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- Owner Of Music For “Peanuts” TV Specials Files Four Copyright Lawsuits, One Of Them Against US Government
“The owner of the Peanuts television and film music catalog is suing multiple entities over the alleged unlawful use of jazz artist Vince Guaraldi’s famous tracks from the “Charlie Brown” franchise. Lee Mendelson Film Productions filed four federal copyright lawsuits, … (one of them against) the U.S. Department of the Interior.” – USA Today
- Chicago Tribune Strikes Last-Minute Agreement To Buy Suburban Paper Daily Herald
The Tribune, owned by finance firm Alden Global Capital, landed the deal to purchase the employee-owned Herald (based in northwestern suburb Arlington Heights) after several full-page ads, an 11th-hour bid and (probably) a premium price. – Chicago Tribune (Yahoo!)
- San Francisco Symphony Didn’t Choose A Star Music Director. They Did Something Better.
Joshua Kosman: “In appointing Elim Chan as its next music director, the San Francisco Symphony has tapped the most inexperienced, unproven new artistic leader the organization has had in more than 40 years. The choice could not have been wiser or more opportune.” – San Francisco Chronicle (MSN)
- Officials Say Congressional Approval To Build Trump’s Triumphal Arch Was Granted 101 Years Ago
“The Trump administration does not plan to seek approval from Congress for President Donald Trump’s planned 250-foot arch, arguing that they do not need it because lawmakers a century ago authorized a somewhat similar project that was never built.” – The Washington Post
- London’s Largest Theatre Operator, ATG, Will Soon Be For Sale: Report
“A decision to go ahead with a sale of ATG Entertainment, previously known as Ambassador Theatre Group, … could value the business at more than £4 billion ($5.38 billion). … ATG Entertainment owns and operates more than 70 venues across the UK, the United States, Germany and Spain.” – Reuters (MSN)
- PBS Station In Rural Illinois Goes Off The Air After Federal Funding Cuts
WEIU, licensed to and based at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, has halted over-the-air broadcasting and become an online-streaming-only station. Now-discontinued federal grants had made up 80% of its budget. – Jacksonville (Illinois) Journal-Courier
- Small-Town Wisconsin Company Wins 2026 Regional Theatre Tony Award
American Players Theatre, located in Spring Green, Wisconsin — a town 40 miles west of Madison, home to roughly 1,500 people and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin — presents nine productions each year in its 1,075-seat amphitheater and 200-seat indoor space. APT’s repertory focuses on “timeless, challenging, poetic texts,” particularly Shakespeare. – Wisconsin Public Radio
- San Francisco Picks its Salonen Replacement
Good Morning,
The San Francisco Symphony finally named a music director — Elim Chan — after the bruising Salonen departure left what once was one of America’s most ambitious orchestras adrift (KQED). Set it in the context of Laurence Vittes’ new report card arguing the field is changing shape, not just shrinking its budgets (Strings).
The day’s other thread is about authenticity. An AI cleared a Turing test for the first time, fooling the judges more often than the real humans did (Neuroscience News). Then it was revealed that a Commonwealth-prize-winning short story is now suspected of being AI-written (The Guardian). Also: AI-voiced pirated audiobooks are flooding YouTube faster than anyone can pull them (The New York Times). The capability isn’t the crisis, the missing chain of attribution is.
A useful counter-fact amid the gloom: adjusted for inflation, West End ticket prices have fallen below 2019 levels (WhatsOnStage). And as machines learn to pass for us, neuroscientists are wiring people up to find where beauty actually lives in the brain (Smithsonian).
See you tomorrow.
Doug
- President & Executive Director – Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO)
Buffalo, NY
The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, one of America’s most respected orchestras with a 90+ year legacy of artistic excellence, seeks a dynamic President & Executive Director to lead its next chapter of growth and impact.
Reporting to the Chair of the Board of Trustees and working in close partnership with Music Director JoAnn Falletta, the President & Executive Director serves as the organization’s chief executive, overseeing all artistic, financial, and operational functions. This leader will guide strategy, drive revenue growth, and represent the BPO as its primary ambassador across the region and beyond.Key Responsibilities
• Set and execute a strategic vision in partnership with the Board and Music Director.
