Head of Performing Arts
Position Summary
The Momentary is a new Center for Contemporary Visual and Performing Arts and Culinary Discovery in Bentonville, AR. The Center operates as a subsidiary of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. The Head of Performing Arts will serve as a senior member of the Momentarys curatorial team and support the Momentarys Director in the development and implementation of performing arts projects, including concerts and performances, residencies, commissions, workshops, audio and video recordings, and publications. The Head of Performing Arts will work alongside the Curator, Contemporary Art and will lead a small team of Programmers.
The Head of Performing Arts will lead the research and planning of regular performance seasons, festivals and special projects at the Momentary or other venues including Crystal Bridges, as required; act as a tour producer for traveling projects and coproductions; and help develop and manage an artist residency program. The Head of Performing Arts will also share in the general responsibilities of the department, including reviewing collaboration proposals and potential Crystal Bridges public programs, and representing the department with donors, community partners, artists, other staff, interns, volunteers, members, and the general public as needed.
The Head of Performing Arts will be the key artistic decision maker in at least one of the following disciplines: Indie Music, Contemporary Dance or Theater, with programmers selected to complement this expertise.
The ideal Head of Performing Arts is flexible, experimental, creative, and collaborative, with a passion for contemporary performing arts and connecting with our guests and diverse communities. Excellent speaking, writing, and research abilities are required.
Primary Responsibilities and Duties
– The Head of Performing Arts is charged with creating and shepherding activities in a very collaborative process, often across art form boundaries. The key areas of this work include:
– An ongoing performance program that includes single shows/concerts and festivals, and appropriate related publications or A/V media.
– Engagement in a broad range of public programs and partnerships, internally and externally.
– Donor cultivation and stewardship.
– Contribute to a long-term artistic vision for the Momentary and Crystal Bridges.
– Propose and develop creative and engaging projects of various scale and content.
– Work with fellow staff to ensure the best available standards of care and protection for all works in the permanent collection and borrowed art works.
– Work in close partnership with Education and Public Program colleagues to contribute to programs related to the special exhibitions or festivals including, but not limited to, lectures, workshops and gallery presentations.
– Serve as an ambassador for Crystal Bridges locally, nationally, and internationally, being an active member in the field as well as with the general public.
-Assist in exhibition- and program- related fundraising by providing necessary project information and participating in grant writing and personal solicitations to potential donors including corporations, foundations and individuals.
– Supervise guest programmers in area of specialization, consultants and support staff including curatorial assistants, freelance programmers, and interns as required.
– Assist in the development and management of a robust artist residency program.
– Perform additional duties as assigned.
Essential Qualifications
Education, Training, and Traits:
– Knowledge of Performing Arts with a focus on Indie Music, Theater or Contemporary Dance
– Masters degree in Music, Theater, Dance or other related fields, or equivalent experience.
– Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including public speaking and writing
– Excellent working relationships with performing arts venues, artists, festivals, the A/V media industry and scholars
– Self-directed and motivated, with a hands-on mentality.
– Experience working directly with artists and their representatives on large-scale projects
Work Experience:
Minimum of seven (7) to ten (10) years prior senior performing arts programming experience, preferably with a national or international profile.
Licenses and Certifications:
Ability to obtain Passport for International Travel
Skills and Abilities:
– Proficiency with standard office equipment including basic computer literacy (word processing, spread sheets, e-mail, etc.) telephone, fax and copy machines
– Excellent written and verbal communication skills
– Strong research skills, ability to perform scholarly research in the field
– Ability to meet deadlines and handle multiple tasks simultaneously
– Demonstrated project management and negotiation skills
– Ability to interact respectfully, collegially, and professionally with all employees and volunteers at all levels of responsibility
– Ability and willingness to be a team player both within the department, and throughout the entire organization
– Ability to maintain the highest ethics as they relate to all aspects of curatorial endeavor, and to understand and maintain the highest levels of confidentiality
Desirable Qualifications
– Experience with contemporary visual arts and collaborative or multi art form projects
– Experience in bilingual English/Spanish work environment, proficiency in Spanish
– Audiovisual and media skills
Physical Demands and Work Environment:
The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Physical demands: The position requires verbal and written conversation with others. Vision and hearing abilities required by the job include unimpaired hearing and vision.
Work Environment: Work will be performed in an office environment, museum and performance spaces, and in communities served. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate. Position requires some independent overnight travel for research, professional meetings, national and international coproductions and other travel as necessary to fulfill responsibilities of the position.
Mobile Device Stipend Program
This position is eligible to participate in the Mobile Device Stipend Program. Your manager will explain the departmental expectations of returning calls, responding to texts and responding to emails. The expectations may vary depending on the needs of Crystal Bridges and the responsibilities of the position. A signed agreement must be
submitted to HR prior to participating in the program.
About the Momentary
The Momentary is a new contemporary art space that opened to the public on February 22, 2020, in downtown Bentonville, Arkansas. A satellite to Crystal Bridges, the Momentary presents visual, performing, and culinary arts. The mission of the Momentary is to champion contemporary arts role in everyday life and explore the unfolding story of contemporary American arts in an international context by actively commissioning and exhibiting outstanding works that explore new ideas and inspire action. The Momentary was founded by the Walton family, based on the vision of Tom, Olivia, and Steuart Walton. The Walton Family Foundation is supporting this project as a way to enhance the quality of life in Northwest Arkansas. The Momentary welcomes all with free general admission. Additional offerings include an artist-in-residence program, culinary experiences including an Onyx Coffee Lab, indoor and outdoor gathering spaces, an outdoor festival space, and a gift store. For more information, visit theMomentary.org. The Momentary is located at 507 SE E Street, Bentonville, Arkansas 72712.
