The Columbia Museum of Art (CMA), in Columbia, South Carolina, an AAM-accredited institution, seeks an Executive Director to build upon its 75-year legacy. The Director will be charged with charting new pathways for growth, engagement, sustainability, and implementing an ambitious strategic plan. As the preeminent art museum in South Carolina’s capital, the CMA has been a dynamic prominent cultural anchor in the region for decades. Founded in 1950 and celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2025, it was born from the inspired philanthropy of local citizens and has grown from its origins in the former Taylor House into a modern 25-gallery facility in the heart of Columbia’s vibrant Main Street district. The CMA is driven by its mission “to spark powerful connections through art from around the corner and around the world in an environment that is welcoming to all,” fostering an inclusive and participatory environment where diverse audiences can experience, learn, and create.
CMA’s distinguished collection of more than 7,000 works spans 5,000 years of global art history, with strengths in European Renaissance and Baroque painting, 19th-century American art, and Asian ceramics. The Museum is also deeply committed to modern and contemporary art, featuring works by seminal artists such as Andy Warhol, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Robert Rauschenberg, alongside significant pieces by leading Southern artists. This breadth allows it to present a compelling narrative of artistic achievement across cultures and time periods, which it activates through a robust schedule of both nationally touring exhibitions and innovative installations drawn from its own holdings.
The Museum operates as a vital community nexus, welcoming approximately 135,000 visitors annually from the greater Columbia area, across the state of South Carolina, the Southeast, and beyond. Its impact extends beyond its walls through extensive educational outreach, serving over 30,000 students and educators each year with curriculum-based tours, hands-on workshops, and partnerships with local schools. Public programs including artist talks, film series, and community festivals reinforce the CMA’s role as a gathering place for dialogue and creative expression. The Museum’s participation in Columbia’s annual “Artista Vista” gallery crawl, highlights its integration into the city’s cultural and economic fabric.
With an annual operating budget of approximately $6 million and a dedicated staff of 35 full- and part-time employees, the CMA is poised for a transformative phase of leadership. Following a period of strategic assessment, the CMA Board of Trustees, the CMA Commission, and staff have recently developed a forward-looking, three-year Strategic Integration Plan. This plan establishes clear priorities for the institution’s next chapter: achieving Fiscal Sustainability; enhancing Donor Stewardship; pursuing Operational Excellence; stewarding the Collections and Exhibitions; and deepening Education, Engagement, and Outreach. The plan will be in its first year of implementation during the 2026-27 fiscal year, allowing the new Executive Director the opportunity to place their mark on how the strategic priorities are achieved.
The Opportunity
The next Executive Director of the Columbia Museum of Art will arrive at a pivotal moment, inheriting an institution celebrated for its world-class collection and Southern charm yet poised for transformative growth. They will be responsible for embracing the Strategic Integration Plan and bringing it to life, championing the Museum’s mission to be an inclusive, participatory hub where art and community thrive. This is an outstanding opportunity to lead a respected cultural institution into its next era by deepening financial resilience, expanding audience reach, and strengthening the CMA’s role as an indispensable part of the region’s economic, cultural, and social fabric.
The Executive Director, in partnership with an engaged Board, a passionate staff, and a supportive community, will focus on several key initiatives.
•Articulate and lead a visionary path forward, demonstrating a 21st-century understanding of museums, a passion for the impact of the arts, and innovative strategies for audience engagement.
•Provide strategic leadership and financial oversight for the Museum, ensuring accountability for the core priorities of the Strategic Integration Plan: Fiscal Sustainability; Donor Stewardship; Operational Excellence; Collections and Exhibitions; and Education, Engagement & Outreach.
•Uphold excellence in collections care and exhibition programming, delivering world-class experiences that attract broad audiences and align with donor interests.
•Serve as the chief fundraiser and primary spokesperson, cultivating financial support and resources to meet both near-term and long-term goals, advancing the organization’s mission and programs, and building brand awareness locally, regionally, and nationally.
•Elevate the CMA’s profile by deepening investment in the regional community, championing the unique culture of Columbia and South Carolina, and cultivating strategic relationships with city, county, and state government, partner organizations, and key stakeholders.
•Oversee daily operations and executive direction for all museum programs, staff, and infrastructure, ensuring operational excellence and modernization of physical and technological resources.
•Foster a collaborative and inclusive organizational culture that empowers staff, engages the Board, and ensures the CMA is a welcoming and accessible place where all guests experience a sense of belonging.