• Lead fundraising efforts and cultivate major donor relationships.
• Oversee financial management, operations, and long-term sustainability.
• Inspire and manage a high-performing senior leadership team.
• Expand audiences, earned revenue, and community impact.
• Serve as a visible spokesperson and champion for the BPO.Ideal Candidate
• Proven executive leadership experience, preferably in orchestras or performing arts.
• Strong business and financial acumen, with experience driving growth.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising and donor engagement.
• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to inspire teams and partners.
• Passion for classical music and commitment to community engagement.About the Organization
Founded in 1935, the Grammy Award-winning Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra is internationally recognized for its artistic excellence, acclaimed recordings, and deep community impact. Under the long-standing leadership of Music Director JoAnn Falletta, the BPO has achieved national prominence through extensive touring, broadcasts, and more than 50 recordings. The Orchestra performs at the iconic Kleinhans Music Hall, widely regarded as one of the finest acoustic venues in the world, and presents a robust year-round season spanning Classics, Pops, Rock, film, and family programming. Serving more than 40,000 patrons annually and reaching over 35,000 students through education and community programs, the BPO is both a cultural cornerstone of Western New York and a driving force in the region’s civic life.
Compensation
Salary Range: $300,000–$350,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications, plus benefits.
To Apply
Please direct inquiries, nominations, and applications to Anissa Conner at aconner@dhrglobal.com.
- Symphony Tacoma seeks Executive Director
Aspen Leadership Group is pleased to partner with Symphony Tacoma in the search for an Executive Director.
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director will serve as the chief executive and administrative leader of Symphony Tacoma and work in close partnership with the Board of Directors, Music Director, and General Manager to advance the organization’s artistic, financial, and strategic goals to advance the organization’s mission. Reporting to the Board of Directors through the Board President, the ED will be responsible for overall management, financial sustainability, fundraising leadership, organizational culture, and community presence. The successful candidate will be a visionary, collaborative, and results-driven leader with a demonstrated record of success in nonprofit management, preferably in the arts, and a deep commitment to community engagement and cultural vitality.
For 79 years, Symphony Tacoma has been a vital part of Tacoma’s cultural landscape, inspiring audiences through live musical experiences that both honor tradition and push beyond it. Founded in 1946 by 30 volunteer musicians from the University of Puget Sound, the organization was professionalized in 1993 under the leadership of Harvey Felder, now Conductor Laureate. Today, more than 80 professional musicians and a volunteer chorus of 70 perform annually for nearly 20,000 residents across Pierce County and the greater Puget Sound region.
Symphony Tacoma’s core season includes five main-series classical concerts, holiday choral pops, an annual performance of Handel’s Messiah, and educational concerts. Performances are presented primarily at the historic Pantages Theater, where Symphony Tacoma has been a principal resident arts organization for more than 30 years. The orchestra partners with a dynamic range of global soloists and visiting composers, presenting adventurous programming designed to serve and inspire Tacoma’s community. Symphony Tacoma is widely recognized as a flagship musical organization within a vibrant regional ecosystem of professional and community-based ensembles. Symphony Tacoma further engages the community through a trio of education programs—Mini Maestros, Simply Symphonic, and Symphony 2U—as well as through community events designed to expand access to classical music beyond the concert hall. Collectively, these programs serve more than 7,000 people annually, from early childhood through adulthood.
A bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least seven years of senior-level experience in nonprofit management is required for this role. Symphony Tacoma will consider candidates with a broad range of backgrounds. If you are excited about this role and feel that you can contribute to the Symphony, but your experience does not exactly align with every qualification listed above, we encourage you to apply. All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and résumé. Cover letters should be responsive to the mission of Symphony Tacoma and the responsibilities and qualifications specified in the position prospectus.
The salary range for this position is $110,000 to $120,000. Symphony Tacoma offers a comprehensive package of benefits, including health, dental, vision, and life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time off, and a 401(k) program with employer match.
Symphony Tacoma is committed to the inclusion of all qualified candidates. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, or participating in the selection process, please contact Jeanette Rivera-Watts at jeanetterw@aspenleadershipgroup.com.
