Solstice Opportunities
Join our fun & creative team producing the largest arts event in Santa Barbara County. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, political affiliation or beliefs, sex, age, physical handicap, medical condition, marital status, or pregnancy (as those terms are defined by the California Fair employment and Housing Act). If you are applying for an Artist-in-Residence Honorarium, or would like to find out more, read more here.
This is part time - seasonal paid work, from May through some portion of July. In addition, there are training opportunities for youth and adults, internships /apprenticeships, honorariums for artists in residence, and Festival workers (June 20-28).
TO APPLY: If this is something that you might find interesting and exciting, we would love the opportunity to speak with you! You can send your resume to the attention of Penny Little, email: artstaff@solsticeparade.com In your cover letter, please tell us a little about yourself, why you'd like to work with Solstice. You can also fill out this form.
The Workshop Hours are Wed-Fri. 3-8 pm Sat. Sun, Noon to 6 pm throughout May, in June, the Workshop is open 3-8 pm Monday-Friday, Noon to 6 on Sat. Sun.
ADMIN POSITIONS
ASSISTANT TO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Executive Assistant reports directly to the Executive Director and is responsible for assisting the Director in all of the administrative tasks of the organization, maintaining the day to day operations of the administrative office. In addition to being a team player with solid computer skills, the Executive Assistant must be self motivated, a self starter with the ability to see projects through from beginning to completion, creative, calm, reliable, responsible, organized, and have real world experience in administrative field. Good writing, people and communication skills required. The Executive Assistant may assist with preparing e-newsletters, scheduling meetings, preparing outreach, marketing and social media materials, assist with video editing, proofreading documents, answering phone calls and emails, picking up supplies for events, setting up and managing pre-festival events and festival production on Festival weekend., Generally assists the Executive Director with necessary tasks to produce the Parade and Festival from March - July each year. If all of the above sounds like a lot - it is, but it's a fun and varied position with potential to get deeply involved in our amazing Santa Barbara community!
INTERN TO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (In the main office)
Executive Director is seeking an admin intern Join the fun team that produces the Summer Solstice Parade and Festival. Liason with Workshop. Friendly, good communication, computer and writing skills, assist in all aspects of event production of the Solstice Parade and Festival - the largest arts event in Santa Barbara.
FUNTOPIA FESTIVAL COORDINATOR (position filled)
Oversee Children’s Festival Saturday/Sunday, June 22-23. Create program, schedule, distribute information, communicate with performers and vendors. ONSITE: Manage vendor load-in on the day of, mark the park for vendors, communicate with vendors and Festival Director, manage the children’s performers on the stage, manage volunteers for Children’s Zone responsible for setup and break-down. Work with Festival Director. Assist in managing children’s entertainment, stage and art projects. Must work well with people of all ages. Organized, team player, energetic, and enthusiastic. This is part time, seasonal work.
CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL COORDINATOR's ASSISTANT
Work with Festival Director and Children's Festival Director. Assist in managing children’s entertainment, stage and art projects. Must work well with people of all ages. Organized, team player, energetic, and enthusiastic. This is part time, seasonal work.
REGISTRAR FOR SUMMER SOLSTICE (Some Positions filled)
Meet and greet people at the Solstice Workshop, register workshop participants, maintain files and database entry, attend staff meetings, computer skills required. oversee community service, give tours of the Workshop. Some accounting experience is useful. . Looking for organized, friendly, dependable, energetic, team player who works well with a variety of people. Good computer and communications skills required. This is part time, seasonal work.
SOLSTICE ASSISTANT REGISTRAR (Some) Positions filled)
Assist Solstice Registrar. Meet and greet people at the Solstice Workshop, register workshop participants, maintain files and database entry, attend staff meetings, computer skills required. Must be dependable, organized energetic, friendly, team player who works well with a variety of people. This is a part time – seasonal work.
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
Works with Artistic Director and Registrar at the Workshop, recruit volunteers for the Parade and Festival including, but not limited to, float pushers, participants parade ensembles, cleanup crew. Liason with ED. Maintain files and database entry, attend staff meetings, computer skills required., Dates: May through early July includes cleanup following parade for one week. This is part time, seasonal work.
