The Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati, OH seeks an innovative and strategic leader to serve as their next Alice & Harris Weston Director. The CAC, with its inspiring vision, educational focus, and mission of opening minds, is the most dynamic and innovative art organization in the city, and a champion for the arts and the artists in Cincinnati and the Midwest, as well as nationally and internationally.
A kunsthalle, the CAC presents new commissions by emerging and mid-career artists, as well as thematic group exhibitions that foster local, national, and international resonances. Recent solo projects have featured the work of Marwa Arsanios, Tania Candiani, Kahlil Robert Irving, Steffani Jemison, and Do Ho Suh, among others. Each developed significant interventions that attended to a range of urgent and timely concepts such as environmental justice, memory, and transnational feminisms.
A strong emphasis on curatorial research and institutional partnerships led to the CAC generating a number of major touring exhibitions and co-commissions with entities such as Kunstraum Kreuzberg in Berlin, MIT List Visual Arts Center in Cambridge, and the New Museum in New York. These include revisionist art historical retrospectives of understudied yet influential figures such as Robert Colescott, and The Regional—a major survey of artists living and working throughout the Midwest, co-organized with the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art in Kansas City. The CAC is also a major partner of the FotoFocus Biennial.
Statement of Cultural Equity: The Contemporary Arts Center is committed to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA), and these must be reflected in our work, staff, board, volunteers, partners, and artists. Together, we will continue to build an inclusive culture that serves and fosters the diversity of our communities, is equitable in practice, and accessible for all.
DIRECTOR’S MAIN FOCUS AND KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Provide the vision and personal leadership for the institution’s growth and development to expand the track record of national and international recognition for the exhibitions and programs.
• Craft sufficient strategies and initiatives to fulfill the CAC’s Mission, Vision, and Values and ensure long term financial stability.
• Lead the institution with innovative and bold thinking, to meet the rapidly evolving landscape of the 21st century. This should include an understanding of the technological and societal progress and opportunities for museums and art.
• Be a tireless and visible champion for contemporary art, and its value, and the CAC — in the city, region, nation, and in all communities.
• In close partnership with the Board and Staff, champion and advance the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility efforts.
• Ensure the internal health and morale of the organization. Through equitable and constructive supervision of the Department Heads, direct the activities of the staff and volunteers of the CAC and develop, coordinate, and approve policies, methods, and procedures for a smooth-running operation.
• Represent and advocate for the CAC to all community, professional, government, civic, and private agencies to engage public interest and support.
• Actively solicit and diversify public and outside private support; cultivate gifts, sponsorships, and bequests.
• Work with the Executive Committee and Board of Trustees to provide overall leadership, direction, and information required to make decisions and take actions.
• Work with a wide range of key constituents to develop a new strategic plan and refine it as necessary.
TO APPLY:
Contemporary Arts Center is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.
Koya Partners, the executive search firm that specializes in mission-driven search, has been exclusively retained for this engagement. To view the full position profile, express interest, or make a nomination, please visit https://koyapartners.com/search/cac-alice-harris-weston-director/. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.