Leadership Opportunity – Executive Director

Foothills Art Center

Foothills Art Center, the first community arts center in the Golden and Jefferson County area, was founded in 1968 by Golden community watercolor artists.

Foothills Art Center seeks innovation and excellence in an artistic program that focuses on fine craft and design. Through its exhibitions and education programs, Foothills Art Center challenges the distinctions traditionally made between fine art and craft and emphasizes the ideas behind the artwork rather than following strict media categories.

An average of 15,000 - 20,000 visitors come through our doors each year. These visitors generate an estimated $1.33 million to the artists by supporting their livelihood through promotion of their work in exhibition spaces, our gift gallery and studios. We also conduct more than $250,000 in transactions for consignment sales and contracts for workshops and summer camps.

Foothills Art Center employs nine staff and engages over 100 volunteers who donate thousands of hours each year to support our mission. With an operating budget of more than $750,000, Foothills Art Center supports businesses throughout the community and region.

Our vision is to present a dynamic program of exhibitions, installations, and publications acknowledged regionally for their excellence. Foothills Art Center will be recognized as a vibrant institution that is embraced as an indispensable element of community life and a vital educational resource for an expanding audience.

Executive Director Position Overview

The Foothills Art Center is well positioned for growth and improvements in its programs. The Board of Foothills Art Center now seeks an experienced, visionary Executive Director who can lead the organization through its next chapter of development and impact. We feel this is an exciting opportunity and a chance to make a significant contribution to the organization and the community.

The Executive Director has a critical role in establishing the vision and strategic planning needed to achieve short and long term goals for the Foothills Art Center. He or she collaborates with key stakeholders including the Board of Directors, staff, consultants, members, donors, artists, businesses and community leaders. The Executive Director works with the Board to sustain Foothills Art Center through careful planning for fundraising, programming, and financial reporting and is the primary spokesperson for the organization. The Executive Director oversees operations and delegates responsibilities to staff appropriately.

Qualifications

We seek an experienced, talented, results-minded leader who understands and values the visual arts. Specific qualifications include the following:

Commitment to Mission

  • Authentic commitment to and knowledge of the arts, especially fine craft, through exhibitions and education programs in a community setting. Direct experience in managing arts organizations preferred.
  • Understands the relationship between fine craft, education, entrepreneurship, and business development.
  • Understands the role of enterprise in an arts and nonprofit organization.
  • Desires to participate in the cultural landscape and to advocate for increasing the influence of art in the community through vehicles such as arts districts and cultural alliances.
  • Passion to advocate for the arts in community, business, government and educational settings.
  • Proven experience in building and maintaining strong relationships with community members and able to create alignment between community and organization interests.
  • Knowledge of building and delivering effective arts education programs preferred.
  • Available for extended hours including exhibition and Holiday Art Market previews (five per year), early morning meetings for monthly Downtown Merchants Association and Visit Golden, and networking opportunities with business and civic organizations.

Leadership and Management Skills

  • Minimum seven years’ experience in a leadership role with a nonprofit or private sector organization.
  • Demonstrated ability to raise money from individual, corporate, foundation, and government sources. Strong business acumen and experience in driving business results.
  • Demonstrated ability to develop, implement, and evaluate a strategic vision for an organization.
  • Experience with engaging relevant stakeholders in an organization’s vision including donors, members, volunteers, and artists.
  • Experience with capital campaign management desired.
  • Ability to lead an organization and develop board members, staff, and volunteers.
  • Demonstrated experience in managing and developing staff.
  • Demonstrated ability to build strong, effective relationships with community members.
  • Demonstrated ability to organize, plan, direct, and coordinate operations.
  • Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
  • Willingness to work extended hours, evenings and weekends and to handle administrative tasks.

Additional Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; advanced degree preferred.
  • Agile with a wide variety of software including standard office and presentation functions, fundraising, communications, social media, point of sale, and accounting software.

We are looking for an executive who knows how to lead organizations to achieve their potential, who values community connections, and who can work collaboratively with board and staff members. We value people who are creative, committed, diligent, and passionate about our work. A sense of humor and a teamwork orientation are important hallmarks of our culture.

Detailed information about job responsibilities can be found in the Executive Director Job Description posted on our website:

How to Apply

Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply for this role by sending a cover letter, resume, and salary requirements to Carolyn McCormick of Peak HR Consulting, LLC at . All applications are to be submitted electronically.

Foothills Art Center is an equal opportunity employer.

Revised: 23 September 2015FINAL