The Artists Council is seeking a highly motivated leader to serve as chief executive and operations manager for its growing organization and vibrant gallery and education center.

 

This will be our first formal executive director, as the AC Board Chair has served as Acting Executive Director, with a “working Board” that provides leadership in developing and implementing exhibitions, classes, community events, and other programs. As we have continued to grow, our Board has recognized the need for a professional EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR to build a strong administrative and fiscal structure and manage operations to ensure the future vitality of the organization.

 

We anticipate that during the first year, the Executive Director will focus on fundraising, grant-writing, and overseeing operations of the Artists Center facility and its activities, with additional leadership from the working Board. The following years will see an emphasis on growing our programs, resources, and staff and on leading the organization toward a mature nonprofit status, coinciding with a transition of the Board from a working Board to a policy Board.

 

The Artists Council was founded as an independent nonprofit in 2018. (Previously, for over 50 years, the Artists Council had been operating under the auspices of the Palm Springs Art Museum as one of its affiliated councils.) Over the three short years since its inception – and despite the pandemic – we have implemented a rich roster of programs to fulfill our mission of elevating artists through exhibitions, professional development, and community engagement. Our base of activity is the beautiful Artists Center at the Galen in Palm Desert, which we have leased from the City since 2021 and operate inspired by our vision of “art on the walls and a hub of activity for artists, art lovers, and the community.”

 

Executive Director Position Description

The Executive Director is the key management leader of the Artists Council, responsible for overseeing administration, programs, revenue generation, and strategic plans of the organization. Other key duties include marketing and community outreach. Although we anticipate that the Executive Director will be a full-time, salaried, exempt position with an annual salary range of between $80K - $100K, we are open to other than full-time options for filling this leadership post by a start date of January 1, 2023, or later.

 

Reporting Relationships

Reporting to the Artists Council Board of Directors, the Executive Director manages all personnel, which includes paid and unpaid employees, volunteers, and independent contractors. The Director also provides vision and direction, leading public and membership programs and activities.

 

Primary Responsibilities of the Executive Director

• Board Relationship – In collaboration with the Board and Board committees, fulfills the Artists Council’s mission and vision. Serves as ex-officio member of Board committees. Coordinates and directs work of the Board’s committees, volunteers, and partner organizations. Attends and participates in discussions at Board meetings; communicates with the Board and provides timely and accurate financial and other information to enable the Board to make informed decisions.

• Staff Leadership and Management – Provides vision, motivation, and professional development for all personnel; hires, supervises, and evaluates staff and contractors; coordinates work of volunteers and contractors. Ensures a positive, healthy work culture, including compliance with all workplace policies and procedures. Maintains and recommends policies and procedures, ensuring that nonprofit ethics, standards, and best practices are applied throughout the organization.

• Fundraising/Grant Oversight – In collaboration with the Board of Directors, leads fundraising planning, strategies, and execution, including foundation, government, and individual giving. Responsible for funder research, including grant opportunities, coordination of donor cultivation, and solicitations. Assists the Board in building fundraising capacity, including providing Board education, meeting logistics, introductions, and other activities. Ensures AC participation in grant opportunities, which may include writing and/overseeing grant proposal work.

• Artists Center Facility Operations – Provides management oversight of building operations, maintenance, and related personnel. Coordinates with the building owners, the City of Palm Desert, on facility maintenance, safety, and health-related issues. Provides oversight for all activities and events taking place in the facility. Oversees the revenue-generating space rental program; maintains and updates policies and procedures and negotiates terms and agreements.

• Strategic Planning – In conjunction with the Board of Directors, develops the Artists Council’s strategic plan, and in collaboration with staff and other appropriate personnel, develops and implements annual goals, action plans, course corrections, and updates as needed to ensure effective execution and results.

• Program Development and Management – Develops, implements, and supervises personnel in ensuring a robust schedule of programs that furthers the Artists Council’s mission, vision, and strategic plan and that meets the needs of Artists Council members and constituents. As noted above, initially the “working Board” will continue providing leadership to develop and execute exhibitions, classes, community events, and other programs.

