Posted September 7, 2014.

The Sarasota Museum of Art (SMOA) came into being in 2003 when 13 forward-thinking Sarasotans dreamed of enhancing Sarasota’s rich cultural landscape with a modern and contemporary art museum. After a two-year dialogue with area arts, educational and community leaders, SMOA partnered with Ringling College of Art and Design to transform the historic Sarasota High School into a state-of-the-art visual arts destination with the art museum as its centerpiece. SMOA became a division of the College in March, 2006.

SMOA is Sarasota’s first museum of modern and contemporary art. It will be a dynamic center for exhibiting innovative and compelling visual art of the 20th and 21st centuries. A vital part of Sarasota’s rich cultural legacy, the museum will interweave exhibitions, educational programs and community outreach initiatives to engage a diverse audience and serve as a destination for creative discovery and discourse for children and adults, for the general public and art professionals. Visitors will not only be introduced to great art; they will also have the opportunity to meet many of the artists who create this work. A visiting lecture series and outreach initiatives will showcase the talents of regionally based, nationally and internationally acclaimed artists, scholars, curators, critics and historians. This destination will feature Ringling College’s continuing education classes, workshops and studio spaces for creating art and studying other subjects of interest to the community. In addition, the museum will be a learning laboratory for Ringling College students via internships, volunteer opportunities and employment. As a community partner in arts education efforts, SMOA will reach out to area students and educators, offering valuable programs and resources.

In November 2008, the College received from the Sarasota County School Board under the 99 year lease in place with the school system, keys to this iconic architectural structure that is listed on the National Registry of Historic places. The 57,000 sq. ft. building has 3 floors, is on a major road in a highly visible location. An average 61,500 cars travel this road daily to/from the nearby downtown area. The public phase of the fundraising began in 2008. As a result of an architectural design competition, an adaptive re-use plan was developed that will transform this building into a visual arts destination with a museum, continuing education classroom space for Ringling College and a variety of amenities. The renovation cost is estimated at $14 million. The desired endowment is $8 million. As of May 31, 2014, a total of $22.5 million has been raised, exceeding the $22 million goal.

SMOA will occupy the entire second floor of the 57,000 square-foot Visual Arts Education Center. The museum will include a double height grand gallery; large, open galleries; smaller galleries for more intimate, focused installations; a 110-seat multi-purpose auditorium; and educational resource and meeting spaces. Amenities will include a gift shop, outdoor sculpture garden and a café with indoor and patio seating.

Founded in 1931, Ringling College is a private, independent, not-for-profit institution accredited by the SACS-COC (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools-Commission on Colleges), NASAD (National Association of Schools of Art and Design), and CIDA (Council for Interior Design Accreditation) to award the BFA in 13 visual arts disciplines and the BA in the Business of Art & Design. The latter major is a revolutionary, new degree program infusing a business curriculum within an art and design context.

The College has an annual budget of $60M and serves approximately 1,300 students from 46 states and 53 countries, nearly 65 percent of whom reside on campus. The picturesque 50-acre campus includes 90 buildings.

The Executive Director will provide visionary and strategic leadership as well as fundraising and management expertise for the new museum. He or she will oversee the final detailed plans for completion of the renovation of the historic Sarasota High School building and shape the curatorial and programmatic vision for the museum moving forward.

Reporting directly to the President of the College, the position also has a quasi-reporting role to the SMOA Advisory Board and will work closely with the SMOA Advisory Board in the leadership and direction of the museum. The Ringling College Board of Trustees has ultimate governance authority over SMOA as a part of Ringling College but the SMOA Advisory Board actively acts in an advisory capacity to the President and to the Ringling College Board of Trustees.

The position requires a dynamic, experienced individual as the first Executive Director of the Sarasota Museum of Art to lead the newly established museum in its strategic development, including its anticipated opening on or before January 2016. The ideal candidate will possess a combination of abilities to help achieve the aesthetic, educational and business objectives necessary to build a museum of national and international stature. The ideal candidate will be an entrepreneurial and visionary leader with the ability to develop, lead and manage a start- up enterprise. This art museum professional will become one of Sarasota’s key civic and cultural leaders and will be an active participant in the College’s thriving growth.

Full job profile is available at www.mcaonline.us

Nominations, expressions of interest, and applications (including a cover letter, resume and the names of three references) should be submitted to Management Consultants for the Arts, an executive search firm working with the College’s President and the SMOA search committee.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Candidates must have current authorization to be employed in the US without employer sponsorship.

All inquiries should be directed to Linda Sweet, Partner

Via email to mcawall2@gmail.com.

Ringling College of Art and Design is an Equal Opportunity Employer
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Contact Person: Linda Sweet
Email Address: mcawall2@gmail.com