Work with UnionDocs
UnionDocs is a Center for Documentary Art that presents, produces, publishes, and educates. We bring together a diverse community of artists, dedicated journalists, big thinkers, and local partners on a search for urgent expressions of the human experience, practical perspectives on the world today, and compelling visions for the future. In doing so, we embrace the broad spectrum of documentary approaches and disciplines; from social-issue to experimental, from personal to archival, from essayistic to observational, all impulses towards “creative actuality” are given space and attention. These efforts spring from the belief that documentary art— when paired with thoughtful context and open debate— is an invaluable tool for understanding the complexities of contemporary life and creating a more just and equitable society.
From humble roots as a collective of emerging artists and curators living and working out of a 3-story walk-up in Brooklyn, UnionDocs has become an internationally-recognized center for documentary art now headquartered in Ridgewood, Queens. The small scale of the building belies the bustling and varied set of activities inside on any given day where our exhibition and production facilities, administrative offices, and shared cooperative residency are all located. We serve a hyperlocal audience, attract people from across and beyond New York City, and increasingly, participants travel internationally to join our singular workshops and labs. International audiences also find us through our energetic social media, online and print publications, live streams, and budding online film distribution. In a typical year, we support over 36 filmmakers in our labs, facilitate 24 workshops, host +60 events and screenings, produce 8 short docs, and publish a set of artist focused publications that grow out of the research in our UNDO fellowship. We also direct over $600k to artists in grants, honoraria, commissions, and via our fiscal sponsorship program.
Learn a bit more about what we do…
Event Manager
Position Overview
UnionDocs, Center for Documentary Art based in Ridgewood, Queens, seeks an Events Manager to oversee the UnionDocs space for public screenings and other events, including working the entrance for checking people in, selling drinks, providing technical support, setting up the space, and helping out with other projects throughout the building. The Events Manager reports to the Operations Manager. The time commitment required for this position is between 6 to 12 hours per week, mostly on weekend evenings, and is paid on an hourly basis.
UnionDocs finds powerful, thought-provoking works of non-fiction (film, video, sound, photography, oral history, printed word, and performance) and presents over one hundred public events each year, attracting people from across and beyond New York City. UnionDocs offers the right candidate a great opportunity to immerse in the city’s documentary landscape and learn about the state and tendencies of contemporary documentary worldwide.
Responsibilities
Event
Responsibilities
– Prepare all aspects of space for events before the audience enters space, such as setting up the bar, cleaning and tidying the cafe area, making sure the bathrooms are clean and stocked, and setting up the screening area with enough chairs.
– Help test all media (digital, DVD, Blu-Ray, 16mm, and other formats) before each event, testing the projector and sound, setting up mics, and troubleshooting when necessary.
– Greet and check people into the events, and serve as the main bartender.
–Reset the screening area for the next scheduled event there, whether it be a workshop, lab or a screening.
– Manage and archive media recorded at events.
– After the event, make sure to shut everything down on the POS, put away and restock the beverages, and count the cash in the drawer.
– After the event, clean and tidy the bathrooms, screening area, and the cafe area before turning off the lights and locking the door behind you.
Additional
Responsibilities
– Assist the Operations Manager with organization and cleaning projects throughout the building.
– Take out trash on trash days.
– Manage space rentals (letting people in and out of the building, making sure they have everything they need for the space rental, and being in charge of the equipment and playing any media).
Qualifications
– Must be diligent and alert throughout the entire event.
– Must be able to think on their feet when emergencies and complications arise during the event.
– Having a driver’s license is preferred.
– Must have a flexible schedule to work nights/weekends/weekend nights, as well as some weekday shifts.
-Must be able to lift heavy objects.
