POSITION DESCRIPTION April 2016

El Paso Museum of Art Director The City of El Paso seeks an experienced and energetic Director to orchestrate exceptional exhibitions, educational experiences and public programs, to creatively engage the community and visitors of the Museum, and to activate and expand the base of financial support.

Founded in 1959, the El Paso Museum of Art (EPMA) is a major cultural and educational resource for West , and Mexico. It relocated to a beautiful, modern 100,000 square foot building in 1998 where it displays works of American, Contemporary, European and Mexican art from its 7,000+ object permanent collection. The museum has a diverse temporary exhibition schedule, robust educational and community programming, a research library and retail shop, and co-hosts the Ciudad Juàrez-El Paso Biennial, providing a forum to showcase the work of artists living and working close to the border. By surrounding the collection with exhibitions from other collections, museums and artists, EPMA wishes to enhance its position among museums in Texas and the West. It seeks to further engage audiences by creating thought-provoking programs and inciting lively discussions on the meaning of art by exposing the work of artists both renowned, local and at early stages of their career. EMPA is located in El Paso’s Downtown Arts District, a lively area which welcomes 1.5M local, national and international visitors each year. The Arts District is anchored by the EPMA and includes the El Paso Museum of History, performing arts facilities, a convention center, public art, a sports venue, cultural venues, festivals, green spaces, and more. Through a $470M Quality of Life Bond passed in 2012, plans are underway to build a Mexican American Cultural Center, a children’s museum, and a large multipurpose event center/arena. A separate $97M El Paso Streetcar Project is refurbishing the vintage streetcars that ran for over 70 years until 1974, and in 2018 the new 4.8 mile route will run from Downtown to the University of Texas at El Paso and back with a station adjacent to the EPMA. El Paso is a progressive city on the move. It is the 19 th largest city in the country and has been ranked the safest large city in the US for four consecutive years. It is situated on the Rio Grande across the border from Ciudad Juàrez, Chihuahua, Mexico and has a population of 700,000. The Paso Del Norte Region (El Paso, Juarez, and Southern New Mexico) is the largest bilingual, bi-national workforce in the Western Hemisphere, and is the world’s largest international border community with an approximate combined metropolitan population of over 2.6M. El Paso is a thriving international city that plays a key role in world trade, manufacturing and distribution, and serves as a regional center to six universities, three medical schools, and four technology incubators. In the past ten years El Paso has seen $2B in capital investments made in life sciences, education, research and commercialization. It has been said that “El Paso is doing more in 20 years than other cities do in 100.” This is a city that gets things done and does not allow itself to get bogged down in bureaucracy. The EPMA is a municipally-funded museum with a $2.4 million budget for FY16, of which approximately 30% is raised by an independent El Paso Museum of Art Foundation Board for programming. EPMA has a staff of 35, is open six days a week and admission is free to the public. Over the last several years the budget has remained stable, yet EPMA is somewhat under- resourced for innovative and exciting programming and exhibitions. As the City of El Paso funds all museum operating expenses and salaries, the Director need only raise funds for programming, exhibitions and acquisitions. The Foundation is the EPMA’s primary source for

El Paso Museum of Art Director Page 2 these funds, but the Director, with the support of the Director of Development, will need to convey the vision of innovative programming and exhibitions to an expanded base of supporters.

BASIC FUNCTION Reporting to the Director of Museums and Cultural Affairs for the City of El Paso, the Director has full autonomy and responsibility as the Museum’s chief executive, and is accountable for managing all aspects of the museum’s exhibitions, programs, staff and operations, and for diversifying private and institutional funding and earned revenue. The Director will have the vision, creativity and fortitude to execute refreshed programming and exhibitions, and develop the next generation of audiences. The Director will work closely with the staff to ensure that the museum: • Has a clearly defined vision for the future, how it wants to be perceived and experienced, and that the staff is in alignment with the vision and has the enthusiasm, skills and sensibilities to execute it; • Continues to build a reputation as a distinctive, exciting, thought-provoking place to explore historical and popular culture through exhibitions and other programming; • Retains current audience constituencies and builds relationships among a new generation of supporters (including young professionals and the different communities which form the local population); • Effectively manages and builds its collections, encouraging curatorial research and innovative exploration of the cultural heritage of our world; • Is financially and operationally strengthened by stewarding an evolving development function, diversifying earned income opportunities, and efficiently using museum resources.

IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES The Director’s immediate priorities will be to: • Understand all facets of the El Paso Museum of Art, including the museum’s history, culture, staff, collections, exhibits, finances, planned exhibitions, education and public programs, facility and infrastructure, and operations; understand the diverse local and regional constituencies in the Paso del Norte region; • Understand and update the Strategic Plan; work with the City and staff to begin executing the Strategic Plan, adjusting annual operating plans to include new priorities; • Build on the Museum’s strong reputation by continuing to cultivate relationships with existing and new key stakeholders in the community in order to enhance and develop support for programs, including partnership opportunities with other museums and arts, educational and cultural institutions locally, nationally and internationally, and with local artists, community and business leaders; • Build and diversify earned and contributed income; • Review the current status of the museum’s exhibitions and education programming, and take charge of in-process work related to the permanent collection, current and planned

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special exhibitions, events, performances and demonstrations, educational publications, docent tours, and school programming; • Work with the staff to understand their contributions, strengths and concerns; instill a strong sense of partnership and cohesion across the organization; use open channels of communication to reinforce a culture of excellence toward achieving the highest standards of museum practice; • In conjunction with the curatorial team, develop exhibitions and programs that can be administered within appropriate budgetary constraints, and that will inform, attract and engage the interest of a diverse El Paso community while also securing recognition nationally and internationally.