To apply for this position, visit: https://apptrkr.com/7178714.
- Universal Music Makes AI Deal With Spotify On New Tool
The new tool will launch as a paid add-on for Spotify Premium users, the companies said on Thursday (May 21), creating what they described as an additional revenue stream for artists and songwriters on top of existing Spotify royalties. – MusicBusinessWorldwide
- Trump Panel Approves Trump Arch
Thursday’s vote by the Commission of Fine Arts, whose job is to vet the design of monuments and other major projects in the capital, represents a key approval as the White House seeks to begin construction. – Washington Post
- AI Passes Turing Test For The First Time
Researchers discovered that when equipped with specific “persona” prompts, advanced models like GPT-4.5 were judged to be human 73% of the time, significantly outperforming actual human participants and fundamentally altering our understanding of machine intelligence. – Neuroscience News
- San Francisco Symphony Picks A Music Director
The appointment is a historic one. Chan will be the first woman to lead one of the so-called “Big 7” symphony orchestras in the United States, encompassing New York, Boston, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and Philadelphia. – KQED
- Annabelle Lopez Ochoa: Why I Choreograph
“I choreograph because it is the only language in which I feel completely uninhibited. … Words remain fragile. They can be misinterpreted or fail to capture the depth of what we truly mean. Movement, however, transcends the invisible barriers that divide us — culture, borders, language, religion — and speaks directly to something instinctive.” – Dance Magazine
- Adjusted For Inflation, Ticket Prices In London’s West End Have Actually Fallen Since Pandemic
“In the West End, average ticket prices rose by a nominal 0.92 per cent over the last year. When measured against the annual UK inflation rate of 3.4 per cent, this represents a real-terms price drop of 2.5% for consumers. Compared to 2019, this real-term drop extends to 8.9%.” – WhatsOnStage (UK)
- Was The Off-Broadway Production Of “Titanique” Defrauded By Its Own General Manager?
That’s the allegation in a lawsuit filed by the production company (called Iceberg Ahead LLC) in Virginia against former general manager Carl Flanigan. In March the company won a $4.3 million default judgment against Flanigan, who never responded to the suit. – Broadway Journal
- Paramount’s Credit Rating Gets Further Downgraded After Warner Deal
Currently S&P Global has a “BB+” issuer credit rating on Paramount. On Wednesday, the firm said it will “lower the issuer credit rating on PSKY to ‘BB’ when its acquisition of WBD closes, assuming no material changes to the structure or terms of the transaction. – Variety
- How Does Your Brain Process Beauty?
“Neuroaesthetics is a search to give a value, a quantity, to beauty—to locate it, perhaps, in the brain and in the heart.” – Smithsonian
- The Perils Of Writing With AI When You Don’t Check
My fellow nonfiction writers: AI can be a helpful tool. If you rely on it for factual accuracy you are putting your reputation, your career, your very livelihood in peril. – The AI Humanist
- The Man Who Invented Dinner Theater, William Pullinsi, Has Died At 86
“The founding artistic director of the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse in southwest suburban (Chicagoland), (he was) widely regarded as the founder of dinner theater in America.” – Chicago Tribune (Yahoo!)
- Orchestra Report Card: Something New Is Changing The Field
Until the new conductors settle in, we won’t fully know how transformative their impact will be, but early signs suggest they could accelerate changes already reshaping the field since Covid—in programming, outreach, diversity, education, and institutional purpose. – Strings Magazine
- No Transparency: Palm Springs Museum Refuses To Release Report On Investigation Into Fraud And Theft
The whistleblower complaint made numerous detailed allegations. Among them are claims that the museum improperly reclassified funds in its endowment to meet cash crunches. – ARTnews
- National Trust Lists America’s 11 Most-Endangered Historic Places
Among those selected are two sites that have drawn the ire of the Trump administration, the Stonewall National Monument in New York, often considered the birthplace of the gay right’s movement, and the President’s House Site in Philadelphia, which served as the presidential home prior to the capital’s relocation to Washington. – ARTnews
- U.S. Has Halted Flight Of Film Production Overseas (At Least For Now)
“Data from the first quarter of 2026 shows signs that the United States is halting the exodus of film and television productions to other countries. But it is doing so as greenlights on high-budget productions continue to decrease worldwide, leaving dozens of production hubs fighting for slices of a smaller pie.” – TheWrap (Yahoo!)
