ARTISTIC AND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

ARTISTIC AND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR JOB OPPORTUNITY

Organization Mission, Goals, and Values: Located in downtown Pelham, NY, the Pelham Art Center is a 54 year old Educational and cultural non-profit institution committed to providing access to study, experience and appreciation of the arts. The Pelham Art Center strives to be a vibrant, engaging arts space that provides meaningful and unique opportunities to learn about and enhance artistic skills and practices.

With community building at our core, PAC welcomes participants and artists of diverse backgrounds to foster connections and encourage the open exchange of ideas. The Pelham Art Center values and celebrates creativity, innovation, community building, and mutual respect.

Organization Information: The Pelham Art Center has been a strong community pillar since 1970 when it was founded as The Pelham Art Happening by a group of  women committed to offering free and affordable cultural activities and arts Education to adults, children, and artists of all ages and all abilities. Each year, PAC serves approximately 12,700 people who live in southern Westchester County and the northern Bronx. The Pelham Art Center also works with more than 300 artists and artist educators each year. Located in downtown Pelham, NY, The Pelham Art Center is near mass transit and highways.

The 2023/24 operating budget is $800,000. PAC employs regular staff, consultants, and artist educators and owns and occupies a 5,700 sf one story building with a large courtyard. The building houses two exhibition galleries, three art studios, a kiln room, storage, reception desk, kitchenette, two lavatories, small shop, and staff offices.

The Pelham Art Center is governed by a Board of Directors, a dedicated group of area residents who love and support the arts and community based organizations. Its members are business professionals and entrepreneurs, artists, and civic volunteers.

The Position: The Artistic and Development Director (AD) is the Pelham Art Center’s main public representative along with the Managing Director of Finance and Operations. The AD provides leadership, vision, and artistic direction, creating a safe environment and inclusive culture that fully supports and advances the organization’s mission and goals.

The Pelham Art Center seeks a leader who will continue to grow its reputation, attract new audiences, and provide excellent services to the community by helping shape its class development, exhibitions, programs for underserved communities, and other public events. It is especially critical that this person have ties to the artist community specifically in the tri-state area, and have experience with fundraising through individual and corporate donors as well as grant-writing.

The AD leads PAC’s fundraising efforts, including the annual campaign, foundation and government grants, and helps in part with individual gifts and membership. With significant support from the Board, PAC also hosts two large annual fundraising events (spring and fall).

The AD will also help lead and manage the second phase of our Capital Campaign which is anticipated to begin in late 2024. We are currently almost at our goal for phase 1, which aims to address the urgent needs of the facility.  The second phase will be longer and more ambitious in its scope and may include an expansion of the indoor space.

Work Responsibilities:

Broad Strokes

• Provide artistic visionary leadership to the board, staff, community, and business and program partners.
• Oversee artistic programs, staff management, annual and capital fundraising, and fundraising events.
• Schedule, participate in, and provide materials for meetings of the full Board, Executive Committee, 5 standing board committees, and any special committees.
• Develop strategic plans, long-term vision, and resource plans for the gallery space and the exhibits.
• Develop and nurture grant pipeline and support the needs of the existing grants to ensure we meet our financial targets

Staff Leadership

• Lead and mentor personnel to support the responsibilities of this role.  Currently, there is one full time Gallery and Events Manager who is a direct report.
• Create a culture where professional development and internal leadership capabilities are valued and supported.
• Serve as a strong voice for diversity and inclusion, leading by example with tremendous authenticity and ability to establish relevance and credibility in the community.
• Demonstrate expertise in change management, fostering adaptability, and innovation while driving sustained growth and program excellence.
• Serve as a mentor and model for civic engagement and leadership.

Revenue Development

• Identify, cultivate, and strengthen relationships with new and existing donors.  Your authenticity will naturally encourage future donors and members as well as renewals.
• Sustain and grow a diversified contributed and earned revenue program that increases general support and the cash reserve.
• Expert management of fundraising events that welcome new individuals, businesses, and community leaders, while retaining existing supporters.
• Serve as a steward and maintain relationships with all supporters of the organization, including volunteers, donors, elected officials, students, families and artists.
• Partner with the board and The Pelham Art Center staff to craft revenue goals and strategies to ensure fundraising success.
• Ensure sustainable funding from a variety of sources, including government, major gifts, and new sources of revenue.
• Lead and manage the next phase of the Capital Campaign.

Community Partnerships

• Foster trust, interdependence, and collaboration with community partners, including government agencies, local organizations, school systems, and area residents.
• Build and activate partnerships and coalitions with local, regional, national, and global partners to advance The Pelham Art Center’s mission.
• Specific Responsibilities:
  • Develop and work to achieve an artistic vision / direction for PAC
  • Embody and embrace existing Mission and Vision of the Pelham Art Center
  • Evolve the artistic vision to meet the changing needs of PAC, and the communities that PAC serves
  • Elevate the profile of the PAC as a leading local visual arts institution

Lead major development efforts of PAC

• Build a robust grant pipeline by seeking out and identifying appropriate government and foundation grants; take the lead in grant writing with support from operations staff;
• Oversee the annual appeal and general fundraising, targeting individuals and corporate sources of funding
• Oversee the Capital Campaign, including nurturing relationships with high net worth donors
• Oversee Gallery Program with the Gallery Event Manager and the Gallery Advisory Committee
  • Supervise the installation of gallery shows
  • Cultivate and sustain relationships with artist communities
  • Re-energize the Gallery Advisory Committee and develop strategic plan for gallery program
  • Oversee the annual Art Boutique and merchandise sold at PAC throughout the year
  • Maintain existing and facilitate new artist relations through active communication
  • Seeking artists for Artists’ Club
  • Donations of artwork
  • Formalizing agreements with artists
  • Public art installations
  • Establish a calendar of public community events (eg, courtyard events) and oversee their execution, including participating in many events

Preferred Skills and Qualifications:

• 4 year degree, Masters a plus.
• 10 years relevant work experience, including 5 years supervising multiple employees, consultants, and contractors.
• Work experience in a multi-disciplinary facility with exhibition galleries, multi-arts spaces, or studios/classrooms.
• Successful experience reporting to and working with a Board of Directors.
• Experience interacting with adults and students of all ages and abilities.
• Active professional network of arts organizations, artists, and businesses in Metro NYC/Westchester County/Hudson Valley.
• Responsible for successful revenue generation through contributed and earned sources.
• Demonstrated record in grant writing and fundraising from individuals and corporations.
• Clear understanding of the different types of grants and obligations to servicing each.
• Experience speaking to groups and leading meetings.
• Excellent writing, editing, and research skills.
• Expertise with Google Suite, MS Office, CRM databases (NEON in use), and other presentation and document tools.
• Valid Drivers License.
• Ability to lift up to 20 lbs occasionally.

Job Information and Employer Provided Benefits:

• Position is full-time, in person, and includes evening and weekend work.
• Salary Range: $65,000 to $80,000, depending on experience level.
• Paid time off: 3 weeks vacation, 10 holidays, and 10 sick days.
• Health & Life Insurance
• 403b Plan with employer match
• Free classes for employee or/and family member
• Discount on shop and gallery purchases

To Apply:

To be considered for the opportunity, please send an email to pelhamacedsearch@gmail.com and attach one document containing a cover letter and resume. The Pelham Art Center Search Committee will contact you if they wish to schedule an interview. Thank you.

The Pelham Art Center is an equal opportunity employer. The Pelham Art Center prohibits unlawful discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation and/or identity, criminal record, marital status, or any other basis prohibited by law.