Job Posting

Position Available

The Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba is seeking an energetic, ethically, and critically-minded individual to serve as our next Executive Director. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director leads an accomplished and professional staff of five and is responsible for a budget of $730,000.

Working closely with curatorial and art education staff, the Executive Director fosters an environment that creates links between contemporary art and everyday life, foregrounding artistic excellence and community engagement in equal measure. The Executive Director will provide passionate leadership and guide the overall vision for the Gallery with care and attention given to the geographic and cultural contexts of the region. They will execute and guide the strategic plan; balance the sometimes competing goals of artistic integrity with fiscal responsibility; lead fundraising efforts; inspire the AGSM team to further excellence; build on existing partnerships while creating new ones; oversee programming and operations to safeguard the high quality of visitor experience while effectively managing resources.

Qualifications: The Successful Candidate

• Have a graduate degree in a relevant discipline, such as art history, communications studies, arts administration, visual culture, or a combination of education and experience.
• Have demonstrated experience and success with both operating and project-based grants from government and private funders, as well as structuring and budgeting practices for not-for-profit organizations.
• Have five years of progressively senior-level cultural leadership experience.
• Be able to set goals and design/execute institutional strategies.
• Demonstrate knowledge of contemporary art, community-based curatorial practices, Indigenous art, and the dynamics of prairie arts communities.
• Possess strong project management, writing, communication, and interpersonal skills, as well as an eagerness to learn and innovate.
• Be a community builder and respected leader—passionate and innovative about using contemporary art to engage diverse cultural groups and build enduring social bonds, a strong advocate for inclusion within the arts, and able to forge lasting partnerships and collaboration across diverse communities, sectors, and organizations.
• Have experience working with a goverance Board of Directors to develop and implement the artistic direction of the Gallery. 
• Possess a keen business sense with a demonstrated ability to develop a sustainable business plan, lead operations, and manage resources effectively while furthering the AGSM's mission, strategic plan, and core values.
• Foster collaborative work environments.
• Have excellent organizational and time-management skills, and sharp attention to detail.
• Be able to work in digital environments including G-Suite (Google Docs, Drive, and Calendar).

Core Responsibilities

• With an eye to the future, develop strategic and business plans that are responsive  to the community while balancing artistic excellence and accessibility with budgetary realities.

• Identify, nurture, and develop existing and new sources of revenue through fundraising, grant writing, corporate sponsorships, planned giving, annual appeal, effective donor recognition, and other innovative  fund development practices. Ensure that all applications and reports to funders are completed and submitted on time.

• Oversee the artistic direction and development of exhibitions, education, and community programming for the AGSM.

• Continue to provide a friendly, inclusive, and accessible community space where AGSM staff, volunteers, artists, and community feel valued.

• Collaborate with cultural and community organizations, academic institutions, and the business community to build capacity and extend our reach.

• Work with the Board of Directors to increase organizational capacity, revise and develop policy, and support good governance.

• Prepare and report on the annual budget. Oversee financial operations and resources, equipment repair or acquisition, insurance, and risk management.

• Monitor results, reallocating resources as needs arise.

• Effectively work alongside and oversee the AGSM team (including Curator, Facility Manager, Gallery Services Coordinator, Arts Educator, and Gallery Attendants) to continue the Gallery’s mission and vision.

Our Organization

We are the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba, a community engaged and inclusive contemporary art gallery located in downtown Brandon, Manitoba. The AGSM is Manitoba’s largest arts organization outside of Winnipeg, and has served the broad and diverse population of Southwestern Manitoba for the past 112 years. We have a national reputation for the excellence of our culturally diverse exhibition and education programming. We believe art is an essential element of what defines community, culture, and nation. As such, we are committed to the artists and deep art history of this land as we collectively work towards the betterment of our shared community, and towards rebuilding and strengthening relationships between Indigenous communities and the many diverse peoples who now make up Southwestern Manitoba. The AGSM is a leading advocate for cultural development, the revitalization of downtown Brandon, and the creative economy in the region. Our 22,000 square foot facility attracts more than 22,000 people per year and nearly 3,000 adult and youth take part in over 250 onsite public programming activities every year.

Our City

Brandon is Manitoba’s second largest city and a regional hub for culture, education, and commerce for the surrounding areas of southwestern Manitoba. A growing multicultural community with a historic downtown and strong connections to its rural economy, it is home to Brandon University and Assiniboine Community College. Brandon is located on the TransCanada Highway between Winnipeg and Regina and serviced by a regional airport with daily flights to the west by WestJet.

The AGSM is committed to being an inclusive environment within all aspects of our operations. We welcome applications from ALL qualified individuals. If you are contacted for an interview, please advise us of any accommodations needed to ensure you have access to a fair and equitable process. 

To Apply:

If this opportunity is of interest to you, please forward your cover letter outlining your interest in this position and relevant experience as well as a C.V. to hr@agsm.ca Subject: Executive Director

Deadline:

This position will remain open until filled. A review of applications will commence on February 25th, 2019.