- Composer Thomas Adès Gets His First Official Conducting Job
The 55-year-old London native has long been active as a guest conductor, and not only of his own music. He has now been appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Hallé Orchestra in Manchester, starting this September. – Moto Perpetuo
- Museum Wall Text Has Become Another Culture-War Battleground
“Traditionally, museum wall text has been no more controversial than signs pointing visitors to the restrooms, and the Smithsonian still has descriptions placed near objects in most of its galleries. But there have been changes at exhibitions in some museums where the subject could be potentially contentious.” – The New York Times
- Paris Judge Rejects Attempt To Block New Windows Commissioned For Notre-Dame
“A Paris judge has rejected a request to halt the removal of six 19th-century stained-glass windows by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc from Notre-Dame Cathedral, which are to be replaced by government-commissioned contemporary works (by artist Claire Tabouret).” – ARTnews
- Short Story Which Won Prize Last Week Is Now Thought To Be Written By AI
“’The Serpent in the Grove’ was named as the winning entry for the Commonwealth Prize from the Caribbean on Saturday and published in Granta magazine. … Shortly (afterward), internet sleuths — and a few literary critics — seized upon the work and its author, Jamir Nazir, reportedly a 61-year-old from Trinidad with few publications to his name.” – The Guardian
- Pirated Audiobooks Voiced By AI Bots Are All Over YouTube
“While piracy has long been an issue for the book business, the rapid rise of unauthorized audiobooks” — typically with vocally flat narration and unrelated visuals — “on YouTube, which publishers and authors believe are eroding sales for their books, poses a new challenge for the industry.” – The New York Times
- James Murdoch Buys “New York” Magazine And Vox
Rupert Murdoch’s younger, more liberal-leaning son has purchased, for a reported-but-unconfirmed $300 million, roughly half of the current Vox Media: New York magazine and its verticals (among them Vulture, The Cut, and Curbed), the Vox.com website, and the Vox Media Podcast Network. – AP
- Executive Director – NXTHVN via TOC Arts Partners
About the Opportunity
NXTHVN seeks an Executive Director to provide visionary leadership at a defining moment in the organization’s evolution. Founded in 2018 by acclaimed artist Titus Kaphar and impact investor Jason Price, NXTHVN has grown rapidly into a nationally recognized institution that weaves together residencies and fellowships for visual artists, professional advancement, exhibitions, and community-rooted economic development. The next Executive Director will partner with the founders, the Board of Directors, and a deeply committed staff to steward this distinctive model into its next chapter, deepening NXTHVN’s impact for artists and curators, for the Dixwell community, and for the broader arts and cultural sector.
This is a meaningful inflection point for the organization. NXTHVN has built a transformative Fellowship Program, a celebrated High School Apprenticeship Program, a robust exhibition slate, and a 40,000 square foot creative campus with adjacent fellows’ housing in the Dixwell neighborhood of New Haven. Over the past year, the organization has also expanded its Board of Directors to twelve members under the leadership of new Board Chair Hassan Smith, deepening governance capacity and broadening the networks available to support NXTHVN’s next phase of growth. The Executive Director will inherit that foundation and bring fresh strategic clarity, fundraising momentum, and operational discipline to support continued growth.
This is both an organizational stewardship opportunity and an organizational builder’s opportunity. The next Executive Director will serve as NXTHVN’s primary external ambassador and internal anchor, ensuring that the organization’s programs, partnerships, and resources are aligned with the mission, the founders’ vision, board policies, and community needs. The right candidate will bring a multi-million dollar fundraising track record, sound nonprofit financial stewardship, operational rigor, and an authentic connection to the role of the arts in advancing equity, opportunity, and community well-being.
About NXTHVN
NXTHVN was founded in 2018 by Titus Kaphar and Jason Price. The organization combines arts and entrepreneurship in a distinctive model that, through access, education, programming, and impact investing, launches the careers of artists and curators while strengthening the livelihood of the surrounding community. NXTHVN operates with an annual budget of approximately $2 million and is governed by a twelve-member Board of Directors.
