HERE Gala Auction Coordinator - HERE

HERE Gala Auction Coordinator

2023

From our home in Lower Manhattan, HERE builds an inclusive community that nurtures artists of all backgrounds as they disrupt conventional expectations to create innovative performances in theatre, dance, music, puppetry, media, and visual art. By providing these genre-blending artists with an adaptive, flexible home for developing and producing their work, we share a range of perspectives reflective of the complexity of our city. HERE welcomes curious audiences to witness groundbreaking performances, responsive to the world in which we live, at free and affordable prices.

HERE is an Equal Opportunity Employer who strives to create an equitable, diverse, and inclusive home in which all people have fair access to the resources they need to realize their visions. We acknowledge structural inequities that exclude individuals and communities from opportunities based on race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, class, age, and geography, and seek to counter those inequities in our work. Applicants from populations underrepresented in the theater field are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, familial status, sexual orientation, national origin, ability, age, or veteran status. We welcome applicants with varied backgrounds, different applications of skills, and those who may not have conventional resumes.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Gala Auction Coordinator works closely with HERE’s Development Director, Managing Director and Gala Producer to solicit and track auction donations, add auction items onto the gala website, and collaborate with HERE staff to make auction item asks. Once the silent auction begins, The Gala Auction Coordinator’s job is to oversee the silent auction, which primarily takes place online, with an in-person element at the event. After the Gala, the Auction Coordinator will stay on for one week to ensure that auction winners receive their items, and to report to the Development Director on auction income. HERE’s 2023 Gala will be held in late May/Early June this year, with a guest list of approximately 200-280 people.

NOTABLE RESPONSIBILITIES

- Organize the acquisition of auction items

- Writing the template ask letter to make requests of businesses and individuals who may be willing to contribute items to the auction.

- Researching potential businesses and individuals who may be interested in donating items to the auction.

- Sending requests out to organizations and individuals, primarily via email, and working with the Development Director, Managing Director and Founding Artistic Director to ensure that they are sending out asks to individuals and organizations that they have connections with.

- Keep an organized spreadsheet of all auction donations that have come in, tracking what kinds of categories of items we have received, and what we may need to find more of.

- Acquire physical items or gift cards from businesses (via mail or stopping by in person). Other members of the department will assist with this.

- Working within the online auction system

- Adding the auction items and details into the auction software

- Attending brief training sessions for the online auction software (to be scheduled at a later date)

- Uploading images, descriptions and starting bids for all items to the website

- Manage the silent auction on the day of the event

- Set up displays showcasing each item in the auction with assistance from other members of the department

- Ensure that all physical items are brought to the auction

- Attend the event and talk about the auction with bidders

- After the event, follow up with winners of the auction items, and connect them with the appropriate individuals to ensure that they receive their item

- If items are digital, send them via email

- If guests forgot to pick up their items at the event, coordinate with them regarding how best to pick them up

HELPFUL SKILLS

- Interest in collaborating and working closely with HERE’S Development and Gala team;

- Ability to juggle multiple tasks and reprioritize within a rapidly changing environment;

- Self-starter, organized, disciplined and highly detail-oriented;

- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work both individually and as part of a team;

- Excellent oral and written communication skills;

- Strong knowledge of Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel;

- Experience with online donation or auction software is a plus;

- Interest in performing arts, development and fundraising is a plus.

COMMITMENT

15-25 hrs/wk leading up to the Gala in early June, attending the Gala and full-day availability on the day of the event, 10-15 hrs/wk following the gala.

SALARY & BENEFITS

This is a part-time independent contractor role that pays a flat fee of $1,000-1,500 depending on experience and skillset.

POSITION DURATION

Beginning in January 2023, for 6 months with additional work required in the week following the event.

TO APPLY

Please send your cover letter and resume to HERE’s Director of Development at jessica@here.org and include your last name and the position title in the subject line: for example, “Jones – Auction Coordinator.” Include your cover letter and resume as attachments titled “YourNameLetter” and “YourNameResume.”

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

Since 1993, HERE has been one of New York’s most prolific producing organizations, and today, it stands at the forefront of the city’s presenters of daring new hybrid art. HERE supports multidisciplinary work that does not fit into a conventional programming agenda. Our aesthetic represents the independent, the innovative, and the experimental: HERE has developed such acclaimed works as Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues; Basil Twist’s Symphonie Fantastique; Basil Twist and Joey Arias’ Arias with a Twist; Hazelle Goodman’s On Edge; Young Jean Lee’s Songs of The Dragons Flying To Heaven; Trey Lyford & Geoff Sobelle’s all wear bowlers; Faye Driscoll’s 837 Venice Boulevard; Taylor Mac’s The Lily’s Revenge and original musical and dance works created and directed by HERE Co-Founder and Artistic Director

Kristin Marting.

The New York Times has called HERE “one of the most unusual arts spaces in New York and possibly the model for the cutting-edge arts spaces of tomorrow.” Indeed, HERE has become successful at creating a new kind of arts enterprise — the collaborative multi-arts center. In 25 years, we’ve supported over 14,000 artists and attracted over 950,000 arts patrons. We aim to integrate art into daily life and engage our community’s needs and interests on as many different levels as possible in order to ensure our regular presence in their lives. You can learn more about HERE at here.org.


Salary: $1000-1,500