Apply Now: Ohio State Fair Fine Arts Coordinator

Title/Position: Fine Arts Coordinator

Reports To: Arts Director

Deadline to Apply: Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 (by 11:59 p.m.)

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Contracted Project Fee & Seasonal Employment Position

employee during the summer (June through August).

Expectations

Hours are at the discretion of the contractor to achieve the necessary project goals and may vary based upon an individual's schedule and abilities. During the contracted non-fair season, the fee is based on the project/work, not hours, and is a flat fee paid incrementally upon mutual agreement (such as a monthly or quarterly payment). Estimated: 800-1,000 hours / total including off-season contract fee and Fair season payroll amount. You are required to work every day of the Ohio State Fair, typically 12 hours per day, July 29 - August 9, 2025. Prior to the Ohio State Fair, significant set- up time, potentially including evenings and weekends, may be required.

Specific responsibilities and job tasks include

• During Fair season (June through mid-August):
  • Coordinate a complete schedule of events including activities, demonstrations, and entertainment for the Fine Arts exhibit.
  • Assist in managing the pre-Fair and Fair schedules, events, and activities.
  • Manage and hire staff, interview candidates, create staff schedule, and approve timesheets.
  • Coordinate and facilitate a pre-Fair staff orientation for employees in the Fine Arts area.
  • Work closely with the entry department to ensure proper management of input of categories, divisions.
  • Oversee and assist with Fine Arts drop off (early June) and pick-up (immediately post-fair).
  • Coordinate and set-up Fine Arts exhibit in Cox Fine Arts Center prior to Fair, ensuring appropriate artistic arrangement and flow of display areas.
  • Oversee exhibit intake, display and return (releasing entries at the conclusion of the Fair), including daily operations of fair-time staff including opening and closing of building.
  • Ensure that appropriate items are attached to the award-winning entries for display purposes.
  • Manage exhibitor relations, field questions, issues, complaints, etc., regarding Fine Arts competitions and activities.
  • Ensure that photographs are taken of all entries, displays, rejected works, and winning entries for reference purposes; these files will become a part of the overall Fine Arts Department files.
  • Retain all appropriate files and templates in shared file management system.
  • Provide post-fair payout report to the leadership team and Entry Department for proper processing.
• During the off-season (mid-August through May):
  • Review the Fine Arts program book with Arts Director.
  • Attend and participate in Arts leadership virtual meetings and other planning meetings, as needed.
  • Attend a post-Fair meeting to review (i.e., make sure that everything is turned in, review lessons learned and best practices, brainstorm ideas and plans for the future Fair).
  • Provide suggestions to the Arts Director for supportership.
  • Engage with potential artists, jurors, etc. to help promote the program.

Qualifications

• Exceptional organizational skills
  • Detail oriented and strong problem-solving skills.
  • Computer skills with knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite.
• Management and collaboration skills
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, with ability to direct and manage staff.
  • Ability to work well with groups and co-manage staff.
  • Must be able to manage staff (Fair time only), sponsors, guilds, demonstrators, partners, etc.
  • Previous customer service-related experience.
• Planning and project management skills
  • Ability to plan various events, exhibits and displays within the Fine Arts Department.
• Self-motivated
  • Must be able to follow up and meet deadlines. While this position will work under the guidance of and meet periodically with the Special Events Director, this person will work remotely during the off-season and on-site during Fair season.
• Familiarity with fine arts
  • Interest or knowledge of events and fine arts

Important Dates to Note

• June 3 - Fine Arts entries due
• June 9 - Fine Arts staff starts and FA Coordinator will be on-site from this time moving forward.
• June 12-14 - Fine Arts entry drop offs
• June 19 - observe Juneteenth holiday
• July 3 - observe fourth of July holiday
• July 8 - 12 - no on-site work due to Good Guys Car Show set-up, event, and tear down
• July 24 (tentative) - Fine Arts Opening Reception
• July 29 - August 9 - Ohio State Fair
• August 10 -11 - Fine Arts entry pick-up

Compensation

Contracted project fee = $5,500 + seasonal pay hourly rate

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Questions

Please contact Alissa Belna-Muhlenkamp, Special Events Director (a.belna-muhlenkamp@expo.ohio.gov) and Heather Belew, Arts Director (h.belew@expo.ohio.gov).