Mission
NXTHVN’s mission is to create groundbreaking educational and professional opportunities, and to deliver resources, knowledge, and capital to underrepresented professional artists, curators, and members of the surrounding Dixwell community.
Programs and Impact
Fellowship Program
NXTHVN’s cornerstone initiative is its transformative ten-month Fellowship Program, which has gained national recognition for accelerating the careers of emerging and underrepresented artists and curators. The intensive, cohort-based program provides:- Professional studio spaces and housing accommodations
- Mentorship from established industry professionals
- Exhibition opportunities in NXTHVN’s gallery
- Professional development workshops and networking events
- Financial support through stipends
NXTHVN Fellows have secured representation at major galleries, presented work at international exhibitions, and received significant grants, awards, and industry recognition. The program’s alumni network continues to grow, creating a powerful community of visual arts professionals who support one another’s career advancement.
High School Apprenticeship Program
NXTHVN’s paid apprenticeship program for local teens has become a model for arts education and youth development. The program:
Connects Dixwell neighborhood teens with NXTHVN Fellows for direct mentorship- Provides one-to-one hands-on training in artistic techniques and professional practices
- Offers stipends that make arts participation economically accessible
- Builds pathways to higher education and careers in the arts
- Develops transferable skills in communication, critical thinking, and collaboration
Exhibition Program
NXTHVN produces four professional exhibitions annually, with three hosted at its Dixwell gallery. These exhibitions showcase the work of current Fellows alongside established artists, provide curatorial opportunities for emerging professionals, engage the local community through opening events and educational programming, attract visitors from throughout the region, and generate critical discourse around contemporary art practices. The exhibition program has received coverage in major arts publications and helped position NXTHVN as an important voice in the contemporary art landscape.Local Strategic Initiatives
Through its strategic initiatives, NXTHVN nurtures cultural and economic impact in the Dixwell neighborhood by supporting entrepreneurial ventures that benefit the local economy, providing event space and resources for community-focused businesses, connecting entrepreneurs with mentorship and investment opportunities, and creating sustainable economic development in a historically underserved area.About New Haven and the Dixwell Neighborhood
New Haven, Connecticut is a vibrant small city with a deep cultural identity, a celebrated culinary scene, and a long tradition as a hub for the arts, education, and ideas. Home to Yale University, the Yale Center for British Art, the Yale University Art Gallery, the International Festival of Arts and Ideas, Long Wharf Theatre, and many independent galleries and creative practitioners, New Haven offers a uniquely rich environment for an organization like NXTHVN to thrive. The city is easily accessible by train and highway from New York City and Boston.
The Dixwell neighborhood stands as one of the oldest African American communities in New England, with a heritage dating back to the mid-19th century. During its heyday from the 1940s through the 1960s, Dixwell Avenue was known as “Connecticut’s Harlem,” featuring renowned jazz clubs, Black-owned businesses, churches, and cultural institutions. The neighborhood has strong connections to the civil rights movement and is home to Dixwell Avenue Congregational United Church of Christ, founded in 1820 and recognized as the oldest African American Congregational Church in the world.
Today, Dixwell represents a community that holds its cultural heritage with pride while embracing new opportunities for growth. Recent revitalization efforts, including the restoration of the historic Q House, have reinvigorated community gathering spaces. NXTHVN’s presence in Dixwell creates a bridge between the neighborhood’s storied past and its future, investing in arts, education, and community development to honor and revitalize local history. For the next Executive Director, understanding and engaging with Dixwell’s history, current dynamics, and aspirations will be essential to fulfilling NXTHVN’s mission of strengthening this distinctive community through arts and entrepreneurship.
Job Description
The Executive Director will provide leadership and strategic direction for NXTHVN, ensuring a strong and sustainable business model that fulfills the mission and expands the organization’s impact. Reporting to the Board of Directors and partnering closely with the founders, the Executive Director oversees fundraising, financial management, strategic planning, programmatic alignment, community engagement, and organizational development. The Executive Director also serves as NXTHVN’s primary spokesperson and ambassador to donors, partners, community members, business leaders, and the broader arts and cultural sector.