PARADE COORDINATOR (Position filled)
The Parade Coordinator will work with the Artistic Director to develop and implement the processes and protocols for the smooth operation of the parade and floats on parade day. Primary functions include recruiting and organizing Parade Monitors in the lead up to the parade and directing of Parade Monitors during the parade to ensure groups remain on schedule and provide a cohesive and consistently entertaining overall performance. Further duties include the development of the parade order, assisting with push out and staging, distributing and tracking of radios, coordinating swag for pushers and overseeing volunteers for push back. Term begins in June to familiarize with ensembles and recruit monitors, lead organization sessions with team leaders and monitors and help develop the processes that will be implemented on parade day. Schedule is part time and flexible in June with two full time days (Friday and Saturday) required for the parade.
ASSISTANT TO ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Learn to manage all aspects of the parade and workshop including the relationship/contract with the CAW and rental time frames, the move-in and move-out of all tools, materials to the workshop, site installations, permissions and permitting. Assist with daily management of the workshop and creative content, registration for parade participation/coordinate with Social Media Specialist to promote workshop activities and parade registration. Work with onboarding of artists in residence and tech staff. Learn to manage parade related volunteers, parade day line up and staging. Kick off parade at noon, assist in push back and tear-down and clean-up activities. Support all of the above activities or as directed by the Artistic Director. This is an "apprenticeship" as well as gig-work. You will learn a lot, with potential to step into a bigger role.
WORKSHOP ASSISTANT (Positions filled)
Assist Technical and Artistic Director in Summer Solstice Workshop. Need some carpentry skills, knowledge of tools, and creativity is a plus. Must have team building skills and be able to work with a wide variety of people. This is part-time, seasonal work.
Apply Here for all positions EXCEPT Artist-in-Residence:
ARTISTS POSITIONS
These positions are honorariums. Applications begin with a proposal, and a review by Program Committee, followed by an interview. To apply, begin by filling out the form below for 2024.
HEAD COSTUMER
Summer Solstice is looking for a Costumer who has knowledge of sewing, pattern making, ability to work under pressure and with lots of people. the Costumer will oversee all equipment, props, fabric-based materials, costuming supplies and the Costume Department, assist in setting up the Costume Department, assist workshop participants in designing and making their costume. Dates: May 1 through early July includes cleanup and packing of the Costume Department immediately following parade for approximately one week. This is part time, seasonal work.
ASSISTANT MASK MAKER (Internship)
Assistant Mask Maker will assist workshop participants in designing and making their masks, or other props using mask making techniques. Dates: May through early July includes cleanup following parade for one week. This is part time, seasonal work.
ASSISTANT COSTUMER (Internship)
You will assist workshop participants in making their costumes and assist the head costumer. You will also help keep the equipment, props, fabric and costuming supplies in order, follow safety guideline attend staff meetings. - must have knowledge of sewing, pattern making, ability to work under pressure and with lots of people This is part time, seasonal work.
JUNIOR ARTIST COORDINATOR ASSISTANT (Internship)
Looking for energetic & reliable team player to recruit youth for arts mentorship in Solstice Workshop. Help with students working on community service hours. Should be good at organizing and delegating responsibility, positive, good at keeping records. This is part time, seasonal work.
HEAD MASK MAKER, PROPS & PUPPETS (Positions filled)
Mask Maker works with Artistic Director of Summer Solstice at the Workshop, oversee mask making area, assist workshop participants in designing and making their masks, or other props using mask making techniques. Knowledgeable in the use of materials for mask creation including, clay, cardboard, paper, fabric, etc. Dates: May 1st through early July includes cleanup following parade for one week. This is part time, seasonal work.
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE (Positions filled for 2025: Apply Using this FORM
Work with Artistic Director of Summer Solstice at the Workshop to create a float or ensemble for the parade. Must be able to conceptualize a float, have experience in creation of 3-dimensional artwork and work with people. Dates: May 1 through early July includes cleanup following parade for one week.
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE ASSISTANT / APPRENTICE to Inflatable Float Maker Apply Using this FORM
Assist an Artist in Residence at the Summer Solstice Workshop in creation of a float or ensemble for the parade. Iconic Hungarian Artist Pali is looking for a next generation inflatable float maker/apprentice. Must be artistic, have familiarity with three-dimensional artwork and enjoy working with people and instructing in art techniques. This is part time – seasonal work. Dates: May through early July includes cleanup following parade for one week
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