Event Director

Founded in 1996, Arts for Art (AFA) is a NYC-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting and advancing multicultural improvised arts, including music, dance, poetry, and visual arts. AFA is the home of the internationally acclaimed Vision Festival and presents year-round programming rooted in Black and multicultural creative traditions. Our work honors the legacy of Free Jazz and the power of free improvisation inspired by the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 60s.

Arts for Art seeks an experienced and passionate Event Director with an appreciation for improvised and avant-garde jazz to lead the planning and execution of our major festivals and residency programs. This role is responsible for producing the Vision Festival and overseeing weekly residency events, ensuring seamless execution from concept through completion.

The ideal candidate is a dynamic leader with strong production expertise and the ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously. 3 Month Contract, $10,000 project compensation.

Build and manage comprehensive production schedules for large-scale, week-long Jazz and multi-arts festivals.

Direct cross-functional teams to execute events successfully.

Serve as on-site lead during events overseeing event-day operations.

Coordinate closely with venue teams and technical crews to ensure smooth implementation.

Collaborate with PR and social media teams to strategize event promotion and audience development.

Develop and manage event budgets. Track and control project expenses.

Oversee contracts, vendor coordinations, artist logistics, and production timelines.

Ensure alignment between artistic vision and technical execution.

• Works well with others. Good social skills
• Proven experience producing festivals and live performance events
• Team oriented, desire to work closely with the executive director and the creative team
• Strong project management and organizational skills
• Ability to multitask and manage multiple concurrent projects
• Technical production proficiency
• Ability to manage and work within a budget
• Creative problem solving abilities in high pressure live environments
• Excellent communication and leadership skills
• Familiarity working with nonprofit arts organizations
• Background in music production, arts administration, or cultural programming