Executive Director – Lawrence Arts Center

February 25, 2008

The Lawrence Arts Center, located in Lawrence, KS, seeks an experienced, full-time Executive Director. Established in 1974, the LAC resides in a 40,000 square foot facility to accommodate, an arts-based preschool, two galleries, sales shop, 300-seat theatre, ten studios for curriculum of art, drama and dance classes. Learn more about us at lawrenceartscenter.org.

The city of Lawrence is a vibrant town which is listed 15th in John Villani's The 100 Best Small Art Towns in America, which specifically identified the Lawrence Arts Center as a hub for the arts. Find more information about Lawrence at visitlawrence.com.

Duties:

• The Executive Director serves as the chief executive officer as well as the principal visionary, strategist, advocate and spokesperson for the Lawrence Arts Center and unifying leader for the Lawrence arts community.
• The Executive Director works with the Board of Directors and staff to develop and implement strategies to offer exceptional arts-based programs that fulfill the mission, vision and values of the Lawrence Arts Center.
• This inspirational leader builds and sustains an organization that nurtures a love of the arts through education, exploration and expression.

Required Qualifications:

• College degree required.
• At least five years experience in senior leadership position including responsibility for staff supervision, preferably with a nonprofit arts organization.
• Demonstrated success with external funding sources (government or foundation) and with private or corporate patrons or similar cultural institutions.
• Proven leadership in developing and managing a complex budget.
• Evidence of effective leadership in optimizing earned income/revenue.
• Effective written and oral communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree.
• A record of involvement and commitment to the visual and performing arts.
• A record of understanding a broad spectrum of the arts, including exhibition, performance and education.
• A record of organizational and administrative leadership experience in management, community building, and major gift fundraising.
• A record of management experience with a cross-functional organization and staff, complex budgets, major building facilities, and a broad spectrum of arts-based programs.

Conditions of Appointment:

This is a full time position with benefits. Preferred starting date is August 1, 2008. Review of applicants will begin March 14, 2008 and will continue until position is filled. Please forward a cover letter with current salary or salary expectations, résumé, references and a maximum one page position statement on “the role of community arts centers” to artsdirector@sunflower.com in MS-Word .doc or Acrobat .pdf formats Thank you.

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