Marketing Associate (Part-Time)

Portland Institute for Contemporary Art

Reporting to the Director of Marketing and Communications, the Marketing Associate produces marketing materials (print and digital) to promote PICA programming and connect audiences with artists’ work. This role is responsible for creating engaging social media content, written communications (e.g. press releases and website content), and email newsletters. The Marketing Associate is a creative thinker, a self-starter, and a team player with very strong writing and editing skills. Our ideal candidate is a dreamer and schemer with a positive attitude.

Responsibilities

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Copyediting: Proofread and line edit artist materials for readability, accuracy, and grammar/syntax

  • Copywriting: Draft press releases, email newsletters, social media posts, and other written materials with attention to voice, accessibility, and the diverse artists and audiences PICA serves

  • Email marketing: Source/draft copy and images for email newsletters and announcements, ensuring links work properly and total accuracy of content (dates/times, name spelling, etc)

  • Website: Continually update artist pages, add events to the “What’s On” calendar, create new pages, make blog posts, and support communication with the web developer about backend changes

  • Social media: Generate content for Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok (including static posts, Reels, Stories, and shortform video interviews) and schedule posts via the Meta Business Suite

  • Advertising: Use digital advertising outlets, manage calendar listings, and secure placement opportunities across traditional and non-traditional media — including outlets serving marginalized and underrepresented communities — to grow and broaden PICA’s reach and deepen engagement.

  • Archive: Assist in the organization and maintenance of PICA’s documentation archive

CMS and other tools: Work with the Hygraph system, DotDigital, and Spektrix, along with Google Drive, Dropbox, Flickr, and other online programs (no prior knowledge of Hygraph, DotDigital, or Spektrix is needed)

Specific, large-scale projects in addition to year-round programming:

Time-Based Art Festival:

  • Copyedit the Festival catalog and website content in adherence with a style guide, coordinate advertisements, write/distribute the press release, generate social media posts according to the content calendar, organize documentation archive post-Festival

  • Impact Report: Gather and copyedit content for printed yearly report, provide copywriting as needed

Annual Gala:

  • Support in copywriting and generating messaging in alignment with the theme, provide support with theme ideation, bring new suggestions to social media strategy to drive ticket sales
Requirements

Qualifications, Experience, and/or Skills Desired:

  • A degree in communications, advertising, creative writing, art history, or a related field, OR 3+ years of related professional experience

  • Strong copywriting and editing skills

  • Experience creating social media content

  • Knowledge of and enthusiasm for contemporary art and supporting artists

  • Exceptional time management—this role requires juggling multiple projects with competing deadlines

  • Familiarity with spreadsheets and Google Suite; and willingness to learn new tools

  • Willingness to engage in critical conversations with a collaborative, feedback-driven team

  • Ability to liaise with artists respectfully, confidently, and directly about timelines, needs, and expectations

  • Readiness to pitch in where needed as part of a small nonprofit team (e.g. concessions at an evening performance)

  • A self-directed problem-solver with the judgment to work independently and ask for help when needed

  • Someone who brings new ideas while also maintaining existing systems and strategies

  • Cultural competency and awareness in communications

  • Commitment to contributing to a working culture and art community that leads with equity and inclusion

Preferred experiences:

  • Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and/or Canva

  • Previous work in an arts nonprofit, art gallery, or creative advertising agency

How to Apply

To Apply: Please use PICA’s jobs portal to submit an application including a resume, cover letter, and portfolio of work examples (details below).

Portfolio instructions — in a single PDF, please include:

  • 2 Instagram posts with captions. Include a brief description of your role and responsibilities, and any context that might be useful.

  • 1 short writing sample (~350–500 words). Examples include: an exhibition or performance promotions or review, a press release, a curatorial/exhibition statement, a written assignment from an arts- or marketing-related course, promotional copy for an event or festival, etc.

Please direct any of your questions about or reach out to address any access needs for submitting an application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in our selection process to us at jobs@pica.org or call (503) 242-1219 x 24.

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Posted on March 4