What: The Rafala Green Fellowship is open to people of color and Indigenous people who are interested in becoming the next generation of leaders working at the intersection of arts, real estate, and community development. The program will provide these fellows with the tools to master core competencies that will allow them to advance future complex, arts-centered community development work. Artspace will select four fellows, each for a two-year fellowship.
Rafala Green fellows will work full-time at the Artspace headquarters in Minneapolis, MN and support current projects in the Artspace development pipeline, learn Artspace best practices, gain access to national leaders in the field, and expand their network in a series of professional development activities. Development support activities and opportunities include, but are not limited to:
- Development of housing, commercial, mixed-use, performance, and exhibition projects
- Project capital and operational financial modeling
- Site evaluation
- Community engagement
- Federal, state, and local government relations
- Architectural and engineering design input, review, and due diligence
- Lender and investor relations, selection, and negotiation
- General Contractor selection, negotiation, and oversight
- Funding application completion
- Securing development entitlements, such as zoning and permitting
- Attendance at national and regional housing and community development conferences
- Access to a robust and experienced Board of Directors, mentors, and leaders in the field
- Access to educational and engaging travel experiences including work in distinct cultural communities
- Engagement with foundations, funders, and national leaders in the creative economy
- Peer review and mentoring across sectors of development, consulting, and fundraising
- Arts-centered engagement with Artspace’s prolific network of artist residents, tenants, and community partners
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree in one the following fields: Finance, Economics, Political Science, Community Development, Urban Planning, Business, Non-profit Management, or a related field 3 - 5 years of professional experience
- Desire to learn and take on complex problems
- Comfortable working in rural and urban communities, and with people from various ethnic, cultural, or regional backgrounds
- Value artists and creative communities
- Familiarity with the various public and private financing tools for real estate and economic development
- Strong analytic skills and proficiency in the use of Excel spreadsheet software
- Confident presenting and public speaking skills
- Professional writing skills including both story-telling and technical writing
- Ability to take initiative and think critically under pressure with the goal of finding creative solutions to complex and technical problems
- Ability to work well both independently and as part of a team with employees and colleagues at all levels
- Ability to effectively manage and coordinate multiple projects concurrently
Each Fellow will receive a $50,000 annual salary during the two-year term of their fellowship, as well as a comprehensive benefits package.
Application deadline is May 28, 2018.
Find the full description and apply here.