Responsibilities and Expectations
•Work in close partnership with the Board of Trustees; actively engage and cultivate relationships with Trustees to foster involvement, stability, harnessing their best ideas, efforts, resources, and networks in support of the CMA’s mission.
•In partnership with the CMA Board of Trustees, the CMA Commission, and the senior team, implement the CMA’s Strategic Integration Plan to ensure organizational alignment and mission fulfillment.
•In close collaboration with the Director of Development, Development Team, Marketing and Communications, and other senior leadership, pursue and secure $6.1 million+ in annual support, in addition to $3 million in capital funding—through strategic donor engagement, a coordinated annual funding initiative, and diversified revenue streams.
•Persuasively communicate the CMA’s vision, direction, and strategy both internally and externally; serve as the primary spokesperson to build enthusiastic commitment, develop key partnerships, and promote the Museum’s collections and programs locally, regionally, and nationally.
•Manage, mentor, and lead a dedicated professional staff; foster a culture of excellence, communication, empowerment, and teamwork across the organization.
•Safeguard the integrity and longevity of the CMA’s collection while developing and delivering world-class exhibitions that meet the highest standards.
•Oversee and optimize the full donor journey along with the Director of Development, including membership structures and CRM systems, ensuring transparent, trust-building communication and stewardship at every phase.
•Actively steward relationships with city, county, and state government officials to maintain, strengthen, and expand financial and strategic support for the CMA’s mission, in partnership with a contract lobbyist and the Board.
•Maximize the use of physical facilities and resources; identify and prioritize opportunities for revenue generation, capital improvements, expansion, and address deferred maintenance.
•Along with the curatorial team, organize, plan, and promote a diverse and dynamic exhibition schedule that broadens audience appeal and aligns with donor and strategic interests.
•Work with the Chief Financial Officer to modernize and automate the CMA’s financial and operating systems to maximize efficiency, transparency, and support effective long-term planning.
•Embed principles of accessibility, inclusivity, and welcome across all facets of the CMA, while cultivating strategic partnerships to expand mission impact and visibility.
Candidate Experience and Personal Characteristics
•A minimum of eight years of senior-level leadership experience within a museum, arts nonprofit, or comparable mission-driven institution, with a demonstrated passion for and connection to the visual arts.
•A bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience. Master’s degree preferred.
•A record of significant fundraising success, with ability to identify, cultivate, and solicit major gifts and grants. Capital campaign experience is highly valued.
•Strategic vision coupled with business and financial acumen, demonstrated through experience developing plans with a Board, managing complex budgets and operations to ensuring fiscal sustainability.
•A record of success in leading people, operations, and facilities, characterized by strong personal integrity, clear priority-setting, and a results-oriented approach to achieving organizational goals.
•Excellent management skills with an ability to attract, retain, and motivate a high-performing staff while fostering a collaborative, professional, and inclusive workplace culture.
•Communication and public engagement skills, with the ability to serve as the primary spokesperson, compellingly advocate for the museum’s mission, and build relationships with diverse stakeholders including donors, government officials, and the media.
•Partnership-building skills, with the ability to work effectively with a Board of Trustees and cultivate strategic alliances with community organizations and government entities to advance institutional goals.
•Knowledge of and a commitment to innovative arts education, community engagement, and the curation of thought-provoking exhibitions and programs that attract and engage broad, diverse audiences.
•Genuine enthusiasm for embracing the unique culture and community of Columbia and South Carolina, and a commitment to deepening the Museum’s local roots while elevating its national profile.
•A commitment to the CMA’s mission and to the vital role of museums as accessible, welcoming institutions that inspire and empower their communities.
Research shows that women and individuals from under-represented backgrounds often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We recognize that it is highly unlikely that an applicant meets 100% of the qualifications for a given role. Therefore, if much of this job description describes you, then you are highly encouraged to apply for this role.
Compensation
●The salary range for this position is $215,000 – $240,000. Final compensation will reflect seniority and experience; experienced candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
●Comprehensive benefits package.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply in confidence, submit application online at https://rcr.li/QZUI by March 27, 2026.
For inquiries or nominations, contact Ken Turino, Senior Search Consultant, Museum Search & Reference, via SearchandRef@museum-search.com.
A complete application should include:
1) A cover letter expressing interest in the position and giving brief examples of past related experience.
2) A résumé.
3) The names and contact information for three professional references able to evaluate your leadership and work, indicating their relationship with you.
Applicants are encouraged to apply early as candidates will be considered on a rolling basis. Nominations are welcome. All applications and nominations are kept confidential; we will not contact references without your permission. EA/EO. For more details, visit: www.museum-search.com/open-searches.
