BAX is seeking a dynamic, experienced Executive/Artistic leader, with the capacity and willingness to embrace the values that define BAX, while furthering the mission and vision that have marked its first 25 years.

EXECUTIVE/ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
The Board of Directors of the Brooklyn Arts Exchange (BAX) seeks an Executive/Artistic Director. The EAD will provide the leadership and vision necessary to shepherd the organization through a major transition, sustain the organization’s existing programs, enhance its artistic profile, and responsibly expand revenue in order to increase services while enhancing financial stability.

In addition to overseeing programs, the EAD will continue and deepen BAX’s racial equity work, with a vigilant eye on programmatic priorities and capacity. In partnership with the Managing Director, the EAD will provide direction and leadership for all strategic, programmatic and development initiatives, and maintain and develop relationships with all stakeholders from families, to artists, to funders and Board members.

ABOUT BAX/BROOKLYN ARTS EXCHANGE
BAX’s mission is to provide a nurturing, year-round, performance, rehearsal and educational venue in Brooklyn that encourages artistic risk-taking and stimulated dialogue among diverse constituencies.

Founded in 1991, BAX is a proud cultural home to thousands of artists, students, families and audience members. Over 25 years later, and currently at a 1.4 million dollar budget, BAX remains committed to its original vision, supporting dance, theater and performance artists of all ages, and throughout all stages of development, and providing shared space in which children study and professional artists create.

BAX is located in a 3,000 square foot home in Park Slope, which was awarded a 1998 Bessie Award for “building a house and home for the arts in Brooklyn.” BAX’s dedicated 12 member Board of Directors, 5 full-time employees, 10 part-time staff members, and over 20 teaching artists, have purposefully constructed an environment where children study and professional artists create under the same roof. Students are mentored by professional artists and the citywide performing arts community engages diverse Brooklyn audiences at year-round performances in the Theater at BAX. BAX’s multi-faceted, inclusive, and intentional slate of programs, curations, and performances are built to consistently renew and re-energize BAX’s commitment to support the full trajectory of artistic development from young student artist to emerging to mid-career to master for over a quarter of a century and counting.

BAX’s Artist Services Department provides:

• subsidized rehearsal space
• artist residencies
• space grants including the Parent/Artist grant
• the Upstart Festival for emerging dance, theater and performance artists
• Needing It and Submerge, programs which center LGBTQ developing artists
• subsidized theater rentals for self-productions
• a season of cutting-edge performance
• AIR Open Studios
• Additional resources, including the annual Artist Services Weekend and Creating Space workshops and classes.

BAX’s Youth Education Programs encompass five core values — skill-building, creative choice, collaboration, performance, and community – and provide:

• expert instruction in building technical skills in dance, theater, and tumbling with an emphasis on cultivating creative expression.
• over 45 weekly classes serving more than 1000 students, ages 1-18, in the BAX -Building as well as school-break programs including a 7 week summer program.
• a broad range of youth classes, performances and festivals, including the YouthWorks Festival and Teen Arts Conference, free annual programs that are structured to treat young artists with the respect given to professionals.
• BAX Teaching Residencies, currently in six Brooklyn public schools.

BAX welcomes students, families, faculty and artists to an organization with a core commitment to social justice. We intentionally and purposefully support the voices of under-represented individuals and groups of all origins, ages, abilities, races, sexual orientations, and genders and varied immigration statuses.

CURRENT STRATEGIC CHALLENGES:
The departure of BAX’s founding Executive Artistic Director represents a major transition, and offers a unique opportunity for the right candidate to lead an established and highly regarded organization into its next phase.

BAX’s long term lease at its current location on 5th Avenue in Park Slope, Brooklyn, its home for 20 years, ends in three years. The EAD will be responsible for leading the effort to negotiate a new, favorable lease in the current location, or find a new home for the organization.