• Fiscal Management – Develops and oversees monthly fiscal reports. Develops and presents an annual budget for Board approval. Oversees the management of all funds, consistent with the Artists Council’s accounting system; signs all notes, agreements, and other instruments made and entered into on behalf of the organization, in alignment with Board fiscal policies and procedures.

• Marketing and Communications – Oversees marketing and communications programs to increase the visibility of the Artists Council in the wider region and to ensure that AC members, constituents, and the public are informed about the organization’s programs and activities. Ensures consistent branding and messaging in marketing and communications.

• Community Outreach – Ensures a vigorous and engaging community outreach program with multiple and overlapping target audiences (artists, under-resourced, at-risk, local); developing strategies to address and increase diversity, equity, access, and inclusion (DEAI) to build cultural literacy, inspiration, equity, and resilience in our desert communities.

• Advocacy – Serves as chief spokesperson for the Artists Council; enhances the Artists Council’s image by being active and visible in the community and working closely with other educational, professional, civic, and private organizations.

• Organizational Integrity – Conducts business at the highest standard of integrity to ensure that all activities are legal and ethical. Maintains a high level of awareness of current nonprofit issues and standards and advises all personnel, including the Board of Directors, accordingly.

• Other responsibilities as assigned by the Board of Directors.

 

Qualifications

The Executive Director must be a dynamic, creative individual who embraces the Artists Council’s passion in the power of the arts to transform the community and the lives of individuals. The successful candidate will have strong skills in strategic thinking, organizational management, and leadership, specifically:

• Demonstrated high integrity.

• Experience and skill in working with a Board of Directors.

• Experience in managing a staff and maintaining and/or implementing a healthy organizational culture.

• High-level strategic thinking and planning. Ability to envision and convey the organization’s strategic future to staff, the Board, volunteers, and donors.

• Successful fundraising track record. Excellent donor relations skills, understanding of the funding community, willingness to facilitate, lead, and mentor the Board of Directors in fundraising activities.

• Ability to communicate the Artists Council’s mission to donors, volunteers, and the overall community. Success in establishing relationships with individuals and organizations of influence, including funders, partner agencies, and volunteers.

• Solid organizational abilities, including budget preparation, analysis, decision-making, and reporting.

• Strong written and oral communications skills.

• Strong public speaking ability.

• Results oriented, and ability to problem solve.

 

Qualified candidates will possess these minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher.

• 5 or more years of senior nonprofit management experience, preferably in the visual arts, with a history of success in:

   o Fundraising and generating new revenue streams

   o Improving financial results

   o Organizational and membership growth.

 

Working Conditions: The primary work location for this position is the Artists Center in Palm Desert, in a designated office or in the gallery/classroom space. Events and programs may require meetings in or visits to other venues or workspaces. Work hours will vary, and the Executive Director will often work evenings and/or weekends to accommodate meetings, classes, events, and attend public occasions.

 

About the Artists Council: The Artists Council is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with an 11- member Board of Directors, an advisory Board, and an annual operating budget of $445,000. The organization creates public programs, including exhibitions, classes, events, concerts, readings, community festivals, and art sales that support the local artist community and benefit the community at large. Staff members at present include an Administrative Manager, two Facilities Coordinators, and a Bookkeeper. A large number of dedicated volunteers help staff the gallery and run events. The Artists Council operates out of the Artists Center at the Galen, owned and leased to Council by the City of Palm Desert. The space is available for rent, with revenue benefiting the Artists Council.

 

For more information about the Artists Council and the Artists Center, go to our website at www.artistscouncil.com

 

To Apply for the Executive Director Position:

Please click on the following link to submit a letter of interest and a current resume at: https://www.cognitoforms.com/ArtistsCouncil1/ExecutiveDirectorApplication. We will need to hear from you by November 1, 2022. Job posting will remain open until filled with the successful candidate.  Please contact us via email at info@artistscouncil.com for current position status.

 

###