Executive Director
hace 3 días
Newtonville
Job Description About The New Art Center Founded in 1977, the New Art Center (New Art) is a nonprofit community art center located in Newton, Massachusetts, just west of Boston. For nearly 50 years, New Art has provided inclusive, high-quality visual arts education, exhibitions, and community engagement opportunities for children, teens, and adults at all levels of experience. Each year, New Art offers 400+ classes and programs led by accomplished regional artists and educators, serving approximately 3,000 total enrollments across on-site, off-site, and outreach programs. Scholarships and tuition assistance ensure that financial barriers do not limit participation. New Art's mission is grounded in the belief that making, viewing, and thinking about art are essential human practices that foster learning, problem-solving, connection, and meaningful lives. The organization is committed to integrating art into everyday life and to creating welcoming spaces where creativity and curiosity thrive. New Art's vision centers on building a vibrant, inclusive creative community-one that prioritizes artistic excellence, equity, access, and belonging. Through its classes and workshops, public programs, scholarships, and community partnerships, New Art seeks to ensure that art is accessible to all, and supportive of artists at every stage of their creative journey. As New Art approaches its 50th anniversary in 2027, the organization is focused on deepening community impact, strengthening artistic and educational quality, advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, and supporting creativity, wellness, and joy through the arts. Position Summary The New Art Center seeks an Executive Director who is the visionary leader responsible for the overall strategic, artistic, financial, operational, and community impact of the New Art Center. This role will ensure New Art's financial sustainability, deepen community engagement, drive strategic planning, lead fundraising and revenue generation, and inspire a high-performing team. The Executive Director will lead with a strong artistic and educational vision, and be committed to supporting artists at every stage of their creative journey. Reporting to the Board of Governors, the Executive Director will serve as the principal representative of the organization, stewarding donor relationships and partnerships with public, private, and civic stakeholders. Key ResponsibilitiesArtistic Vision & Strategic Leadership • Provide visionary leadership to shape and sustain a compelling artistic and cultural vision that reflects the values and mission of New Art Center, • Partner with the Board to develop and execute multi-year strategic plans that ensure financial sustainability, propel artistic innovation, audience development, and community impact, • Inspire creative programming that balances artistic excellence with relevance to the local communityFinancial Sustainability, • Oversee the assets and financial affairs of the organization to ensure New Art's financial sustainability including developing long- and short-range financial plans, monitoring the budget and ensuring expenditures are in line with available resources, executing proper financial controls, and providing routine reports to the board and staff, • Lead comprehensive strategy for earned revenue streams including classes, public programs and rentals. Oversee programs team in the development and implementation of compelling education programs that promote a reputation of excellence, stimulate student loyalty, and attract new students at all levels in their artistic journey, • Oversee budgeting and financial planning to ensure long-term fiscal health and sustainabilityFundraising & External Relations, • Embrace the Executive Director's role as a leader in fundraising to strengthen endeavors utilizing local, regional and national resources. Collaborate with development staff and board committees to cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors and execute annual development activities, • Lead comprehensive fundraising strategies including major gifts, grants, sponsorships, individual giving, and special events. Cultivate and steward relationships with donors, funders, corporations, foundations, and public sector partnersOperational & Organizational Leadership, • Lead the creation of an engaged, diverse, and inclusive staff and faculty that represents New Art's communities. Cultivate a strong and transparent working relationship with the staff and faculty to ensure open communication and alignment with New Art's mission, • Create and promote a positive, inclusive, and equitable work environment that attracts, retains, supports, and motivates a diverse staff. The Executive Director will collaborate with staff to strengthen internal communication and collaboration throughout the organization and ensure annual performance evaluations are completedBoard & Community Relations, • Support the creation of an engaged, diverse, and inclusive Board of Governors that represents New Art's communities. Cultivate a strong and transparent working relationship with the Board to ensure open communication and alignment with New Art's mission, • Build a strong, transparent, and productive partnership with the Board of Governors - including regular strategic updates and collaboration on governance, fundraising, and community outreach, • Act as the public face of the organization, expanding visibility in the Newton and Greater Boston arts communities and beyond, • Forge and nurture strategic collaborations with civic leaders, cultural institutions, artists, educators, and community partnersMarketing, Audience Engagement & Branding, • Oversee all marketing, branding, and communication strategies, collaborating with staff to define and implement a marketing and communication plan with the goal to increase exposure and engagement and achieve revenue goals, increase enrollments, grow audiences, and institutional reputation, • Ensure cohesive branding and storytelling that align with New Art's missionQualificationsRequired, • Significant leadership experience (8+ years) in nonprofit arts or cultural management with demonstrated success in fundraising, strategic planning, and organizational leadership, • Proven ability to develop and implement strategic plans that align the organization around shared vision and mission to achieve sustainable growth, • Experience with a nonprofit organization, cultural or educational institution, or equivalent is required, • Demonstrated fundraising track record, including major gifts, annual giving, membership, corporate and foundation giving, planned giving, • Demonstrated success in cultivating diverse revenue streams and stewarding major donors, grants, and partnerships, • Exceptional interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills. Deep commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and community engagement, • Passion for New Art's programs, goals, and mission, as well as a deep interest in cultivating the donor community in the regionPreferred, • Experience leading community-focused art centers or cultural institutions, • Established relationships with regional arts funders, civic leaders, and cultural organizations, • Advanced degree in nonprofit management, arts administration, business, or related field, • Newton residence and/or familiarity with the Newton community and Newton civic and cultural organizationsPhysical Requirements & Work Environment, • Ability to work on-site in a historic, multi-level building that is not fully ADA accessible, including the regular use of stairs, • Ability to move throughout the facility to attend meetings, classrooms, exhibitions, events, and community programs, • Ability to lift, carry, or move materials weighing up to approximately 25 pounds on an occasional basis (e.g., event supplies, materials, signage), • Ability to stand or walk for extended periods during events, openings, meetings, and public programs Benefits: New Art also supports staff through an annual healthcare stipend, short-term and long-term disability insurance, and generous paid time off, including anticipated office closure between Christmas and New Year's. Employees and their dependents have opportunities to enroll in New Art classes at no or reduced cost across the year. Equal Employment Opportunity The New Art Center is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and experiences. Job Posted by ApplicantPro