Executive Director

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW

A 26-year-strong Richmond, VA, institution, ART 180 is a community-centered art space, gallery, and creative collective curating exhibitions, events, workshops, residencies, and art experiences for young people, their families, and working artists in our city.

• We are a collective of artists, young people, community members and supporters of all kinds. Our collective knows no borders and no single biography. We each bring our own strengths, perspectives, and personalities to create something unique.
• We create spaces, free of judgment, encouraging creative expression while developing young creators and promoting them through exhibitions, performances, public art, etc.
• We build partnerships with professional artists, schools, and community organizations to guide young people in developing skills to help them share their unique and important voices.
• We operate Atlas, a community arts hub and gallery in Jackson Ward, and provide programs at partner locations across the community.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the Executive Director is responsible for implementing and enhancing the organization’s strategic goals, leading and sustaining fundraising initiatives, developing and administering program activities and leadership of day-to-day operations of ART 180. The individual selected must be bold and creative in enhancing the organization’s image as a vibrant community arts center.

The Executive Director will devote significant time in the community creating and growing ART 180’s image with a variety of constituents. These may include community leaders, donors (individual and corporate), artists and other directors of artistic/cultural organizations. The Executive Director will be expected to build solid relationships with staff, board, donors, artists and community leaders.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership and Management

• Provide strategic leadership and vision for the organization
• Participate in strategic planning and the evolution of existing and new programs.
• Foster a healthy organizational culture that encourages collaboration, innovation, and accountability
• Oversee day-to-day operations
• Lead and delegate to staff responsibility for successful management of the daily affairs of the organization.
• Develop and manage a high-performing team by providing on-going feedback and celebrate individual and team successes
• Convene and direct meetings of the Leadership Team to focus priorities and align with strategy
• Direct all administrative matters, and cultivate vendor relationships related to insurance, employee benefits, payroll, etc.
• Oversee all concerns and operations concerning the building(s) and grounds of ART 180.
• Represent ART 180 as a unit owner before the condo HOA and contribute to decisions made about the property
• Provide guidance to the Deputy Director and Communications Manager to ensure planning, development, and production of all organizational communications
• Maintain positive relationships and provide individual support as needed to staff, board, interns, teaching artists, alumni, etc.

Financial Management

• Responsible for overseeing the assets and financial affairs of the organization, ensuring expenditures are in line with available resources while achieving the appropriate balance between revenue generation and fundraising.
• 5-10 years senior or executive non-profit or for-profit leadership experience
• Lead and strengthen fundraising endeavors utilizing local, regional and national resources. Development is a primary responsibility of the Executive Director.
• Develop and manage the annual budget in a timely manner, ensuring financial sustainability, thoroughness, transparency, and good stewardship
• Monitor financial performance and provide regular reports for the Board of Trustees
• Oversee all accounting functions and work with Operations Specialist to prepare monthly reports
• Staff Finance Committee and work with the Board to recruit members
• Work with Finance Committee and Operations Specialist to evaluate ART 180’s financial position and make informed decisions on topics such as banking relationships
• Monitor the annual audit review process and tax form preparation by ensuring timely completion; and work with Finance Committee and Board to ensure accuracy

Board Relations

• Work collaboratively with the Board of Trustees on strategic planning and organizational governance
• Work with the Board of Trustees to plan and administer fund raising activities to support existing programs, create new programs and retire debt.
• Provide regular updates to the board on organizational performance and key issues
• Support board recruitment, orientation, and development
• Build relationships by engaging in regular contact with board members between meetings, individually and collectively
• Work with the Board President to ensure members make and fulfill a financial commitment
• Confer with the Board’s President to develop board meeting agendas; ensure that staff and space are prepared for meetings
• Build a strong collaborative relationship with the Board President and communicate on a regular basis

Program Development and Evaluation

• Exercise ultimate responsibility for ART 180’s offerings and artistic programming.
• Oversee the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs and services
• Ensure that programs align with the organization’s mission and meet community needs
• Utilize data and feedback to continuously improve program effectiveness

QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate will be passionate about the mission of ART 180 and possess the following qualifications:

• An undergraduate degree is required; an advanced degree (MBA, MFA, etc.) is desirable. Experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Excellent communication skills and strong public speaking ability.
• Passion and ability for developing and maintaining long-term relationships that will enhance the financial, artistic and educational goals of the organization.
• A solid track record of seeing projects through to successful completion
• Proven fundraising and grant writing experience
• The ability to create and manage budgets
• An entrepreneurial spirit: specifically, vision coupled with motivation and execution
• A strategic thinker with an innovative style, and a willingness to try new strategies 
• Ability to think like a businessperson (for profit), while working with a non-profit organization and possessing business acumen with financial responsibility is vital.
• A successful track record of leadership in an arts related organization and a strong understanding of educational programming and/or significant senior management experience with a professional business or educational institution. 
• Skilled at using leadership and delegation, combined with a personal and inclusive management style to build ART 180’s base of volunteer support and optimize staff resources.
• A willingness to live in the Richmond area and to participate actively in ART 180’s robust schedule of activities and events during weekdays, evenings and weekends

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• A generous compensation package will be offered based on experience. In addition to competitive wages, ART 180 offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, 401(b), generous paid time off, and more.