Museum Director – The Art Museum of South Texas

The Art Museum of South Texas is the only major fine arts museum within 150 mile radius of Corpus Christi. Founded in 1945, the Art Museum of South Texas moved from South Bluff Park to the Philip Johnson designed building on the Corpus Christi Bayfront in 1972. In 1995, the Museum became affiliated with Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Two years later, the Museum merged with the Creative Arts Center and the Center for Hispanic Arts, creating the South Texas Institute for the Arts (doing business under the name of the Art Museum of South Texas.) In 2006, a wing was designed by the famed architect Ricardo Legorreta of Mexico City and completed bringing the museum to a total of 60,000 square feet of gallery space, adding a restaurant, more galleries, gift shop, offices, the digital classroom and additional art storage. In 2017, the lower level of the Johnson Building was remodeled to provide more space for education programming including adding a black box theater, second classroom, and computer lab. The Art Museum of South Texas receives well over 100,000 visitors annually, with many of them being tourists from out of the area. The Museum’s focus is on art education for children and adults, as well as providing access to important and inspirational works of art, which makes it a destination for both local families and visitors to the South Texas region. The Permanent Collection is the Museum’s most significant asset. The collection is comprised of over 1,900 works of art including painting, sculpture, drawing, glass, photography, turned wood, graphics, ceramics, fabric, and fine craft. In 1994, the Museum Board revised its collecting focus to place an emphasis on the “Art of the Americas” as well as developing a comprehensive collection of works by artists associated with the state of Texas. Museum staff aggressively seeks art created in the region. In 2001, the Collection benefited from the addition of 1,000 paintings, prints, drawings, and collages from the estate of recognized Texas modernist artist, the late Dorothy Hood (1918-2000). In 2016, the Museum opened a gallery devoted to Spanish Colonial art and it also features Pre-Columbian and related works by
contemporary Hispanic artists. It was expanded in 2018. The Museum presents 12 to 15 art exhibitions per year. The annual exhibition calendar regularly features a wide variety of offerings including contemporary, traditional, Western, and wildlife art. The Museum typically presents art of state, regional, national, and international interest, looking for a balance of artistic media by presenting painting, sculpture, crafts, graphics, photography, drawing and installation art. Biennially the Museum presents an exhibition of the Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi art faculty. On alternating years, the Museum curates a special exhibition focused on a theme and these shows always feature Texas artists. In 2016, the Museum presented a major retrospective exhibition of 155 works of art by Dorothy Hood with 54 pieces coming from the Museum’s collection and the remainder from collections throughout the U.S. It also featured hands-on interactives created by Boston Productions, Inc. and an illustrated hardcover book on the life and art of Hood. In 2018, the
interpretive interactive installations for the Dorothy Hood exhibition won three awards: a Bronze Award from the American Alliance of Museums in their MUSE Award national/international competition, silver in Texas’ state museums competition, and a 1st Place in the ten-state regional museums awards competition. The Museum continues to focus attention on Hood by exploring options for a future touring exhibition and uses of the Hood archives. Similarly, the Museum has entered into an agreement with McClain Gallery of Houston allowing them to market works by Hood from the Museum’s holdings which are not a part of the institution’s permanent collection. Funds generated through this partnership will be used to further the research, conservation, and care of the Museum’s permanent collection and especially the works of Dorothy Hood. The Museum also presents exhibitions at the Antonio E. Garcia Arts & Education Center. All of the exhibitions are marketed and promoted extensively around the state, region and nation attracting many visitors to the Art Museum and Corpus Christi. The Museum works cooperatively with the other museums and attractions in the City to cross promote and share visitors to extend their stay in our community. The exhibitions are enhanced by all kinds of programming in the visual arts including classes, workshops, artist demonstrations, films, lectures, seminars, visiting artists, tours, performances, and many other offerings.

About the Position:
We seek an experienced leader to create and implement strategies to grow and evolve the Museum in terms of outreach, collection, exhibitions, membership, community influence and fundraising. The successful candidate will build relationships, connections and partnership opportunities to advance growth strategies and to promote the Museum as a best in class museum with a reputation for expertise in art of the Americas. S/he will work closely with deeply engaged Executive Committee and Board of Trustees. A general knowledge of art history is important as is as a thorough understanding of the visual arts of the Americas.

