Director of the Performance Series
The Performance Series at the Williams Center for the Arts is the professional presenting program at Lafayette College. The mission of the Performance Series is to inspire, nurture, and sustain a lifelong appreciation of the performing arts for the public, youth, families and college students, and to serve the educational and cultural programming objectives of Lafayette College. The Series operates primarily in the Williams Center for the Arts, home to a 400-seat proscenium theater/concert hall with superb acoustics, sightlines, and state-of-the-art lighting and stage equipment. (This concert hall is also the principal performance space for the Department of Music.) The Performance Series also presents films at the 180-seat Landis Cinema; and occasionally in the 200-seat Weiss Theater, both in Buck Hall, also on the Lafayette College campus. The nationally recognized Performance Series presents and commissions a broad range of music, dance, and theater artists in both classical and contemporary genres to serve the college and the public through performances and education/community programs.
The Director of the Performance Series provides visionary and administrative leadership for Lafayette College’s Williams Center for the Arts’ Performance Series, which includes chamber music, jazz, dance, theater, world stage, Great Art on Screen, and National Theatre Live broadcasts. In consultation with the Dean of the Arts and Humanities and other faculty and staff in the Arts, the Director sets and pursues the Center’s goals for excellence in artistic programming, audience development and student engagement, fundraising, and financial sustainability. The Director also oversees all administrative and financial matters including budgeting, contract negotiation, marketing and ticketing, and management of human resources. Reporting to the Dean of Arts and Humanities, the Director manages four professional staff (shared in part with other Arts units) and a departmental budget. The Director will maintain and develop collaborative working relationships with diverse departments and constituencies across the College to increase the pedagogical impact of the Performance Series and its programs.
The Director will:
- Develop mission and vision for the Williams Center Performance Series in collaboration with the Dean of Arts and Humanities and other academic and community stakeholders.
- Align programming and use of the Williams Center with Lafayette College’s mission and vision.
- Build inclusive teams and collaborate with visiting artists, colleagues, students, and community members from diverse backgrounds.
- Partner with various Lafayette faculty and administrative programs to ensure the widest possible student engagement.
- Plan and implement a robust performance schedule that includes visiting artists from across artistic disciplines.
- Maintain active relations with local and state arts consortia and regional/national touring networks to position Lafayette favorably in securing world-class talent.
- Prepare an annual report that includes progress toward strategic goals.
- Manages the overall operation of the facility and event planning in collaboration with the Director of Operations and Patron Services, the Galleries, Theater and Music Departments, and other Arts constituents.
- Hire, train, and engage in professional staff development.
- Manage and direct the activities of the shared Williams Center staff.
- Provide leadership and budget oversight for the Williams Center Performance Series.
- Cultivate donor and alumni relations in coordination with Development and the Dean of the Arts and Humanities; plan and execute fundraising campaigns; write grants.
- Work weekends and evenings as needed.
Qualifications
- Master’s degree or higher in a performing arts field or related area.
- Strong financial management, supervisory, and organizational skills.
- Proven leadership experience in the performing arts, preferably in a higher education setting.
- Broad and diverse familiarity with the performing arts field.
- Skilled at curating diverse and exciting seasons appropriate for Williams Center audiences.
- Proven experience negotiating artist contracts.
- Excellent communication skills in writing and speaking; demonstrated proficiency in press relations, grant writing, and correspondence with donors and patrons as well as an ability to coordinate and prioritize multiple concurrent tasks.
Lafayette College
Lafayette College is a highly selective private liberal-arts college located in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania. The college is approximately 70 miles north of Philadelphia and 70 miles west of New York City. Lafayette College is deeply committed to creating a diverse community: one that is inclusive and responsive, and is supportive of each and all of its faculty, students, and staff. All members of the College community share in the responsibility for creating, maintaining, and developing a learning environment in which difference is valued, equity is sought, and inclusiveness is practiced. All Lafayette operations reflect the College’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion (DEAI) initiatives, and Lafayette welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds.
Application Process
Please provide a cover letter, CV, and contact information for three references. Review of applications will begin April 10th. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Letters of Reference will be required of finalists. http://apply.interfolio.com/122208
