Residency Program Assistant - Djerassi Resident Artists Program

RESIDENT ARTIST PROGRAM ASSISTANT POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Djerassi Resident Artists Program enjoys an almost mythic renown among artists of all disciplines as a laboratory for creativity and place of tremendous natural beauty. Settled in the rugged Santa Cruz Mountains yet close to Silicon Valley, the Program is a distinguished and globally recognized base for artistic and scientific exploration, planetary discovery, and interdisciplinary collaboration. As a residency, we provide creative professionals with the gift of uninterrupted time and space to make, shape, and inspire; to enhance our environment, our society, and our world.

The Djerassi Resident Artists Program hosts artist residencies throughout the year comprising eight or nine artists of various disciplines from around the world. The program is located on a secluded 580-acre ranch in the coastal Santa Cruz Mountains, 40 miles south of San Francisco, CA.

The Program Assistant supports residency administration, operations, and programming working under the Director of Artists Experience, and in coordination with the Executive Director and Facilities team.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

Welcome artists and orient them to the ranch facilities. Participate in the artists’ orientations.
Provide transportation for artists to and from Bay Area airports, or other locations; provide periodic trips to Palo Alto and vicinity for errands, and occasional other trips to various Bay Area locations.
Confidence in driving on curvy mountain roads is essential.
Help coordinate the local transportation schedule for arriving and departing artists.
Assist artists with their shipping needs for supplies and equipment.
Assist with the annual Open Studios and other special events including set-up and clean-up.
Serve as on-site staff for weekends, nights, and holidays as coordinated with Djerassi staff
Assist with the management of computers, printers, and other equipment for the artists’ use.
Help artists set up for their evening presentations. Involves use of slide projectors, video and audio equipment. Attend and photograph presentations.
Retrieve mail and newspapers when required from mailboxes.
Perform basic care and organization of ranch buildings and restock household supplies as necessary.
Perform basic grounds maintenance, gardening, deck sweeping, etc.
Assist with setting-up rooms for new artists’ arrival. Do laundry as necessary including table napkins and linens. Keep inventory and maintain adequate stock of clean linens and household supplies.
Maintain artists’ files, correspond and communicate with artists as required. Distribute and collect session-end evaluation forms. Write up artists’ projects / accomplishments for files.
Manage the copy machine and fax charges; coordinate the artists’ charge system and petty cash accounting, collect and account for funds due at session end.
Assist with coordination of the Artists’ Duties schedule.
Assist with dinner preparation and arrangements, set the table on weeknights from 6:00 PM; host dinner alternately with Resident Manager; and help artists with clearing the table and doing dishes.
Help coordinate the dinner guest reservation system.
Photograph AIRs and Program events in casual snapshot situations. Help produce the season’s photo album.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Direct of Artists Experience or Executive Director.