Responsibilities:
The Director has responsibility for managing operations, administration, financial affairs (including development activities, such as donor cultivation, grant writing and special events), business development/marketing programs, membership development, exhibits and collections, educational programming, long term strategic planning and oversight of all Board-directed initiatives and staff leadership. Spec

Fund Raising and Grant Writing:

  • Develop a comprehensive fundraising plan in collaboration with Board of Directors, staff and volunteers and the Director of Development to expand strategic revenuegenerating programs.
  • Pursue foundation grants for operational needs and capital improvements including museum maintenance and improvements.
  • Seek funding opportunities and grants for education and outreach programs through state, federal and private funding organizations and agencies.
  • Seek funding opportunities for development of endowments (general and specific)
  • Work with TAMU-CC’s Office of Institutional Advancement for shared opportunities and resources.

Community Outreach and Education:

  • Consistently and professionally represent THE MUSEUM as principal spokesperson with members of the media, governmental agencies, local civic groups, and other nonprofit and social service agencies.
  • Build collaborative partnerships with local and regional stakeholders, which includes local and regional arts organizations, local schools & higher education, governments, etc.
  • Develop contacts with local and regional schools and higher education to offer programs appropriate for their students and teachers.
    • Actively plan new and grow current museum programs.

Collections and Exhibition Planning and Programming:

  • Work closely with the Curator(s) and Board to refine the existing collections initiative.
  • Work closely with the Curator(s) to realize the organization and presentation of art exhibitions that the Curator(s) select and to support visual, oral, audio and digital materials that are effective in relaying the museum’s mission.

Human Resources:

  • Build a dynamic office culture focused on equity and inclusion that attracts, retains, and motivates a staff and diverse group of volunteers.
  • Responsible for the hiring, training and development of the staff including mentoring, feedback, and performance reviews.
  • Establish clear expectations and goals for direct reports, and hold employees accountable for results.
  • Assure compliance with TAMU-CC Human Resources procedures.

Board of Trustees Interaction:

  • Provide effective guidance in understanding opportunities where Board can further the museum’s mission and impact in the community.
  • Clearly communicate ideas and recommendations at Board and/or committee meetings.
  • Keep the Board adequately informed of activities and affairs of the organization.
  • Prepare and provide materials and reports essential for the effective functioning of the Board.
  • Work with the Board to identify and cultivate potential Directors.

Ideal Candidate:
The ideal candidate will be highly curious, insist on high standards to best serve our members,
and have a passion for building community through the arts. S/he should be innovative, willing
to engage stakeholders through traditional and non-traditional methods, and familiar with
new and developing technology trends in the arts. S/he will have strength in relationship
building and community engagement, a demonstrated track record of fundraising success,
and experience working in partnership with engaged volunteers, stakeholders and donors.
The successful candidate will have significant experience managing operations and staff,
administration, financial affairs, business development/marketing programs, long term
strategic planning, and oversight of all Board-directed initiatives and staff leadership.

Qualifications Required:

  • A bachelor’s degree required (arts, business or museum sciences preferred); master’s degree preferred.
  • 10+ years of successful managerial and leadership experience as a director and/or administrator
  • Successful leadership in a fund raising capacity with a proven track record of both public and private fundraising abilities securing operational capacity as well as grant funding for programs
  • Experience in financial management, including budget development and monitoring
  • Excellent interpersonal, communication, and relationship building/networking skills
  • A high degree of cultural competence and experience working with and serving diverse populations
  • Strong organizational abilities including planning, delegating, program development and task facilitation

To Apply:
Applications will continue to be received until the position is filled and the review of applications will begin June 1, 2019. For complete job description and information, see https://tamus.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/TAMUCC_External/job/Corpus-ChristiTAMUCC/Director–South-Texas-Institute-for-the-Arts_R-019975-1
In your cover letter please describe how your professional experience and passion aligns with the Director position and the mission of The Art Museum of South Texas.