Date of Posting: Tuesday, March 3, 2026
Department: Planning
Job Title: Arts and Culture Planner
Appointing Authority: Mayor Jared C. Nicholson
Salary:
$75,000-$85,000, contractual position with benefits
Overview:
The City of Lynn seeks a creative, dynamic, and enterprising individual to serve as our Arts and Culture planner. This person will preserve and promote the arts and culture(s) of Lynn—including visual arts, graphic arts, sculptural arts, decorative arts, performing arts, musical arts, culinary arts, and literary arts—with a consideration of the many different cultures that make Lynn a vibrant place to live, work, or visit. The successful candidate will thrive in an environment where they can be entrepreneurial, bounce between both high-level strategic planning and on-the-ground implementation and collaborate with a diverse set of stakeholders.
Duties of the Arts and Culture Planner include, but are not limited to:
- Support the arts and culture ecosystem in Lynn and, in particular, its downtown cultural district.
o Serve as a liaison and advocate for individual artists and arts- or culture-oriented organizations to ensure their continued success and growth.
o Proactively foster collaborative relationships among community groups, business owners, funders, public officials, youth organizations, arts and cultural related organizations, artists, performers, creative professionals and enterprises.
o Identify and implement policies, programs, events, marketing ideas, funding opportunities, and other strategies in support of the arts ecosystem.
o Support the Lynn Cultural Council and Lynn Public Arts Commission to ensure they are successful in their respective missions.
o Maximize and diversify the art on display at City Hall and utilize the community art gallery on City Hall’s third floor.
- Support the Downtown Lynn Cultural District by generating more foot traffic in support of Lynn’s independent businesses and arts and culture organizations.
o Manage the City’s district marketing efforts, utilizing the visitlynnma.org website as well as expanding marketing on social media and other platforms.
o Support public event permitting processes and maintain a calendar of arts and cultural events and programming in the city.
o Develop and implement methods for collecting data, metrics, and assessing outcomes from projects and programs to measure success and adapt implementation as needed.
o Explore opportunities to “placemake” in the cultural district by supporting events, public art installations, public realm improvements, or other strategies.
o Maintain Lynn’s Cultural District designation by meeting all Massachusetts Cultural Council requirements and guidelines.
- Serve as the City’s liaison to local, state, regional and federal agencies and non-profit arts and culture funders, including the Massachusetts Cultural Council, New England Foundation for the Arts, MassDevelopment, National Endowment for the Arts and the Humanities, the Essex County Community Foundation’s Creative County Initiative, and the Barr Foundation.
- Serve as the City’s liaison to the Lynn Cultural Council, Lynn Public Arts Commission, and Lynn Main Streets.
- Represent the City and serve as chair of the Lynn Recognition Committee
- In the immediate future, this position will also manage the Creative Cities grant and the development of the City’s Arts and Culture Plan.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
• Experience with community organizing, community building, or otherwise working in collaborative settings with a large number of stakeholders.
• Demonstrated relevant hard skills: event planning, social media, marketing, grant writing, budget management, donor relations, website management, and/or public relations.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong leadership skills.
• Preferred: Working knowledge of Lynn’s creative economy and cultural organizations and assets.
• Preferred: At least five years of relevant experience.
• Preferred: Experience with government processes, experience with district marketing, and/or experience with arts/artists/arts organizations.
• A clear understanding of the physical elements, organizational structures, and human capital that make up a strong, vibrant, arts and cultural environment representative of the community.
• Preferred: An undergraduate degree in fine arts, cultural studies, urban studies, or other relevant disciplines.
• Availability to work evenings and weekends on a routine basis.
• Bilingual/bicultural candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• When applicants are substantially similar in terms of qualifications, preference will be given to candidates who have resided in the City of Lynn for a continuous twelve-month period prior to the date of posting.
How To Apply
A completed application, including resume and cover letter, can be submitted via:
- Email ([email protected])
- Regular Post
- In-Person at the Personnel Department, Room 307 in Lynn City Hall
If submitting via e-mail, please include the “JOB TITLE” in the subject line. A review of resumes will begin after Thursday, March 19, 2026, those who apply on or before that date will receive priority consideration. The position will remain open until filled.
Job Title: "Arts and Culture Planner"
CLOSING DATE: OPEN UNTIL FILLED (Priority Date: Thursday, March 19, 2026)
* When applicants are substantially similar in terms of qualifications, preference will be given to candidates who have resided in the City of Lynn for a continuous twelve-month period prior to the date of posting.
The City of Lynn is an Equal Opportunity Employer!
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If you have any questions about the application process or need assistance, please call (781) 598-4000 or email us at [email protected].