Executive Director – Office of Arts Engagement & Cultural Resources, Appalachian State Universi[...]

Executive Director Office of Arts Engagement & Cultural Resources, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC

Position Announcement

Please make an application promptly if you are a good match for this role due to high levels of interest.

Executive Director, Office of Arts Engagement & Cultural Resources

Organizational Description :

At Appalachian State University, a variety of activities are offered throughout the year to enhance the cultural and intellectual life of the university, and to offer a diverse arts menu to members of the university community and residents across our region.

A broad array of world-class visiting artists from across the region, nation and world, spanning the visual and performing arts, serve to enhance the cultural landscape of both campus and community.

In keeping with the teaching mission of the university, programs are designed to complement classroom studies, as well as the wide range of student and faculty presentations in music, theatre, dance, and visual arts.

In addition, arts programming serves to involve residents of the surrounding region in the life of the university community, by actively engaging them as visitors, audience members, donors and supporters.

Affordable access to quality arts programming for all, and a commitment to community-building through the arts, are essential elements of the Arts Engagement mission.

Minimum Qualifications :

• Master’s degree in arts administration, nonprofit management, or equivalent educational background
• Seasoned arts administrator with a minimum of 5-7 years of professional experience leading an arts organization devoted to the performing and / or visual arts
• Exceptional leadership, communication, interpersonal and problem-solving skills
• Knowledge and experience in program development related to the performing and visual arts
• Experience and skills in personnel management and coordination among staff charged with all aspects of operations in an arts setting devoted to performing and visual arts programming
• Experience serving as a primary contact for a board of directors and / or advisory board
• Demonstrated track record as an effective collaborator with other arts entities in university, non-profit or for-profit commercial settings
• Experienced fundraiser with a proven track record of success in cultivating and stewarding gifts from individual donors, corporate supporters and public and / or private grantmaking organizations
• Knowledge and skills related to long-range strategic planning in an arts and / or nonprofit setting
• Experience working within a university arts setting (preferred)

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The Executive Director oversees all activities of the Office of Arts Engagement, reporting to the Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff in the Chancellor’s Division.

The Executive Director’s key responsibilities include the following :

GENERAL :

• Provide oversight of year-round programming and operations in the performing and visual arts , to include programs of the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, the university’s academic year visiting artist series (The Schaefer Center Presents and the APPlause Series), An Appalachian Summer Festival, and arts education and outreach programming for audiences of all ages.
• Provide administrative oversight of two major campus arts venues , the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts and the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, both of which serve the needs of campus and community.
• Work closely with the Associate Director in overseeing the annual operating budget and ensuring strong financial health for all programming areas.
• Actively promote programming and operating practices that fulfill the office’s strategic goals related to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.
• Represent and serve as a public ambassador for the Arts Engagement area among university divisions across campus, community groups and organizations, and statewide / national arts networks.

PROGRAMMING AND OPERATIONS :

• Provide support and direction for staff engaged in the following areas :
• Exhibition programming and artist bookings , to ensure high quality and dynamic visual arts exhibitions, standards of excellence in the academic year artist series, and a stellar season of An Appalachian Summer Festival, to include programming in music, dance, theatre, film and the visual arts.
• Arts education and outreach programming , devoted to connecting university arts resources to a diverse audience of community arts patrons, teachers and learners in the campus community, and in the public, private and home school network across our region.
• Marketing programs and services aimed at communicating the broad menu of arts programming to internal and external constituencies and building new audiences for the performing and visual arts.
• Technical and production services geared to providing support for the many events taking place in university arts facilities.
• Visitor and box office services , committed to providing meaningful experiences for ticket buyers and museum patrons who visit and attend events at the Turchin Center and Schaefer Center, while using these opportunities to further engage visitors as prospective ticket buyers, donors, volunteers and stakeholders.
• Business and financial services , to ensure adequate physical facilities, equipment maintenance, and financial management of the various budgets that support programs across the arts spectrum.
• Fundraising and development functions designed to ensure continued private support for the entire spectrum of Arts Engagement programs.

STRATEGIC PLANNING :

• Work closely with Arts Engagement staff to develop short and long-term strategic programming based on the mission, goals and core values of the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts and the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts.
• Support efforts of the Vice Chancellor in connecting arts programming to key university priorities and strategic initiatives.

FUNDRAISING AND STAKEHOLDER RELATIONS :

• Coordinate the efforts of the staff in supporting functions of the Turchin Center Advisory Board, An Appalachian Summer Festival Advisory Board, and the Arts and Cultural Programs Advisory Board , serving as a liaison to the staff and promoting engagement, involvement and a strong sense of investment by board members in the programs they support.
• Coordinate with the Director of Development and the University Advancement Team to develop comprehensive fundraising plans , and to actively engage in fundraising for Arts Engagement programming, with the goal of identifying, cultivating and maintaining a strong base of individual and corporate donors, as well as support from public and private grant-making sources.
• Represent the Office of Arts Engagement among a variety of internal (campus) units as well as external constituencies, organizations, and stakeholders, and to build strong relationships and partnerships with a broad cross-section of these organizations and groups.

PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT :

A total of 22 positions comprise the staff of the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts and the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts.

The Executive Director supervises and coordinates the efforts of ten staff positions responsible for the key functional areas of the office, including the Associate Director of Arts Engagement and Cultural Resources, Director of Arts Education and Outreach, Schaefer Center Director of Operations, Director of Audience Relations, Schaefer Center Marketing Director, Director of Artist Relations, the TCVA Curator, Director of Visitor Services, Director of Donor & External Relations, and the TCVA Marketing Director.

An additional eleven staff members (including SHRA and NST positions) report to several of these areas, in addition to 30-40 students employed by both areas.

Develop and facilitate positive communication mechanisms designed to promote a sense of teamwork, collegiality, interdependence, accountability, and shared purpose in accomplishing organizational and programming goals.

Disability Accommodation Information

Individuals with disabilities may request accommodations in the application process by contacting Maranda Maxey, Director & ADA / 504 Coordinator, at 828-262-3056 or [email protected].

AA / EEO Statement

Appalachian State University is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer. The University does not discriminate in access to its educational programs and activities, or with respect to hiring or the terms and conditions of employment, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity and expression, political affiliation, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information or sexual orientation.

Type of Position : Full Time Position

Staff / Non-Faculty : Staff / Non-Faculty

Appointment Type : 1.0

Work Schedule / Hours : Monday-Friday, 8 : 00 am 5 : 00 pm with nights and weekends as needed

Number of Hours Per Week : 40+

Number of Months Per Year : 12

Mandatory Staff : No

Suggested Salary Range : $95,000 $120,000

Physical Demands of Position : Lifting 10 pounds or less, with or without reasonable accommodations.

Posting Date : 02 / 03 / 2023

Closing Date : 03 / 15 / 2023

Open Until Filled : No

Evaluation of Applications Begins : 03 / 01 / 2023

Proposed Date of Hire : 06 / 05 / 2023

Special Instructions to Applicants : For a complete application, please apply and submit all below-required documents electronically through Appalachian State University’s Job Board : Cover Letter, Resume, List a minimum of 3 professional references in the application.

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