Director of Arts, Culture and Entrepreneurship (ACE)

About the Department

Director of Arts, Culture and Entrepreneurship (ACE)

The Director of Arts, Culture and Entrepreneurship (ACE) leads the City’s strategy and planning concerning fine and performing arts, culture, and history, with a strong emphasis on supporting the creative workforce. This role develops and implements strategies that promote business growth, innovation, and startup activity within the arts and cultural sector. It is tasked with engaging the City’s robust artist community to streamline access and operational gaps within City processes, ensure that equitable opportunities are available through program and policy measures, and leads the City’s effort to feature and uplift the arts in the City of Detroit. 

In order to ensure lasting impact under the Mayor Sheffield Administration, the ACE Director will also lead the City’s “ACE in All Policies” approach, which mandates that the arts and creative community objectives are integrated in, though not limited to, the City’s health, human services, economic development, planning, Law, youth, senior and faith-based strategies. 

The ACE Director also plans, manages, and supervises point-in-time approaches: Diverse, multi-faceted arts programs and services and the planning execution of departmental projects and initiatives. 

The position collaborates with artists, stakeholders, investors, and institutions to establish and manage feedback and advisory groups that directly inform the Administration’s policies and executive actions.

The ACE Director is tasked with being a creative community-centered advocate with deep knowledge of City of Detroit department and functions, and Mayor Sheffield Quality of Life Improvement platform knowledge and awareness.   Their objective is to blend this expertise to cultivate a vibrant, inclusive and equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem for Detroit’s creative community within the City of Detroit that is informed by stakeholders and buttressed and made sustainable by concrete, well-formed policies.

This is not a Civil Service Position.  This is an Appointed at-will position, that serves at the pleasure of the Mayor’s Office.

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Position Duties

Key Responsibilities

• Create an ACE Strategic Plan that details the ‘ACE in All Polies Approach’ of full administrative integration of ACE within City of Detroit strategies and policies
• Inform a broad local and national communications strategy that highlights the strength, vibrancy and Detroit’s most valuable assets – its residents. Engage local arts and culture stakeholders to create a well-rounded and broadly representative campaign that reframes and even modernizes the City’s reputation as a cultural mecca.  
• Develop and implement initiatives, policies, and strategies that strengthen the local, regional, and statewide creative economy.
• Engage holistically with the Detroit creative community in order to foster long-term partnerships that create opportunities and drive economic well-being.
• Establish and manage public-private partnerships that integrate artistic talent with economic and workforce development strategies.
• Design and deliver programs, workshops, and exhibitions that connect artists and creatives with entrepreneurial resources and business opportunities.
• Plan, coordinate, and manage special events and programs that highlight and celebrate Detroit’s diverse cultural landscape.
• Oversee budgeting, funding strategies, grants, and resource allocation related to arts and entrepreneurship initiatives.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in arts administration, business, public policy, or a related field.
• Experience in arts administration, program management, economic development, or working with government agencies.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating with diverse stakeholders across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Other Qualifications

Knowledge and Skills

• Deep knowledge of and integration within Detroit’s cultural, artistic, and entertainment landscape. 
• Strong budgeting, grant writing, public relations, and project management skills.
• Knowledge of developing and implementing effective strategies to grow prosperity and uplift underserved communities.
• Ability to lead complex initiatives that integrate arts, culture, and economic development.
• Strong communication, relationship-building, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to improving quality of life and expanding equitable access to arts, culture, and economic opportunity for all residents.