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Historic Preservation Home > Jobs in Preservation > Permanent Jobs > Development > Executive Director of the Allentown Art Museum, Allentown, PA, Posted 10/15/09

 

Jim Norwine of the search firm ExecuGroup in Allentown, PA has asked us to circulate this announcement of the position of executive director, Allentown Art Museum.

Additional information on the Museum (not in description):

-Allentown Art Museum was last accredited in 2003 (not due for 5 more years)

-It has 10,500 square feet of exhibition space. The new addition (to be completed in spring 2010) will add 5,500 additional square feet of gallery space.

-Annual budget is just over $2.1 million.

THE JOB DESCRIPTION:

The Allentown Art Museum
Career Opportunity: Executive Director
September 14, 2009
THE ALLENTOWN ART MUSEUM

Founded in 1934 by Pennsylvania teacher, painter and critic, Walter Emerson Baum and a group of interested citizens, the Allentown Art Museum is in a period of strategic growth in attendance, membership, programming, and physical capacity. The museum moved to its current location in 1959, prompted by the donation of 53 Old Master paintings and sculptures by the Samuel H. Kress Foundation. They expanded on that site in 1975 with a new wing designed by Edgar Tafel, and at about the same time added the Library from the Francis W. Little House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and a major collection of textiles. Recently, the museum received a major gift of art from the Peter Grippe estate, an American mid-century modern artist, whose works were inspired by Cubism.

In 2004 - following an 18-month process that involved extensive input from the Board of Trustees, community, staff, and volunteers - the Board approved a five-year strategic plan. The four major goals of the strategic plan were: Growth in Attendance, Membership, and Diversity; Expansion and Modernization; Broadened and Enhanced Offerings; and Increased Financial Strength. The Board is in the early stages of developing a strategic plan for the next three to five years.

The museum holds nearly 15,000 works of art, including collections of Renaissance and Baroque European paintings, prints, and sculpture; American paintings, sculpture, works on paper, and decorative arts; a significant costume and textile collection spanning some 1,500 years and representing five continents; the Library from the Francis W. Little House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright; and sculptures from India and Tibet. The museum also has promised gifts of European arms and armor and Indian sculpture.

The museum's education programs demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning and are a key value of the museum. School programs serve approximately 13,000 children per year from more than 100 schools in eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey. Adult programs include lectures, gallery tours and talks.

Over the last five years, the museum's annual attendance has increased by 30%, with visitors who come from all 50 states and more than 30 nations. Growth in membership has increased by 53%, including about 200 members of the Kress Society who donate $1,000 or more annually.

The museum is governed by a Board of Trustees that consists of 21 elected and seven voted ex officio members. Officers include the President, two Vice Presidents, Secretary and Treasurer. The Board meets quarterly and is supported by active committees that meet between Board meetings.

The staff of the museum is comprised of 41 full and part-time employees, including four direct management reports: Directors of Administration, Collection and Exhibitions, Development, and Education. Volunteer organizations include the Allentown Art Museum Auxiliary, the Society of the Arts and Board of Associates.

The museum is working with Venturi, Scott Brown, and Associates to develop an expansion and modernization plan that has been scaled back under current economic conditions to be more modest, yet appealing, and financially sustainable. Under the current plan, we would add over 6,000 square feet of gallery and classroom space, as well as making the façade and entrance more welcoming; we also plan to complete updates to our dated building systems. Demolition of houses on the expansion site is complete and upgrades to HVAC and security have been completed as part of the modernization of the existing facility.

The museum is located in downtown Allentown, a city that is undergoing substantial revitalization. Within the last few years, the center city has seen the completion of a major office building by Robert Stern, a new corporate headquarters for a regional construction company, new residential development and redevelopment, new restaurants, and the completion of the Community Arts Park. This last project was spearheaded by the museum, is located directly across the street, and is abutted by a symphony hall and a community art school.

The museum has a strong record of partnership with regional arts and cultural organizations, including those noted as well as colleges and universities, historical societies, a science center, and others.

Allentown is a city of more than 106,000 residents in a metropolitan area known as the Lehigh Valley, which is home to more than 750,000 residents. Major corporate headquarters in the Valley include Air Products, PPL, Olympus, Rodale (publishing), Lutron, and LSI. The Lehigh Valley is the third largest metropolitan area in Pennsylvania and was ranked 30th on the 2008 list of Forbes Magazine's "Best Places for Business and Careers." Located 90 miles from New York and 50 miles from Philadelphia, the museum is within two hours driving distance of more than 20 million people.

JOB DECRIPTION

The Executive Director is the chief executive of the Allentown Art Museum. The Executive Director is responsible for all aspects of leading the development and implementing of annual operating plans; collaborating with the Board of Trustees to develop and implement strategic and capital plans; fundraising, community and government outreach, partnership development, and public relations; developing and managing permanent collections; developing schedules of special exhibitions; planning and presenting educational programs that support lifelong learning opportunities; and developing and managing a strong team of staff.

The next Executive Director working in conjunction with the Board of Trustees and staff will be responsible for completing the museum's expansion and modernization plan. The Executive Director should also help the museum achieve a more secure and sustainable future through forward planning and support for funding and income generating activity.

The Executive Director reports to the President, who is the volunteer head of the Board of Trustees.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

- Strong leadership ability.
- Effective oral and writing communication skills to effectively serve as the principal spokesperson for the museum.
- Demonstrated ability and record of success in fundraising, including legislative and local government sources, foundations and businesses.
- Accomplished record of developing exhibitions and publications that have served broad audiences.
- Ability to build relationships with community leaders and stakeholders.
- Financial management, financial reporting knowledge
- Ability to develop collaborations within museum and externally among other cultural organizations, colleges and universities, and others.
- Strong management skills; ability to manage and develop staff, volunteers, budgets, and other resources for the maximum benefit of the museum.
- Ability to reach out and serve diverse audiences.
- Demonstrated professional integrity.
- Strong knowledge of museum professional and ethical standards.
- A minimum of a master's degree in art history or a related field.


APPLICATION

Please submit CV and letter of interest to:

Jim Norwine, CEO
ExecuGroup, Inc.- an Oi Partner
961 Marcon Blvd.
Suite 101
Allentown, PA 18109
jnorwine@execugroup.com