Description
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR – MIDSIZE NONPROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATION WITH CREATIVE PLACEMAKING FOCUS
The Ix Art Park Foundation—among the most exciting public art- and creative placemaking-focused organizations in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast—is seeking an energetic and fundraising-savvy Executive Director to lead the Charlottesville, Virginia-based nonprofit (pronounced “icks”) into its next chapter. The Executive Director will architect and spearhead the organization’s strategic vision and fundraising efforts; oversee the programming, marketing, and operations teams; and serve as Ix’s chief ambassador nationally as well as locally. Priority will be given to candidates with a demonstrated track record in nonprofit fundraising and a passion for public art, creative placemaking, and community building. In addition to their fundraising prowess, successful candidates will be entrepreneurial in spirit and have the skills to foster financial sustainability, including the management of the foundation’s budget and the cultivation and maintenance of lasting partnerships with corporations, community organizations, and grant-making entities. Strong communication skills (including grant writing), the ability to motivate and mentor staffers across departments, and a joy for working in a creative environment are critical.
We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and strongly encourage applications from people of color, women, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ people. We know that all of the attributes and interests listed here won’t apply to all candidates. If you think you’d be a great fit and have skills and qualifications not mentioned in this listing, we encourage you to submit an application and tell us why you’d thrive in the role. This position pays up to $100,000+, commensurate with experience; benefits include health insurance, paid vacation, holidays and sick leave.
About the Ix Art Park Foundation: Established in 2014, Ix Art Park strives to harness the power of art and collective community to help build healthy neighborhoods. The organization manages: 1) a free public art park located in downtown Charlottesville, Virginia; 2) the Looking Glass, the first permanent, immersive art museum in Virginia; 3) a year-round arts education program for adults and children; 4) large and small festivals and events featuring music, dance, theater, and food, including a weekly Farmer’s Market. Situated on 17 acres of land in an Opportunity Zone that was once the site of an abandoned textile factory, the Ix property was purchased in 2000 by one of the Ix Art Park’s founders with a vision to build a mixed-use commercial development that would restore economic and cultural vitality to the neighborhood while dedicating a portion of the property to a park for public use. Accordingly, in 2019, the Ix Art Park Foundation was formed as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our mission is to “spark creativity and inspiration in people’s everyday lives.” In 2020, more than 346,000 people visited the park, and more than 200 events took place on its campus. www.ixartpark.org