About The Amistad Center for Art & Culture
Founded in 1987, The Amistad Center for Art & Culture (TAC) is a "museum within a museum" housed in the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, the oldest continuously operating public art museum in America. The Amistad Center uniquely inspires, entertains, and educates diverse audiences through a robust array of art, cultural and educational experiences for all members of the Greater Hartford community and New England region. Our multidisciplinary collection of more than 7,000 works of fine art, photography, historical artifacts, memorabilia, and rare books documents the African American experience from the earliest era of enslavement to contemporary creative achievements. We curate unique cultural experiences that encourage rich one-of-a-kind cross-cultural conversations. Through our efforts to honor and celebrate the history and contributions of all people of African descent in America, we seek to inspire the next generation of artists, art enthusiasts and cultural visionaries.
For more information on The Amistad Center for Art & Culture, please visit https://www.amistadcenter.org/.
The Opportunity
The Amistad Center for Art & Culture (TAC) is seeking a dynamic and inspirational Executive Director (“ED”) who will champion the organization’s mission and bold vision for continued growth, greater community impact and deepened community relationships.
In partnership with the Deputy Director, the ED will carry out the mission of TAC with the full support of the Board of Trustees and museum partners at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art. The ED will have the full complement of staff members consisting of a Deputy Director, Administrative and Marketing Associate, Development and Events Manager, Education and Programming Manager and Curator.
The ED must be a visionary and creative leader, exuding a sense of intellectual curiosity and a willingness and eagerness to share their knowledge and understanding with the Museum’s diverse constituents. This person will be an articulate, dynamic, diplomatic and effective communicator and be respected among peers in the art and culture community. The ED will be well-received in national circles in order to enhance TAC’s profile and aid ongoing partnership efforts.
Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the ED will provide overall leadership, fundraising strategy, operations management, program oversight, and administration of the organization. The ED will serve as a point of contact with key relationships, including Board members, museum staff, artists, educators, community partners and funders. This leader must be based in Hartford, CT.
The Executive Director’s key responsibilities include:
- Serving as an inspirational, innovative, and visionary leader for TAC, balancing a collaborative, relational spirit with a business mindset and discipline to ensure sustainability and continued impact and success for the museum.
- Expanding community partnerships and acting as the primary spokesperson building on the strong legacy of the organization and further positioning TAC as a relevant cultural asset in the community.
- Leading short-term operational and long-range strategic planning and implementation processes, including routine assessment of operations, mentoring and supervision of human resources, mobilization of technological resources, and decision-making related to appropriate use of fiscal resources.
- Ensuring the careful, sound, and responsible management of TAC’s collection, including legal, social, and ethical obligations to provide proper care as well as intellectual control.
- Partnering with the Board and being a champion of TAC’s strategic priorities.
- Designing a successful and diversified fundraising strategy in partnership with the Board to ensure long-term financial health of the organization.
- Identifying and pursuing new and creative revenue strategies including endowments, planned giving, and annual funding opportunities from individuals, foundations, corporations, and government agencies with Board and staff support.
- Hiring, assessing, and managing a talented staff while creating a supportive and nurturing environment that supports everyone’s professional development.
- Recruiting Board members, nurturing Board relationships and leveraging board talents and resources to help achieve key objectives.
Candidate Profile
The Executive Director of The Amistad Center will possess the following professional and personal attributes and characteristics:
Strategic and Visionary Leader
The ED will be a creative visionary and thought partner who will have the capacity to understand where the trajectory of TAC can go and its potential in the field. This leader will work with the Board to construct the strategic plan and vision that upon implementation will bring to life an inspirational future for TAC and draw a diverse audience. The ED will have an entrepreneurial spirit and be able to guide and substantially contribute to the continued articulation of the identity, values, mission and strategy of TAC. Fundamentally, the ED will be a ‘change agent’ with the ability to successfully lead the Board and staff through a period of transition and growth. The ED will create opportunities for learning and collaboration that furthers the mission, vision, and desired impact of TAC. In partnership with the Deputy Director, the ED will develop a coordinated exhibition and program schedule that maximizes use of TAC’s collection and resources as well as identifies partnership opportunities to expand exhibit offerings.
Business Acumen and Management
The ED will be key to the institutional advancement of TAC. The ED will stimulate involvement, provide necessary organizational information, and work closely with the Board to ensure strong fiscal health and organizational governance. The ED will be results-oriented and able to translate TAC’s over-arching goals into clear objectives for the Board and staff. This leader will leverage the Board’s strengths to further the mission of TAC and actively engage key leaders in its work. The ED will have a track record of successful Board development and management and will always partner closely with the Board. They will approach the financial oversight of TAC with dispassion and balance, with an even-handed and reasoned approach to budgetary decision-making based on a clear understanding of the strategic objectives of the organization. Additionally, they will be an exceptional leader to TAC’s staff. They will be a strong delegator, utilizing the skills of staff to reach optimal success of the museum. They will empower staff and build and grow talent. The ED must also work to lead the effort to improve TAC’s operational and technological infrastructures in order to create sustainable and longstanding systems and processes. They must be able to integrate new technologies and help take the museum into today’s digital era.
Experienced Fundraiser & Ambassador
Determined and motivated, the ED will bring demonstrated success in meeting ambitious growth goals and securing significant gifts from a range of funders, from institutions to individual donors, foundations, and corporations. Proactive and energetic they will inspire confidence in the Board, donors, partners, and other constituents. The ED will be an effective communicator in board meetings, community events, marketing communication, and all external presentations. They will successfully convey the story and objectives of TAC to potential donors and inspire confidence in donors to build collaboration and buy-in and generate support from existing and new constituents. This leader will be extremely deliberate in connecting with the surrounding community of Hartford and beyond, working to expand the museum’s reach and impact. The ED will help allocate the museum’s funds toward programming and events that will draw audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
Passion for the Mission
The ED will have a passion for African American art, history and culture and have a passion for the mission of TAC. They will work to continually innovate, helping TAC expand its brand and reach. A desire to be a part of the continued articulation and growth of TAC’s mission and goals is imperative. They will be dedicated to the museum’s growth and will have the strength of character and dexterity to see it through. They will have proven skills in all aspects of non-profit management, knowledge of, or expertise in the Black experience, have an avid interest in and/or knowledge of the fine arts, African American art, or a closely related art form. The ED will be an accomplished academic with museum experience. The ED will treat others with respect and be an individual of unquestioned integrity, ethics and values; someone who can be trusted without reservation.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $110,000 - $125,000 with a benefits package.
Contact
Koya Partners, the executive search firm that specializes in mission-driven search, has been exclusively retained for this engagement. Judene Hylton of Koya Partners has been exclusively retained for this search. To express interest in this role please submit your materials by filling out our Talent Profile or email the Koya Team directly at theamistadcenter_ed@koyapartners.com. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.
Koya Partners is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email NonprofitSearchOps@divsearch.com. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
The Amistad Center for Art & Culture is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.
About Koya Partners
Koya Partners, a part of Diversified Search Group, is a leading executive search and strategic advising firm dedicated to connecting exceptionally talented people with mission-driven clients. Our founding philosophy—The Right Person in the Right Place Can Change the World—guides our work as we partner with nonprofits & NGOs, institutions of higher education, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.
For more information about Koya Partners, visit https://diversifiedsearchgroup.com/koya-partners/.