The successful Executive Director will balance internal organizational stewardship with external relationship building. The role calls for an outstanding facilitator, collaborator, and communicator who can earn the trust and confidence of founders, staff, Board members, program participants, partners, funders, and other stakeholders, and who brings the discipline to translate vision into systems, plans, and measurable results.Reports to: Chair of the Board of Directors; frequent collaboration with all Board members
Status: Full-time, exempt
Location: On-site at NXTHVN’s creative campus in New Haven, CT; must reside in or within 45 miles of New Haven
Direct Reports: Senior leadership teamKey Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership and Vision
- Lead the development and implementation of strategic plans and initiatives, ensuring alignment between programs, operations, and organizational mission
- Foster a culture of innovation, excellence, and continuous improvement throughout the organization
- Build and maintain strategic partnerships that advance NXTHVN’s goals and enhance its impact within the arts community and beyond
- Stay informed about trends and best practices in the arts, entrepreneurship, and community development to ensure NXTHVN remains at the forefront of innovation
Fundraising and Financial
- Steward NXTHVN’s strong existing institutional and individual funder relationships and cultivate new relationships with donors, foundations, corporations, and government agencies, with the goal of sustaining and growing multi-million dollar revenue
- Develop and implement strategies to diversify and expand revenue streams to ensure long-term sustainability
- Oversee financial health, including budget development, financial planning, and fiscal management
- Provide comprehensive management of the facility’s balance sheet, including debt service obligations, ensuring long-term financial stability while maintaining programs and community access
- Ensure compliance with all financial reporting requirements and best practices, working with the Board to develop and implement sound financial policies, procedures, and clearly articulated key performance indicators
Community Engagement and External Relations
- Serve as the primary spokesperson and ambassador for NXTHVN, representing the organization at community events, conferences, and other forums
- Build and maintain strong relationships with the Dixwell community, with deep respect for the neighborhood’s history, current dynamics, and aspirations
- Develop and maintain partnerships with arts organizations, educational institutions, businesses, and community groups to expand NXTHVN’s reach
- Oversee communications and marketing efforts to raise NXTHVN’s profile locally and nationally, ensuring consistent messaging that effectively communicates the organization’s value
Operational and Administrative Leadership
- Oversee day-to-day operations of the 40,000 square foot creative campus and adjacent fellows’ housing, ensuring these facilities support programmatic goals and provide an inspiring environment for artists, curators, and the community
- Develop and implement policies, systems, and procedures to ensure efficient and effective operations across all aspects of the organization
- Recruit, supervise, and evaluate staff, providing opportunities for professional development and growth to build a high-performing team
- Foster a positive, inclusive, and collaborative organizational culture that reflects NXTHVN’s values
- Ensure compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements
Programmatic Leadership
- Working closely with the Director of Programs and Exhibitions, oversee the development, implementation, and evaluation of all programs
- Ensure programs align with NXTHVN’s mission and meet the needs of artists, curators, and the community
- Identify opportunities to enhance existing programs and develop new initiatives that further the mission
Board Relations
- Work closely with the twelve-member Board of Directors to advance the organization’s mission, providing regular reports on activities, finances, and strategic initiatives
- Support continued Board development and engagement, helping to build a strong governance structure that enhances NXTHVN’s effectiveness and sustainability
- Implement Board policies and decisions, ensure clear communication between the Board and staff, and leverage Board members’ expertise and networks to benefit the organization
Key Priorities for the First Two to Three Years
- Develop a comprehensive understanding of NXTHVN’s history, mission, values, culture, programs, and community impact
- Strengthen the organization’s financial position by enhancing existing revenue streams and diversifying funding through expanded fundraising initiatives
- Create a comprehensive business development and fundraising plan that includes pipeline expansion, stewardship of existing donors, and broader reach across key fundraising verticals
- Provide comprehensive management of the facility’s balance sheet to ensure long-term financial stability while maintaining programs and community access
- Conduct a thoughtful assessment of organizational strengths, challenges, and opportunities, and lead the development and implementation of a strategic plan to guide impact, community initiatives, operations, and overall vision
- Build strong, trust-based relationships with staff, the Board, fellows, alumni, program participants, donors, community partners, and other key stakeholders