ONGOING RESPONSIBILITIES

LEADERSHIP & GENERAL MANAGEMENT • Manage the business affairs of the EPMA with the intent of supporting its mission and goals while achieving greater financial growth, funding diversity and supporting permanent sustainability; • With the City and the Foundation Board, interpret the mission of the museum and articulate its place among cultural institutions in Texas, the and globally; evolve the staff, Board and partners to deepen the Museum’s connection with the community and build a stronger and broader foundation for future support; • Hire, supervise, motivate, develop and evaluate staff, ensuring that staffing is appropriate to meet the organization’s goals; ensure that approved policies are consistently implemented; • Oversee the preservation and maintenance of the museum’s physical assets (the collections, the building and the infrastructure of the campus); • Determine the appropriate technology to be employed to give visitors, both in-person and virtual, the best possible experience and exposure to the permanent collection, temporary exhibitions, educational programs, lectures, etc.

PROGRAM , COLLECTIONS AND EXHIBITIONS • Provide direction for the development of new exhibitions, outreach and education programs; ensure that best museum practices are employed; leverage the collections in ways that are locally relevant, deepen visitors’ appreciation for art and culture from around the world, and are recognized globally; • Develop an approach to exhibition and interpretive philosophy and take a leadership role in both guiding the interpretive activity for exhibitions and for education programming; • Work collaboratively and appropriately manage various relationships with other museums, collections, schools, universities, patrons, volunteers and other community members; serve as an advocate for the organization’s collections, curators, and education professionals, ensuring that the interests of the EPMA are advanced and fully understood;

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• Work with staff to develop a comprehensive plan to preserve, strengthen and enrich the museum’s collections; develop relationships with collectors and artists that may lead to appropriate gifts to the EPMA.

REVENUE , DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS • Serve as the chief fundraiser for the museum; work closely with the staff, the Foundation Board, and advisors to expand and diversify revenue streams from programs, facility rentals, concessions and other sources; set high expectations for increased financial support from foundations, corporations, individuals, and other philanthropic sources for the museum’s programs, exhibitions and acquisitions; • Solidify the EPMA’s reputation as an exceptional museum for the world’s diverse art and culture, and continue to raise awareness among regional, national and international audiences; • Serve as an articulate and persuasive spokesperson for the museum; represent the EPMA to all of its constituencies, including funders, the arts and collector communities, and current and prospective visitors; cultivate strong and supportive relationships with other institutions in the region and in the arts community; • Work with the Foundation Board to increase the endowment and grow the collection as the institution evolves to meet changing needs of a 21 st Century Museum; • Identify and help recruit new supporters whose talents, interests and commitment will help to further the EPMA’s mission and collection and will expand funding opportunities; nurture strong community partnerships; work to ensure active engagement of Board talent and resources in support of the institution.

GOVERNANCE • Effectively operate within a local government system to ensure an ongoing successful public/private partnership; • With the City’s direction, implement the strategic direction for the EPMA; implement goals, priorities and objectives; keep the Director of Museums and Cultural Affairs informed of all relevant issues; attend all committee meetings as required; • Identify and suggest new Foundation Board members whose talents, interests and commitment will help to further the EPMA mission and collection, and will help to expand funding opportunities.

IDEAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS The ideal candidate has the following experience and qualifications: • Curatorial combined with management experience in a museum or associated institution known for innovative programming, curatorial excellence, and strong ties with the community; an extensive background or passion for areas of strength in the collection and in educational & public programming would be an advantage; • The ability to work successfully with donors, community leaders, artists and curators, educators and the Foundation Board to strengthen the museum; measurable and successful results in raising funds and in identifying, cultivating and soliciting donors and

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other sources of revenue and in managing change; a detailed understanding of operations and financial management (including revenue and expense models), particularly in a museum or similar environment; • Experience working with scholars, curators, artists, educators and others as active and valued collaborators; demonstrated ability to forge mutually respectful and effective relationships with a diverse group of personalities to deliver exceptional museum experiences to the public; an individual with a passion for connecting the public with art, who will enjoy connecting members of El Paso and surrounding communities, as well as visitors to the region, to the EPMA; • An eye toward technology and familiarity with the tools other institutions have successfully employed to develop audiences, both in-person and virtual; • Outstanding oral and written communication skills, including the means to address issues in non-confrontational and non-polarizing ways, but nevertheless with determination; a track record as an effective advocate for his or her organization; • A leader adept at planning, prioritizing, organizing and following through; a hard worker with a high energy level who welcomes accountability; a good listener and strategist who is comfortable receiving input from many sources; • Someone who imparts trust, integrity and solidity and guides others in a similar vein; an ability to disagree without being disagreeable; a team player and team builder; someone who enjoys working in close collaboration with staff, Foundation Board and community members; able to connect with a broad spectrum of community members and partners; a person with a sense of humor and perspective; • Master’s degree in Museum Studies, Fine Art, Art History or a related field is required, as is a minimum of six years of leadership and management experience in an art museum setting.

For more information please contact:

Lisa Grossman (650) 323-3565 or [email protected] m/Oppenheim Associates 425 Market Street, Suite 1020 San Francisco, CA 94105

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