Work with Austin Area Arts!

Now Hiring:

Co-Executive Director

Location: ArtWorks Center - 300 N Main St, Austin MN 55912 /
Historic Paramount Theatre – 125 4th Ave NE, Austin MN 55912
Reports to: Board of Directors
Type: Full-time | Exempt

Position Overview
The Co-Executive Director shares leadership of the organization and plays a critical role in advancing its mission through strategic planning, programming, development, and financial oversight. This position works closely with the other co-Executive Director who oversees the Austin
ArtWorks Center, the Austin ArtWorks Festival, and Austin Area Arts Operations. This role specifically focuses on three core areas:

  • Program Scheduling & Management for the Paramount Theatre:
    Lead the development and scheduling of mission-aligned
    programming

  • Development & Fundraising: Oversee all aspects of fundraising including -

    • Donor and sponsor engagement for the Paramount Theatre

    • Budget planning

    • Fundraising initiatives

    • Grant seeking / writing

  • Charitable Gambling Oversight: Oversee Gambling employees and make sure AAA remains in compliance for all charitable gaming activities, which is a key revenue stream for AAA.

The Co-Executive Director works in collaborative partnership with the other Co-Executive Director and Board of Directors to ensure sustainable growth, equitable practices, and meaningful community engagement.

Both Co-Executive Directors will continually review both job descriptions to further clarify their responsibilities and make necessary changes. The goal being to fix discrepancies and ensure this new model of management is ideal for the sustainable growth of Austin Area Arts.

Key Responsibilities:
Manage the Mission

  • Culture: Foster an inclusive, collaborative, and justice-centered organizational culture.

  • Programming: Develop, schedule, secure, and evaluate public programs, residencies, and events at The Historic Paramount Theatre

  • Communication: Serve as a key external voice of the organization; maintain transparent communication with staff, board, partners, and community.

  • Community: Cultivate partnerships and actively engage with diverse communities to inform programming and outreach.

Manage the Resources

  • People: Supervise 2–4 staff members (full and part time); support professional development and ensure healthy workplace dynamics.

  • Finance: Lead budgeting and financial reporting; manage cash flow and oversee charitable gambling operations in compliance with state regulations.

  • Development: Write and manage grants, cultivate sponsors and donors, lead fundraising strategies and events.

Candidate Profile

We’re seeking a visionary and grounded leader who is committed to the transformative power of the arts, equity, and community. The ideal candidate thrive in collaborative environments, can balance big-picture thinking with operational detail, and bring both experience and empathy to leadership.

Key Competencies & Attributes

  • Arts Interest – Genuine passion for the arts, culture, and creative expression.

  • Leadership – Ability to co-lead an organization and inspire a team.

  • Justice Orientation – Strong commitment to racial, social, and economic justice.

  • Strategic Thinking – Systems-thinker with ability to set priorities, develop strategies, and follow through.

  • Communication – Clear communicator who listens deeply and speaks with intention.

  • Flexibility – Comfort with change, iteration, and evolving circumstances.

Qualifications
Required:

  • Post-secondary degree (or equivalent experience)

  • Minimum 2 years grant writing experience

  • Minimum 2 years working with or serving on nonprofit boards

  • Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA)

  • Proficiency in financial reporting: budgets, P&Ls, cash flow statements

  • Experience managing a performing arts venue or theater, including operational oversight and programming, with a strong track record in talent booking - negotiating contracts, scheduling performances, and building relationships with artists and agents

Preferred:

  • 3–5 years experience as a nonprofit Executive Director or equivalent leadership role

  • 3–5 years experience in a supervisory role

  • Strong history of community involvement and engagement

Compensation & Benefits

Annual Salary: $55,000–$65,000, based on qualifications and experience

Paid Time Off: 208 hours annually, awarded Jan 1st of each year - 160 hours (20 8-hour days) of PTO plus 48 hours (6 8-hour days) of Holiday hours. Hours will be prorated based on start date.

Additionally: Complimentary membership to Austin Area Arts

To Apply: Please submit a resume and cover letter outlining your interest and qualifications to Lana Kenyon  - lanakenyon@gmail.com. Position open until filled.

Equal Opportunity Statement: Austin Area Arts is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating a workplace that values diverse perspectives and lived experiences. We strongly encourage applications from BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, and members of historically marginalized communities.

Now Hiring: Part Time Tech Crew - Paramount Theatre

Title: Tech Crew, part time
Location: Historic Paramount Theatre
Hours: Approximately 4-8 hours per event
Schedule: Varies according to events, flexible scheduling
Reports to: Paramount Events Director & Technical Director

Major Responsibilities

  • Work under the supervision of the Technical Director to fulfill various technical roles as part of the backstage crew at Paramount live events.

  • Be able to shift to various roles before, during, and after a show, including lighting, audio, rigging, and stage management.

  • Assist with facilitating a safe and efficient load in and load out of each show.

  • Must be available to work evenings and weekends.

