The Burchfield Penney Art Center (the Center) is home to at least 9,000 works of art by more than 600 artists spanning the late 19th century through the present. It includes the world's largest collection of works and ephemera by acclaimed watercolorist Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967). In addition to Burchfield, artists represented in the regionally focused collection include Elbert Hubbard, Gustav Stickley, Cindy Sherman, Robert Mangold, Les Krims, Frank Lloyd Wright, Wendell Castle, Albert Paley, Bruce Kurland, Edwin Dickinson, Susan Rothenberg, Joseph Piccillo, Robert Longo, Alberto Rey, and Paul Sharits among others.
The Center has achieved a remarkable 50-year history which has been celebrated in this Anniversary year. The Center’s Board of Directors is seeking an Executive Director with the passion and dynamism to launch the Center into its next phase of growth, fund-raising and history-making in the western NY arts community. The next phase will focus on enhancing the prominence of Charles E. Burchfield as an artist, growing the collection, the contributions of western New York artists’ and numerous fundraising endeavors.
BASIC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RESPONSIBILITIES
The Executive Director will function as the Center’s lead fundraising officer.
Commensurate with the Center’s ambitions, the Executive Director will provide the creative vision and artistic direction for the Center, shaping and leading development of the Center’s role as an outstanding arts institution.
An independent 501c (3) corporation, the Center currently operates with a $3.5M budget of which approximately $1M is contributed by the State University of New York through Buffalo State College (BSC). The remainder of the operating budget is principally derived from contributed and earned income. Operating budget development and management is a primary responsibility of the Executive Director.
The Executive Director reports to BSC and to the Center’s Board of Trustees. The Executive Director, is responsible for inspiring and managing a staff of approximately 26 and more than 50 volunteers who carry out the Center’s daily operations.
The Executive Director will lead and support an active exhibition and public programming schedule of the highest quality that reaches out to capture the interest of increasingly broader audiences regionally and nationally and provides innovative connections with the vibrant local arts community and BSC campus.
IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES
The Executive Director will be expected to:
• Possess knowledge of Charles E. Burchfield as an iconic American artist; gain immediate knowledge of the Center’s history, culture, collection, and exhibitions; educational and public programs, operations and constituents; understand the Center’s base of support and its potential.
• Forge strong working relationships with the BSC President, Center Board of Directors, staff, volunteers and civic and business leaders; position the Center to be a vibrant, integral participant in the BSC campus and in the community; develop or implement strategic initiatives to solidify and enhance those relationships.
• Understand and begin to address any immediate fundraising needs; ensure that a sound fundraising strategy is in place to commence a major comprehensive capital campaign, working collaboratively with the Board of Directors and Director of Development to identify and attract resources to the Center.
• Proactively work to gain trust among the Center’s board members to elicit their best ideas and support; cultivate existing as well as new patrons, creating renewed interest, excitement in, and resources for the Center.
• Implement vigorous stewardship strategies for enhancing Charles E. Burchfield’s legacy encompassing preservation, study of his works, exhibitions of his collections, and facilitating use of archival materials for incorporation into scholarly publications and presentations.
• Evaluate the Center’s programming and provide direction for future exhibitions, scholarly publications, programs, and educational outreach; ensure integration of exhibition, performance and education objectives.
• Be an enthusiastic advocate for the Center and its programs; in concert with the Board of Directors, articulate a clear and compelling case for support of the Center for BSC decision- makers, volunteers, community leaders, collectors, and donors.
• Work collegially with the peer institutions to develop and implement programming and initiatives that enhance the arts mission of the Center and community; identify ways to expand and deepen the Center’s connection to regional and national constituencies while building on current outreach efforts; become an active and visible participant in Western New York’s life and culture.
ONGOING RESPONSIBILITIES
The Executive Director will have ongoing responsibility for the following:
GENERAL MANAGEMENT
• Ensure, by effective leadership and management, that the day-to-day operations and programs of the Center are professionally and efficiently administered.
• Manage, motivate, nurture and evaluate staff; maintain an established collegial staff environment and delegate appropriate responsibility among staff members; hire and terminate employees as appropriate.
• In partnership with Board members, staff, and as appropriate, BSC representatives, assess the strategic direction of the Center and implement the 2016-2020 strategic plan; regularly and periodically evaluate progress in implementing the strategic plan using measurable objectives; continually ensure that the Center approves and implements appropriate policies and that these are periodically reviewed and updated to assure congruence with the Center’s and BSC’s mission and goals.
• Manage the Center in a fiscally responsible manner, considering the financial implications of continually enlarging the Center’s profile.
• Maintain accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM).
PROGRAM
• Work closely with staff to optimize the Center’s existing space and facilities with vigorous and innovative programming and activities that support the Center’s regional imperative and international ambitions to raise knowledge and appreciation for Charles E. Burchfield’s works; attract and retain members; increase and diversify audiences.
