The Greater Reston Arts Center, a 501c3 non-profit in its 46th year dedicated to enriching community life by promoting involvement and excellence in contemporary art, seeks an Executive Director & Curator (combined role). The opening comes at a time when the institution is ready to implement a brand/name change (following a yearlong review with professional assistance) and repositioning as an institute of contemporary art – moves that better align the organization with our position and ambition as a leader in the region’s cultural conversation. The Executive Director & Curator must have a commitment to the institution’s contemporary art mission, relevant postgraduate qualification, and demonstrated ability and enthusiasm to lead the organization through this important repositioning and rebranding and continue its dynamic growth trajectory.
The Executive Director & Curator will have both operational and creative/content decision-making authority across the organization (exhibitions, including increasingly nationally and internationally recognized artists at our main gallery and the very best local and regional artists at our satellite Signature gallery, accompanied in all cases by robust public programming), educational programming (especially our county-wide, K-12 Emerging Visions program and summer camps), and the nationally ranked Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival). This position reports directly to and will have the support of an engaged Board of Directors.
Combining the roles of Executive Director & Curator reflects the organization’s primary mission as a content leader, and special consideration will be given to candidates with experience curating contemporary art exhibitions. Curatorial work will be supported by an experienced staff and outside guest curators, if and as desired, with the Executive Director & Curator retaining overall decision making and control.
The Executive Director & Curator at the Greater Reston Arts Center will be a person with:
1. A minimum of a master’s degree in Art History, Art Management, Museum or Curatorial Studies, or related field.
2. Proven leadership, organizational skills, and management capabilities, that should include planning and budget experience with prior P&L responsibility and experience managing direct reports.
3. The interest and initiative to ensure that ongoing administration and annual fundraising are successful (to include prior successful grant writing and obvious ability to complement and grow the organization’s development capacity).
4. An ability to extend the organization’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, consistent with its determination to reflect and program for the diverse audience and stakeholder populations that we serve.
5. The ability to confidently represent the organization and develop and articulate its vision. This must include excellent oral and written communication skills.
6. If no prior experience leading a contemporary visual arts organization, then a passion and career interest in leading an organization whose mission is the promotion of contemporary art, and, in all cases, a clear interest and ability to network and collaborate with, and extend the organization’s reach within, the regional and national contemporary art communities in support of that mission.
7. A demonstrated capacity for strategic and innovative thinking and visioning that will advance key objectives, allow the organization’s essential assets to flourish, and bring the organization through a successful rebranding and repositioning as an institute for contemporary art.
8. Proven capability of working effectively with staff (currently four other full- or near-full-time employees and multiple part-time employees), a board of directors, artists, sponsors, and supporters, particularly in a non-profit organization.
Complementing these qualifications, the Greater Reston Arts Center Executive Director & Curator will have a supportive and flexible team-management style and possess creative problem-solving capabilities essential for an evolving and growing organization determined to make important and relevant contributions that help shape the region’s cultural landscape.
For a detailed description of the institution and its programs please explore our website at www.restonarts.org. Salary will be competitive with the market and commensurate with the skillset the candidate offers.
GRACE is an equal opportunity employer. GRACE is supported in part by ARTSFAIRFAX, Reston Community Center, Virginia Commission for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
