Gallery Director, Japan Society Gallery (New York) [Japan Society]

Established in 1907, New York’s Japan Society is an internationally recognized nonprofit, nonpolitical organization that provides access to information on Japan, offers opportunities to experience Japanese culture, and fosters sustained and open dialogue on issues important to the U.S., Japan, and East Asia.

GALLERY DIRECTOR, JAPAN SOCIETY GALLERY (New York)

Japan Society seeks a dynamic Gallery Director to develop and implement engaging and innovative exhibitions of both traditional and contemporary Japanese art and culture. Reporting to the President of Japan Society, the Director must have a demonstrated record of outstanding curatorial experience, artistic vision, and leadership skills to be able to engage and inspire American and global audiences and the arts community.

The main areas of responsibilities include: crafting a balance of traditional and contemporary art exhibitions that will establish the Gallery as a leading venue for exhibitions of Japanese art and culture of all periods and genres; communicating a vision that reaches diverse American and international audiences; financial oversight and fundraising, including keeping costs in line with budgets while building government, foundation, individual and other support, and creating new avenues for financial support; and effective management of Gallery personnel, including lead guest curators, publishers, editors, art handlers, and other outside contractors and adjunct staff.

The Director will be expected to expand the Gallery’s national and international visibility to a broad and diverse public through exhibition gallery tours and programs, press promotion, and targeted outreach; and planning collaborative projects with partner museums and institutions here and abroad, while also developing new approaches for the exploration of Japanese arts, aesthetics, and culture. The Director will evaluate exhibition proposals, negotiate exhibition terms and conditions with lenders, develop exhibition and catalogue concepts, overseeing catalog preparation and publications in collaboration with guest curators, publishers, editors, translators, and designers; and assure that the handling, registration, and display of all works of art will be carried out and maintained to the highest professional standards, compliant with international norms. In conjunction with exhibitions, the Director will build the Friends of the Gallery, cultivating new members with events to encourage individual giving, and will structure lecture and educational programs to complement exhibitions, all in collaboration with Development, Gallery, Lecture, and Education staff. Also, he/she will develop contacts and maintain networks with museum curators, artists, and scholars worldwide. In addition to exhibition-related activities, the Gallery Director should seek to develop new formats for the presentation of Japanese art from a global perspective, and respond to the local community and a wider network for Japan Society’s outreach.

TO APPLY: Candidates should email a letter of interest and resume to the Director of Human Resources, Jfenton@japansociety.org.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate for Gallery Director will demonstrate a combination of outstanding curatorial, managerial, and leadership skills. Qualifications include: MA or equivalent in Japanese art history or a related field; excellent Japanese reading and conversation skills; and a significant record of researching and presenting traditional and contemporary Japanese art. The ideal candidate should also have a national and international scholarly reputation; a strong professional network inside and outside of Japan; at least five years’ professional experience, both curatorial and managerial, working in a museum or gallery; proven fiscal management skills; a strong work ethic and professional integrity, excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills, and a highly collaborative approach to work.