• Continue expanding opportunities to produce scholarly materials in conjunction with exhibitions to raise the profile and professionalism of the Center in the field, including completion the Charles E. Burchfield Catalogue Raisonne´.
• Build relationships with BSC departments and community to explore opportunities for collaborative programming and opportunities for scholarly research and to ensure that the Center is accessible and vital as an educational resource.
• Work with staff and the board of directors to develop a systematic plan to strengthen the Center’s collection through thoughtfully planned acquisitions; develop relationships with collectors that may lead to appropriate gifts.
• Provide strategic oversight for the Center’s education programs; work with the Education and Curatorial Departments to ensure the Center’s programs match the mission and engage the public.
• Remain current on the latest developments in museum management through ongoing dialogue with specialists in relevant areas and actively support same for staff; participate in appropriate professional art organizations; be knowledgeable about current legal practices in the museum management profession, sharing information with staff and the Board.
COMMUNICATIONS, MARKETING AND DEVELOPMENT
• Drive marketing of the Center’s programs to the public based upon knowledge of the works of Charles E. Burchfield and western New York regional artists; initiate, oversee and participate in a comprehensive plan to enlarge and diversify the Center audience regionally and beyond.
• Proactively connect with and remain attentive to local, national and international art world developments; cultivate mutually beneficial partnerships with peer institutions and collectors on an ongoing basis.
• Maintain open communication channels with the board of directors, staff and BSC.
• Develop a compelling case to encourage and energize funding to support programmatic needs.
IDEAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
The ideal candidate will have the following experience and qualifications:
Senior staff level administrative experience in an art organization recognized for quality and excellence; knowledge of the art world and its key players nationally; familiarity with the complexity of academic institutions and budgeting is a plus
Proven fundraising ability to acquire and close gifts from a variety of sources, including successful experience cultivating and soliciting gifts from individual donors. Capital campaign experience is a plus
Ability to select and evaluate works of art; an understanding of and commitment to American regional art; knowledge of Western New York art and philanthropic communities and the ability to translate this knowledge into meaningful collaborations and exhibitions
A successful record in the planning and administration of museum programs; an understanding of best practices regarding collections, acquisition and management, exhibition development, educational and public programs, community outreach and scholarly research
Competence, and experience in effectively managing multiple revenue streams and potentially complex budgets; understands and can interpret financial statements including reports of revenue and expense, statement of functional expenses, cash flow, and balance sheet; managing to a board of directors approved budget
Strong values and skills in promoting and managing mutually beneficial collaborative working relationships with diverse organizations
Demonstrated ability to organize, lead and support a professional staff and volunteers; experience in managing operations and budgets
Proven ability to build and nurture relationships with a broad range of individuals spanning artists, academicians, donors, civic and business leaders, and other professionals in diverse disciplines
Demonstrated ability to serve as an effective spokesperson and ambassador for an institution or program, with outstanding verbal and written communication skills
Computer literate: understands the relationship of technology to art with regard to marketing and branding, electronic data collection, storage and digitization
Experience managing an AAM- accredited museum.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
Demonstrated experience in a senior level management position for a national or regional arts institution with a proven track record of fundraising and oversight responsibilities for an operational budget, staff and volunteer supervision
AND
Master degree in fine arts, art history or other relevant field
REQUIRED AND PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Required Preferred
“Education & Experience Requirements” listed above Possess a knowledge of Charles E. Burchfield as an iconic American artist
Senior staff level administrative experience in an art organization recognized for quality and excellence; knowledge of the art world and its key players nationally Familiarity with academic institution complexity and budgeting
Proven fundraising ability to acquire and close gifts from a variety of sources, including successful experience cultivating and soliciting gifts from individual donors
Capital campaign experience
A successful record in the planning and administration of museum programs; an understanding of best practices regarding collections, acquisition and management, exhibition development, educational and public programs, community outreach and scholarly research Ability to select and evaluate works of art; an understanding of and commitment to American regional art; knowledge of Western New York art and philanthropic communities and the ability to translate this knowledge into meaningful collaborations and exhibitions
Competence, and experience in effectively managing multiple revenue streams and potentially complex budgets; understands and can interpret financial statements including reports of revenue and expense, statement of functional expenses, cash flow, and balance sheet; managing to an approved budget
Experience managing an AAM- accredited museum
Demonstrated ability to serve as an effective spokesperson and ambassador for an institution or program, with outstanding verbal and written communication skills. Strong computer literacy including applications to marketing and branding, electronic data collection, storage and digitization.
Application Procedure
Applications, including a letter of interest, CV/resume, and contact information for three professional references, may be submitted through the Buffalo State employment website jobs.buffalostate.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=51836. The position is open until filled, but only applications received by September 1, 2017,can be assured full consideration. The planned employment date is Jan. 1, 2018.