Executive Director [UCR ARTSblock, Riverside, CA]

Description

Summary of Position

The University of California, Riverside (UCR), is seeking a visionary, collaborative, and entrepreneurial leader to serve as the next Executive Director of ARTSblock, a multi-disciplinary arts organization within the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (CHASS). ARTSblock is located off-campus in downtown Riverside and serves as a bridge between the major research university of the Inland Empire and the regional community, a bridge built upon a shared appreciation for the inspiration, creativity, and imagination of artists. The Executive Director of ARTSblock will enhance the organization’s strengths while providing a new vision for the future that will establish ARTSblock as the focal point for arts engagement in the region and beyond.

About UCR ARTSblock         

ARTSblock opened to the public in 2010, bringing together three UCR arts institutions:  California Museum of Photography (CMP), Jack and Marilyn Sweeny Art Gallery, and Barbara and Art Culver Center for the Arts. Sited three miles from UCR’s main campus, ARTSblock is located in adjacent historical buildings which have been adapted for reuse and which enliven the core of downtown Riverside.

ARTSblock’s mission is “to provide a cultural presence, educational resource, community center, and intellectual meeting ground for the university and the community.” The organization embraces two missions – a public facing mission, in which art is shared with the community, and a research mission in which scholars deepen the public’s understanding of creativity. ARTSblock encourages public engagement in the arts through its collections, performances, and installations, in a venue that is also home to working artists and scholars. ARTSblock’s purpose is to serve and support the work of faculty and students, and engage the wider community with works of creativity and imagination.

ARTSblock’s activities embody UCR’s commitment to broadly-based public education and cutting-edge research. The programs and performances that take place at the Culver Center, as well as the extensive art, photography, and research collections of the CMP and Sweeney Art Gallery, make ARTSblock an important destination for audiences, as well as researchers working in a wide range of fields.

ARTSblock has an operating budget of approximately $1.7 million and employs 13 full-time equivalent staff. In the last fiscal year, ARTSblock offered 170 programs, including events, exhibitions, and films, and had attendance of over 32,500, a number that has increased steadily since opening in 2010.

About Riverside and UCR    

Located 60 miles East of Los Angeles in Southern California’s Inland Empire, Riverside is a dynamic and diverse urban center with a population of over 300,000. Riverside was the birthplace of the California citrus industry, and has grown to be the 12^th largest city in California. Its strong economic climate has seen the Riverside-San Bernardino area ranked #1 in a 2015 Best Cities for Small Business in America survey. Major institutions and dedicated artists, including the Riverside Art Museum, the Riverside Arts Council, and ARTSblock, create a lively arts scene downtown, anchored by the world famous Mission Inn Hotel. The City’s dedication to arts and culture is demonstrated in its branding of itself as “The City of Arts and Innovation.”

Riverside is home to UCR, the Inland Empire’s only public research university, and one of 10 universities within the prestigious University of California system. Located on nearly 1,200 acres, UCR is recognized nationally and internationally for its undergraduate and graduate programs; the diversity of its student body and its high graduation rates; and its affordable tuition and accessible student financial aid. With half of all enrolled students, CHASS is the largest of UCR’s seven colleges and the home of ARTSblock.

Responsibilities         

The Executive Director will report to the Dean of CHASS and will have full administrative and artistic authority and responsibility as the chief executive officer of ARTSblock. Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Initiating and implementing a Strategic Plan resulting in a new overall artistic and administrative vision and mission which will unite the three constituent organizations under the ARTSblock umbrella
• Effectively leading the ARTSblock professional staff in support of the vision, mission, and goals
• Maximizing collaborations with University and Riverside arts entities to develop programming which reflects the evolving needs of the community and the represented arts fields
• Enhancing outreach to the communities served by ARTSblock (University, local, and regional) to broaden and deepen ARTSblock’s impact
• Developing and successfully managing an annual operating budget in alignment with the Strategic Plan
• Diversifying sources of revenue by working with the CHASS development team to build a fundraising program, including an endowment, in support of operating and programming goals
• Maximizing existing earned income opportunities and developing new sources that support the mission of the organization
• Establishing and facilitating an Advisory Board to strengthen the mission of ARTSblock and serve as advocates for its vision
• Developing effective branding, marketing, and awareness of ARTSblock

Requirements

Ideal Candidate Characteristics      

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• Demonstrated ability to effectively lead and manage a multi-disciplined arts organization within a complex institutional setting
• Ability to work collaboratively and productively with professional staff and faculty to foster a positive and cooperative work environment
• Knowledge of and commitment to contemporary visual, performance, and media arts presentation and education
• Record of success in fundraising, community relations, financial management, marketing, and Board development
• Experience in strategic planning

Experience/Education

A minimum of five years of leadership and management experience in progressively responsible positions.  Possession of a Master’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience is required.

Compensation

Compensation is competitive and will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. An attractive benefits package will also be provided.

Application Procedure

Individuals applying for this position should send a letter of interest and resume to:

Museum Management Consultants, Inc.

mmc@museum-management.com

Position open until filled