Studio & Residency Programs Lead

Sharjahart; Sharjah; On-site; AED 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Sharjahart seeks a Senior Coordinator to oversee Studio and Residency Programmes in Sharjah. You will ensure high-quality delivery across all phases, acting as the primary escalation point for artists and partners.

The role includes supervising Coordinators, onboarding/offboarding artists, and managing contracts and budgets. You will plan residency schedules, coordinate with Communications, IT, and Finance, and maintain data systems to improve efficiency and artist satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in arts administration, Cultural Management, Fine Arts, Humanities, or equivalent experience.
• 4-6 years’ experience in arts administration, residencies, cultural institutions, or related programmes.
• Strong organisational, administrative, and operational management skills.
• Experience overseeing contracts, invoices, stipends, and financial workflows.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex operations and multiple stakeholders.
• Experience supervising or mentoring team members preferred.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments (Comms, Editorial, IT, etc.)
• Proficiency in MS Office
• Cultural sensitivity and adaptability when working with artists
• Strong English required, Arabic or additional languages an advantage
• Driving license desirable

Responsibilities

• Provide senior operational oversight for artist residencies and studio programmes, ensuring consistency, quality, and effective delivery across all phases.
• Act as the primary escalation point for artists, partners, and internal teams, resolving complex issues and ensuring a high standard of artist experience.
• Lead supervision and coordination of Coordinators, ensuring clear task allocation and timely delivery of responsibilities.
• Oversee onboarding, in-residence support, and offboarding processes across cohorts.
• Review and quality-check itineraries, research trips, site visits, and institutional engagements.
• Oversee studio spaces and residency apartments, coordinating with facilities and external vendors.
• Manage contracts, invoices, stipends, and financial documentation; coordinate with Finance and Legal on approvals and reporting.
• Plan residency schedules, programme milestones, and artist engagements.
• Coordinate across Communications, Editorial, Translation, IT, Website, and other departments for open calls, announcements, and reporting.
• Maintain databases for residency applicants, renters, and alumni; generate reports on occupancy and performance.
• Use insights to improve efficiency, utilization, and artist satisfaction.

Skills

Arts administration experience

Team supervision

Stakeholder management

Contracts & financial workflows

MS Office

English proficiency

Arabic language advantageous

Driving license desirable

Education

Bachelor’s degree in arts administration or related field

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Sharjahart seeks a Senior Coordinator to oversee Studio and Residency Programmes in Sharjah. You will ensure high-quality delivery across all phases, acting as the primary escalation point for artists and partners.

The role includes supervising Coordinators, onboarding/offboarding artists, and managing contracts and budgets. You will plan residency schedules, coordinate with Communications, IT, and Finance, and maintain data systems to improve efficiency and artist satisfaction.