Managing Director / Artistic Director

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Managing Director, Art and Exhibitions, and Artistic Director, deCordova Sculpture

The Trustees is seeking a Managing Director, Art and Exhibitions, and Artistic Director, deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum. Reporting to the Chief, Marketing and Audience Development, this new senior role will serve as a key member of the organization’s leadership team and will provide the direction and vision for art and exhibitions at the Trustees including deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, the Art and the Landscape program, and other properties such as Fruitlands Museum. Overseeing a talented curatorial team, the Managing Director will direct a multi-pronged artistic program that is rooted in contemporary art and finding connections between the Trustees’ historic collections and audiences. The Managing Director will articulate, advocate for, and present a shared vision of art at the Trustees, across several internal departments and sharing this vision with external stakeholders.

Main Areas of Focus:

Artistic direction for deCordova, overseeing exhibitions, sculpture park installations and acquisitions, and curatorial team
Managing Art and the Landscape program, securing new commissions for program and requisite funding on an annual basis.
Vision and strategy for Trustees curatorial departments including connecting historic collections to contemporary audiences.

Artistic and curatorial direction, deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum: The Artistic Director is responsible for supervising staff and overseeing all curatorial functions including organizing and coordinating exhibitions including new commissions. The director will serve as the main advisor on museum collecting and acquisition. The director maintains strong relationships with donors, lenders, artists, dealers, arts organizations, other museums, and the academic community to develop the reputation and further the mission of the Museum. This role should strive to serve as a key artistic leader in the regional New England arts community. The Managing Director provides leadership to the curatorial department including direction for collections management, research and publications, Curatorial Fellows, and other curatorial staff such as interns and volunteers. The Artistic Director administers the annual Rappaport Prize (est. 2000) a prestigious award recognizing an artist with strong connections to New England and a proven record of achievement. The annual award, one of the most generous of its kind, awards a financial gift and public recognition. This position works with the curatorial team to ensure proper handling, transportation, installation, security of works in exhibitions and the collection and exhibition design. The Managing Director will establish relationships and work closely with other directors and managers throughout the organization to further the objectives of the museum in interpretation, programming, education, marketing, stewardship, and fundraising. This role will work closely with the chair of the Collections and Exhibitions Committee and the Business Director of deCordova.

Bringing Art to Trustees Landscapes: As the lead curator and manager of this signature program for the Trustees, the Managing Director/Artistic Director has the opportunity to conceive and implement the next round of projects under this initiative, bringing new art to our landscapes and to new audiences. The MD will complete the current curatorial invitational and begin to define a strategy for sustaining the growth and momentum of the program into the future.

Creating an Art and Exhibitions Vision for the Trustees: The Managing Director will serve as the senior curatorial authority on exhibitions and visual art within the Trustees. While there is a strong focus in the position for contemporary art, the Managing Director should also provide key leadership to the Senior Curator of Collections in the presentation of historic installations and collections, and the intervention of contemporary art within historic settings. In addition to the historic curatorial team, this position will work closely with the Chief, Properties and Engagement; Vice President, Cultural Properties; Director of Visitor Interpretation; and Archivist. The Managing Director will work collaboratively with Portfolio Directors at various properties.

Are you a match? This role will be filled by a senior curator, art administrator and museum professional who has a proven track record of innovative exhibition concept and design and leading a diverse curatorial team. The Managing Director has articulated and created artistic vision for an institution and can provide specific examples of how that vision was realized. The Managing Director should be a strong spokesperson and advocate for museums, art, artists and all related areas of work. The MD will guide a vision and bring voice to an important initiative within a complex organization which operates in many disciplines and through many different platforms. Understanding and appreciating the complexity of the organization while also being a strong advocate for art and artists will yield success.

Primary Responsibilities:

Oversee curatorial and exhibition programs at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum and Fruitlands Museum.
Ensure high quality scholarship which informs art acquisitions and temporary installations.
Oversee and project manage the Art and the Landscape initiative resulting in an annual commission of new work which will be inspired by and presented at one or more of the Trustees cultural, natural or agricultural sites.
Oversee and manage special presentations and initiatives related to art and curatorial work such as Project Pario, a thematic program which highlights both hidden and conventional stories related to Trustees properties.
Provide guidance to Curatorial staff across the state on presentation of art and installations to the public.
Manage board and governance committees including Cultural Resources; Art and the Landscape, deCordova Collections and Exhibitions.

Other Information

Qualifications and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree and terminal degree (MFA, PhD) in a related field (Art, Art History, Museum Studies) preferred.
The successful candidate will have a minimum of 10 years of full-time professional experience as a curator, visual arts administrator, or museum professional.
Must have experience organizing exhibitions and artist’s commissions and projects.
Experience with public art and sculpture desired.
Knowledge of museum professional standards as endorsed by the major associations and organizations.
Must have prior experience developing and managing departmental budgets.
Proven track record of success in developing and managing productive partner relationships.
Availability and flexibility to work weekday evenings and weekends as needed, as well as travel to statewide properties and partner organizations.

Skills/Attitudes/Aptitudes:

Unwavering commitment to quality artistic endeavors.
Self-starter with an ambitious spirit, willing to multi-task resourcefully and work independently.
Demonstrated strong business judgement with the ability to identify, prioritize, and articulate highest impact initiatives.
Ability to work collaboratively across disciplines.
Ability to quickly move from strategy to implementation and deliver programmatic results; having a demonstrated ability to take a hands-on approach.
Awareness, understanding, and appreciation of what it takes to build a diverse, equitable, and inclusive team.
Ability to perform in a fast paced, dynamic and results oriented environment.
Strong written and verbal communications skills, with the ability to explain concepts clearly and compellingly.
Passion for the values, mission and purpose of The Trustees.