- Strengthen operational systems and processes to increase efficiency and effectiveness across the organization
Experience and Qualifications
- Demonstrated senior leadership experience, with at least ten years of increasing responsibility and direct management of staff and teams
- Track record of success in nonprofit management, ideally in arts, cultural, educational, or community-based organizations
- Established multi-million dollar fundraising track record across institutional and individual donor communities, with the proven ability to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts at meaningful levels
- Fluency in nonprofit finance, including budgeting, cash flow management, audit oversight, and the financial dimensions of capital and facilities
- Experience overseeing capital projects, physical facilities, and the operational realities of a campus environment
- Demonstrated success aligning resources with strategic goals in an organization known for innovative artistic, educational, or community-based programs
- Genuine connection to the arts and to the role of arts in community life, with cultural fluency and an appreciation for the creative process
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred
The Successful Candidate Will Bring
- Genuine passion for NXTHVN’s mission and a deep belief in the transformative power of art
- A commitment to cultivating belonging for people of all backgrounds, with humility and a track record of fostering inclusive environments
- A collaborative leadership approach that empowers staff, partners, and stakeholders, paired with the willingness to make decisive calls when needed
- Entrepreneurial mindset, with the creativity and discipline to build, test, and refine programs, partnerships, and revenue streams
- A hands-on leadership style and the willingness to engage with challenges across the organization
- Emotional intelligence and steadiness, with patience, sound judgment, and a calm, thoughtful approach in complex moments
- Clear and transparent communication, providing context, rationale, and follow-through to build understanding and confidence across the organization
- The ability to balance compassion with accountability, offering warmth and support while making thoughtful, sometimes difficult, decisions in service of the mission and budget realities
- Infectious energy, enthusiasm, and resilience to guide NXTHVN through its next phase of growth
- Highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct in all interactions
- Willingness and ability to work occasional evenings and weekends and to travel domestically and internationally as required
Compensation
The salary range for this position is $175,000 to $200,000 annually, commensurate with experience. NXTHVN provides comprehensive benefits, including health and dental insurance (employee contributory), paid time off, and holidays, in addition to a supportive and dynamic work environment.
Application Instructions
The Executive Director search is being conducted on behalf of NXTHVN by TOC Arts Partners, a national consultancy aligning strategies, structures, and leadership toward a thriving cultural sector. The search is being led by Edie Demas, in consultation with the TOC Arts Partners search team.
To apply, please submit your materials through the online application. Your cover letter should include any training or experience relevant to the position profile that you would like to highlight, why you consider yourself a strong fit for this opportunity, and anything else you would like us to know about your qualifications that may not be evident in your resume. Applications will be accepted until the role is filled.
For general questions or to nominate a prospective candidate, please contact searchteam@tocartspartners.com. We kindly request no phone calls.
Specific questions about the position may be directed to:
Edie Demas
TOC Arts Partners
edie@tocartspartners.comNot sure you meet 100% of our qualifications? Research shows that some candidates apply for jobs when they fulfill an average of 60% of the criteria, while others tend to apply only if they meet every requirement. If you believe you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Whether you are returning to work after a gap in employment, looking to transition, or taking the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar.
NXTHVN is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership, parental status, military status, or any other non-merit factor.
- A New Arts-And-Culture Magazine Focused On “The Creative Process”
“Former Pitchfork and Spin editor-in-chief Puja Patel is launching Totei, a publication dedicated to ‘craft and craftsmanship.’ The online magazine will publish content weekly, including profiles of artists and musicians, photo essays, reported features, and interviews. Crucially, Totei aims to spotlight rarely seen materials showing how art is created.” – Semafor
- Sham AI Local News Sites Are Proliferating
A digital mirage masquerading as local news, the South Florida Standard underscores just how easy it has become to corrupt one of the country’s core institutions: independent journalism. – Florida Tribune
- Author Of A Book About AI And Truth Admits Some Of His Book Was Written By AI With Fake Quotes
The author of a nonfiction book about the effects of artificial intelligence on truth acknowledged on Monday that he had included numerous made-up or misattributed quotes concocted by A.I. – The New York Times
