chamber and orchestral music settings to off-Broadway and new music productions. She has worked and recorded with Germany's Ensemble Modern, Switzerland's Ensemble Proton, and the Grammy award winning BMOP; performed with Boston Landmark's Orchestra, Odyssey Opera, and A Far Cry; and has performed with Chineke! Orchestra, Europe's first majority Black/minority ethnic orchestra at the prestigious BBC Proms Festival. In recognition for her advocacy of cultural awareness, she has presented at IDEAS UMass Boston Conference and 180 Degrees Festival in Bulgaria; has been featured in the International Musician and Improper Bostonian magazines as well as the Boston Globe; and was awarded the 2016 Charles Walton Diversity Advocate Award from the American Federation of Musicians. She is a 2015 St. Botolph Emerging Artist Award recipient, a 2019 Brother Thomas Fellow, a nominee for the 2020 "Americans for the Arts Johnson Fellowship for Artists Transforming Communities,” and named one of WBUR’s “ARTery 25”, twenty-five millennials of color impacting Boston’s arts and culture scene. www.violashe.com
Ciyadh Wells (she/hers), Executive Director
Dr. Ciyadh Wells (she/her) is a multi-talented musician who not only considers herself an artist, but also an activist and scholar. With a passion for promoting diversity and inclusivity in the arts, she firmly believes that access to such experiences is crucial for a healthy society. Ciyadh strives to leverage the power of music, both classic and contemporary, to ignite transformative change and foster a sense of community. In addition to her many talents, Ciyadh is also an avid language learning enthusiast, always seeking to expand her linguistic horizons. She is excited to bring her skills and expertise to her new role at Castle of our Skins. www.ciyadhwells.com
Steph Davis (they/them), Chair of Board of Directors
Steph Davis is a Boston-based marimbist, composer, cultural activist, interdisciplinary artist, and curator. Steph strives to create artistic experiences that 1) Black people can connect with and 2) encourage collective participation in contemporary struggles for freedom.
Steph has produced and performed several marimba and interdisciplinary performance experiences, including pieces of mind (2021) and A Discourse on Black Identity (2020). As a marimba soloist and chamber musician, they have written, premiered and recorded numerous works for the marimba, and have performed on stages across the United States. Steph has also arranged many works by Black composers for the marimba, including Traditional Negro Sprituals and works by L.Viola Kinney, Florence Price, George Walker, and Errollyn Wallen, among others. Steph is proud to be a Marimba One Artist and to endorse Marimba One instruments and mallets.
Characterized as "hauntingly beautiful" and "spine-chilling," Steph's compositions engage with Black aesthetics and are inspired by contemporary social events. Her music has been performed in concert halls and community spaces throughout North America. She has received commissions from Spectrum Ensemble, Prism Percussion, Modern Marimba, Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, Britton-René Collins, and Cameron Denby, among others.
Steph received their B.M. in percussion performance at the Boston Conservatory where they studied with Nancy Zeltsman and Sam Solomon. They are currently pursuing their M.M. in marimba performance at the Boston Conservatory, studying with Nancy Zeltsman. Steph enjoys going on long walks around Boston, plant-based cooking, reading, and tending to house plants. Steph is on percussion faculty at the Dedham School of Music, serves as vice president of Modern Marimba, and is a member of the advisory council of Colorful Bridges. They are also the Antiracism Engagement Organizer at the American Repertory Theater at Harvard.
Position Description
The Director of Community Engagement & Partnerships provides internal and external leadership for programming that supports Castle of our Skins’ commitment to fostering cultural curiosity through partnerships and community engagement initiatives. The Director reports directly to the Artistic Director and works collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders including musicians, staff, donors, educators, and other community members to ensure that community engagement programming meets predetermined goals and criteria that support the mission of COOS. The Director serves as the primary interface with community partners, building strong relationships with education and community leaders throughout the region.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Provide primary leadership, management, and strategic direction for all COOS community engagement and partnerships programs including partnerships with organizations such as the Boston Public Library, Boston Public Schools, and others
- Assists in developing, administering, and implementing ongoing education programs and community engagement activities
- In collaboration with appropriate external partners, develops and recommends comprehensive community-based programs which provide meaningful cultural connections with diverse audiences
- Assist in managing all departmental staff, including recruiting, hiring, supervision and evaluation of teaching artists and departmental volunteers
- Oversee and manage resource development, development/fundraising and budget planning and management as related to community engagement and partnerships at COOS
- Provide accountability through evaluation and data analysis of programs impact and outcomes
- Development and implementation of COOS school residency program
- Serve as public face for the COOS community engagement & partnerships department for external stakeholders, working closely with community partners and leaders.
- In collaboration with the Digital Media Manager, encourage and facilitate effective communications with external audiences to ensure alignment of goals and effective use of resources
Qualifications
- 3-5 years of community building and/or civic engagement leadership experience
- Ability to organize, convene, and maintain positive working relationships with diverse stakeholders
- Exceptional interpersonal skills with strong written and verbal communication skills
- A passion for working with youth and diverse communities
- Highly organized with strong project management skills
- Capable of developing and implementing strategic goals
- Enjoys working both independently and collegially
- Is committed to intersectional racial equity and anti-racism
- An interest in Black history, Black culture, music and/or the arts is a plus
- As the position engages community partners in the Greater Boston area, we are seeking candidates who live in, or close proximity to Boston
Renumeration and BEnefits
- Full-time, 40 hours per week (hybrid) position: two, in-person work days in Nubian Square (Roxbury) with three days of remote work
- Required flexibility for some additional weekdays, nights, and weekends for select concerts and other events throughout the year
- 80% employer contribution to organizational healthcare plan including dental and vision
- 20 days of paid vacation plus 14 observed holidays per year and organizational time off
- $60,000-$65,000 yearly salary