What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Arts Education position at Durham Arts Council?
really APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED
The Durham Arts Council (DAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and leading local arts agency in North Carolina dedicated to supporting the arts in Durham and the Triangle Region. DAC is located at 120 Morris St., Durham, NC 27701. Since 1954, DAC has served the community as a catalyst in the cultural development of Durham - it leads, inspires, and promotes excellence in and access to the creation, experience, and active support of the arts for all the people of our community.
The Director of Arts Education is responsible for overseeing the planning and directing of all DAC’s arts education programs, which include arts classes for all ages, youth camps, and off-site arts education programs. The Director is responsible for all departmental policies and contracts, as well as safety and risk management concerning program activities. The Director serves as a key leadership team member and an active participant in making strategic decisions affecting DAC.
Arts Education at the Durham Arts Council includes two key program areas: an on-site community arts school (DAC School) and off-site community education programs, including the Creative Arts in Public/Private Schools (CAPS) Program.
The DAC School serves children and adults of all ages and abilities through a broad range of visual, performing, and literary arts classes, camps, and workshops in its historic downtown location. Each year, nearly 8,000 students participate in more than 700 programs led by a diverse faculty of over 100 contract teaching artists. The Director oversees arts administrators who manage programming, promotion, registration, and daily operations across Youth and Adult Education programs. The School also includes a popular Ceramics Studio, with daily studio operations managed by a contracted Clay Coordinator under the Director’s leadership. Off-site community education programs include workshops, residencies, and performances in schools and community spaces across Durham County and beyond. DAC’s hallmark community education program is CAPS, which has used curriculum-based arts integration to enhance academic outcomes for public and private school students since 1972. CAPS annually delivers over 150 programs to more than 25,000 students.
The Director ensures that DAC’s education programs align with its mission to lead, inspire, and promote excellence in and access to the creation, experience, and active support of the arts for all people of our community. The Director is responsible for managing the department budget of approximately $1 million; in FY26 the DAC School budget was ~$800,000 and the CAPS budget was ~$200K. The Director supervises a team including the School Registrar, Arts Education Assistant Manager, CAPS Director, and contracted Clay Coordinator. These positions are slated to evolve and change, with the new Director.
Education will continue to grow under DAC’s strategic plan, with the Director leading this expansion through new partnerships, program formats, outreach efforts, and improved systems. This work emphasizes DAC’s commitment to lifelong learning, accessibility, and inclusive arts experiences for all community members. Key initiatives include building strategic community partnerships and relocating the Clay Studio to an offsite facility, allowing for expanded ceramics programming and additional space for program growth within the building.
FULL INFO HERE: https://durhamarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/DAC-Director-of-Arts-Education.pdf
Pay: $70,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
Salary : $70,000 - $80,000