Description

DIRECTOR

Milwaukee Art Museum

A comprehensive art institution and cultural cornerstone for the Greater Milwaukee region, the Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM) has become an icon for the city and a resource for the entire state. The collection encompasses nearly 30,000 works from antiquity to the present and the Museum welcomes more than 400,000 visitors annually. Over 40 galleries of art are rotated regularly with works from antiquity to the present in the Museum’s far-reaching collection, which spans 15th- to 20th-century European and 17th- to 20th-century American paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, decorative arts, photographs, and folk and self-taught art. Central to the Museum’s mission is its role as a premier educational resource, with programs that are among the largest in the nation, involving classes, lectures, tours, and a full calendar of events for all ages.

MAM is poised to attain higher levels of recognition and raise its profile further, particularly in terms of its collections, exhibitions, and programs. The next Director will have the benefit of a well-received re-installation following a major renovation/addition opened in November 2015, a highly engaged Board of Trustees, and dedicated staff. MAM is seeking an innovative and creative leader who is excited at the prospect of building upon this solid institutional foundation, eager to connect the Museum with new and diverse audiences, and keen to embrace Milwaukee and the surrounding community. To lead the institution on a continued upward trajectory, the next phase of the Museum’s development will focus on highlighting and expanding upon MAM’s permanent collection in new ways, developing an innovative program based on original exhibitions to promote the collection to wider regional, national, and international audience.

The Director is responsible for providing overall leadership, vision, and guidance to the Museum and its staff. S/he is charged with ensuring that the Museum remains a vibrant and active institution in the local community and regularly engages with its peers nationally and globally. The Director serves as the principal ambassador for the Museum to the Board of Trustees, major supporters, as well as the larger public. The Director is the key driver in creating a cohesive and effective organization and staff, fostering teamwork, and creating an environment in which all staff members work together effectively and efficiently in order to meet institutional goals. Accountable to the Board of Trustees, the Director works closely with the Board to develop and implement the strategic plan; preparing and actively focusing the Board on organizational and operational issues as part of Board and committee meetings.

The MilwaukeeArt Museum’s next Director will be a seasoned executive, highly-energetic and passionate, with a record of achievement in management, creativity, and business acumen. With 10 to 15 years of leadership experience in an art museum setting, the ideal candidate will be a tested, persuasive, inventive leader who is inspired by the Museum’s mission and can inspire others as well. An advanced degree in an art-related field required; a PhD is a plus, as is equivalent professional and leadership experience in a comparable setting.

The MilwaukeeArt Museum has retained the executive search firm of Korn Ferry to assist in the search. Please email nominations and applications (resume and cover letter) to: Naree W.S. Viner, Principal, at MAMdirector@KornFerry.com.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status or status as an individual with disability.

The Search Committee will begin reviewing candidates in March and will continue to review applicants until the position is filled.