Physical Demands

  • Must be able to lift at least 30 pounds

  • Must be able to perform physical activities such as, but not limited to, lifting and bending, climbing ladders

  • Ability to work from heights

  • Ability to work for long periods while standing

Key skills

  • Attention to detail and safety

  • Self-motivated, can work well independently

  • Works well with others, able to collaborate with a team effectively

  • Enthusiastic, energetic, positive and proactive

  • Deals well with pressure and competing priorities

  • Quickly adapts to changing circumstances

  • Able to maintain professionalism when interfacing with performers and their crews

Values: Honesty, integrity and respect

To apply: Send completed application form to Amy Wightkin, Austin Area Arts, 300 N Main St, Austin, MN 55912 or amy@austinareaarts.org.

Now Hiring: Director of Technical & Maintenance Services

Type of Position: full-time, salaried
Immediate Supervisor: Executive Director
Supervision Exercised: part-time, temporary, contracted, or volunteer tech crew or other event and custodial staff
Compensation & Benefits: This is a full-time, salaried position starting at $45,000 annually, higher salary negotiable based on experience. Paid time off provided with health, dental, and vision benefits.

Position Summary: Ensures the safe and efficient backstage operation of The Historic Paramount Theatre including effective management of equipment, facilities, and personnel. Such position carries out the successful stage implementation and support of theatre programming and provides technical assistance to all theatre users. This includes, but is not limited to complete support of staging, lighting, sound, and rigging needs. In addition, this position is responsible for maintenance duties related to all AAA owned, rented, or operated facilities. This full-time position requires a very flexible work schedule since evening and weekend hours are expected. Scheduled work hours will vary according to the types and the amount of activity occurring on AAA premises.

Position Responsibilities

  1. Serves as organization’s “lead technician,” supervising all event technical services provided on behalf of AAA; facilitating the best possible user and audience event experience.

  2. Participates in all advance event planning (AAA presentations and rentals) to determine technical feasibility of hosting events based upon the appropriate equipment, personnel, and facility capabilities needed by the user. This includes review and editing of event/artist riders.

  3. Maintains equipment, inventories supplies, orders materials, manages a production budget, and recommends purchases or projects long-term need for future technical equipment.

  4. Recruits, trains, supervises, and evaluates all backstage event personnel, both paid and volunteer.

  5. Monitors technical expenses and tracks crew time on an event-by-event basis.

  6. Serves as director of maintenance for all AAA facilities, including, but not limited to, overseeing all physical plant, security, and maintenance aspects related to buildings owned, rented, or operated by AAA.

  7. Maintains and updates printed technical information for review by current and prospective facility users.

  8. Seeks bids or works with vendors to maximize service, utility, and economy, when considering purchase or rental of technical equipment or obtaining technical services from an outside agency.

  9. Works in cooperation with Executive Director and staff to develop, implement, document, and maintain policies and procedures relating to the use of the theater and the stage.

  10. Serves as liaison with local Fire Marshall and other relevant officials to ensure event and facility compliance with appropriate codes and statutes and to address safety and building security issues.

  11. Serves as technical liaison for groups renting AAA facilities. Establishes advance meetings with rental clients and plans accordingly to assure successful rental events.

  12. Assists with any A/V set-up needs for all events.

  13. Oversees complete dressing room preparations and accommodations for all theater users.

  14. Assists with facility tours.

  15. Identifies, recruits, supervises, and evaluates part-time staff, volunteers, or interns supporting backstage operations and facility needs.

  16. In coordination with other staff, ensures that all physical event needs are met throughout AAA facilities including, but not limited to, tables, chairs, waste receptacles, and pre/post event cleaning.

  17. Cleans and maintains the theater stage and all backstage support areas to include but not limited to vacuuming, waste removal, dust mopping, wet mopping, dusting, and window/mirror cleaning.

  18. Maintains AAA facilities including, but not limited to, equipment repair and replacement, light bulb replacement, and custodial/maintenance supply purchasing.

  19. As needed, assists with hospitality needs of incoming artists/companies for all AAA-presented events including, but not limited to, food and beverage provisions and/or catering accommodations per artist/company contracts.

  20. Troubleshoots facility and equipment maintenance and repairs, as needed.

  21. Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

  • 5+ years’ experience (preferred) in technical theater and show production, with expertise/professional level knowledge of stage lighting, sound, rigging, stagecraft, production management, technical system operations and upkeep.

  • 4-year degree in Technical Theater (preferred), related field, or equivalent supervisory level experience.

  • Strong organizational and communication skills. Ability to multi-task.

  • Strong commitment to safe operational standards.

  • Computer competency and advanced proficiency in current office and theatrical technologies.

  • Valid driver’s license.

  • Acceptable background check.

Send cover letter and resume to: director@austinareaarts.org or Austin Area Arts, 300 N. Main Street, Austin, MN, 55912.

Austin Area Arts—an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization—applauds and advances all arts by welcoming diverse, creative individuals to share their unique talents to inspire our community.

With a small staff and hundreds of volunteers, Austin Area Arts serves thousands of people every year through programming at the Historic Paramount Theatre, Austin ArtWorks Festival and Austin ArtWorks Center. We value honesty, integrity and respect and are committed to ending systemic oppression.

Austin Area Arts provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

To request support or accommodations in the application and/or interview process, contact director@austinareaarts.org or 507-434-0934.