The Philadelphia Folklore Project seeks a part-time Project Coordinator to support the Community Folklife Documentation Workshop (CFDW), a pilot program beginning in the fall of 2009. Envisioned as a new series of workshops supporting community members in conducting ethnographic and folklife documentation exploring folk arts and issues of displacement in Philadelphia communities, the CFDW series will culminate in public exhibitions and audio recordings in PFP gallery, in community sites and online. The Project Coordinator will have a major role in getting this exciting new program of the ground: working with and supporting the project team (including both participating community members and consulting folklorists and other specialists/trainers) and overseeing smooth process and program development.
He or she will assist with all facets of development of workshops and community exhibitions, manage a participatory and reflective planning process, and document the pilot project. The Philadelphia Folklore Project is a 22-year-old independent public folklife agency committed to sustaining the folk arts and cultures of the region’s communities. We work for cultural equity by offering public education in the folk arts, technical assistance services, exhibitions and concerts, publications, and by maintaining an archive. We have a long history of collaborative projects and technical assistance related to local folk arts and culture, on which this effort builds. (See http://www.folkloreproject.org for more information).
Main duties:
- To coordinate Workshop sessions, including arranging travel for consulting scholars and specialists, publicizing and promoting the Workshops, assisting community participants, and managing logistics.
- To support 10 workshop members who will: conduct in-depth folklife and oral history interviews over the course of eight months, develop documentary skills (fieldwork, photography and audio recording) and co-curate an exhibition. This will require travel and flexibility in terms of daily working hours and attendance at meetings in diverse communities.
- To act as a point of liaison between PFP and specific community members in developing their projects, providing the PFP Director and project team with regular progress reports, and attending team meetings and workshops as required.
- To support evaluation and assessment through documentation, and work with evaluation consultant and participants.
- To maintain full project records at the PFP office of all correspondence and meetings.
- To create documentation of this pilot effort: a curriculum that can be used in subsequent years, writing about project process and learnings (for PFP’s magazine and website), and promotional materials as needed.
Skills needed:
- Oral history or ethnographic folklife training; advanced degree in Folklore/Folklife, Public History, Ethnomusicology or Cultural Anthropology.
- Experience in conducting oral history, ethnographic or folklife documentation projects, and facility with audio recording technology.
- Ability to work with multicultural teams of scholars and community members.
- Experience implementing public programs and coordinating team projects.
- Writing skill.
Contract position. Part-time, September 2009 – July 2010. The Philadelphia Folklore Project values diversity and we strongly encourage people of color and diverse workplace experiences to apply. Please send resume and letter of interest to Dr. Debora Kodish, Director, Philadelphia Folklore Project, 735 S. 50th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19143 or pfp@folkloreproject.org. Applications requested by July 7, 2009. Position open until filled. This position has been partially funded by the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage, through its Heritage Philadelphia Program.