This is a pivotal moment not only for BAX, but for our city and country. BAX is proud of the role it has played in the artistic community, as well as the community at large. It is imperative that BAX continue its artistic, racial and social justice work in the face of cultural and financial challenges.

WHO WE ARE SEEKING
BAX is seeking a dynamic, experienced artistic leader, with the capacity and willingness to embrace the values that define BAX, while furthering the mission and vision that have marked its first 25 years.

Reporting to a 12 member Board of Directors, the EAD will:

• provide a high level of visibility for the organization and be the “face” of BAX, -representing its mission and values to internal and external audiences.
• be an active leader and participant in all fund development efforts, working closely with staff, board and other volunteers.
• be deeply passionate about NYC dance, theater and performance artists
• be committed to developing artists’ lives & work
• have a deep understanding and respect for BAX’s artistic profile and priorities
  in collaboration with the Board and staff, lead the organization’s anti-racist/racial equity/anti oppression work, in which we are already deeply engaged
• ensure fiscal accountability and stability.
• provide direction and leadership as BAX comes to the end of our long-term lease within three years, and determine/create possible solutions to maintaining/finding appropriate space.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

ARTIST SERVICES: Provide oversight and leadership to BAX’s artistic curators and advisors of each of BAX’s signature programs: the Artist in Residence Program, Space Grant Program, Upstart Program, Submerge, Needing It, Creating Space, Artist Services Day, as well as adjudication panels. These programs are also supported by a part-time Artist Services Manager. The EAD, in consultation with artistic advisors and Managing Director, will set the performance season including schedules and allocation of resources, new and existing programming, and both oversee current artistic advisors/curators or replace as needed.

YOUTH EDUCATION: Provide strategic programmatic direction and mentorship to the Education Director as it pertains to the overall mission and priorities of the organization. The Education Department is headed by an Education Director with an Education Manager, Education Assistant and over 20 teaching artists and seasonal staff. Its programming is vast with in-house education classes, festivals, school breaks programing as well as Public School program residencies.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Serve as a non-voting Board member, including ex-officio membership on all board committees, currently Finance and Development. In addition, the EAD is responsible for board development and stewardship.

FINANCE & HUMAN RESOURCES: Work with the Managing Director on budgetary priorities, manage funds and report to the Board and other entities. In partnership with the Managing Director oversee the management of the organization’s staff, prioritizing participatory decision-making practices. Support the professional development of staff, sustainable and positive staff culture and structure, as well as a culture of feedback and accountability.

DEVELOPMENT: Set short & long-term fundraising goals and priorities with Managing Director & Development Manager. Expand the organization’s base of support, including public, foundation, private, corporate and individual giving. Provide strategic direction and help develop foundation and corporate funding proposals. Spear-head and participate in organizational wide events and fundraising activities. Develop and maintain relationships with major donors and prospects. Personally, and/or in partnership with board members, senior staff, or volunteer leadership, solicit major gifts.

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS: Provide strategic direction and mentorship to the M&C staff, which currently includes the Marketing & Communications Director, Marketing/Artist Services Manager (PT), Youth Marketing Manager (PT), and Graphics Associate (PT). In collaboration with the M&C team and Managing Director, prioritize and strategize short and long-term communications efforts.

PRODUCTION: Provide oversight of the production team, including the Technical Director/Resident Lighting Designer, seasonal Stage Managers and Lighting Designers. In addition, work with the curators, Youth Education and Operations as they pertain to the production staff, individual projects and resource allocation of equipment & facility.

A successful candidate must have:

• No less than 8 years supervisory and managerial experience within arts/culture sector.
• No less than 8 years proven fundraising experience.
• Strong understanding of and commitment to BAX’s mission, vision, and guiding principles.
• Excellent interpersonal, writing and communication skills.

A preferred candidate will have:

• Experience and familiarity with the NYC arts, culture and funding environments.
• Proven ability working with multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-gendered & LGBTQ communities and organizations, and a commitment to cultivating leadership and collaborative decision-making.
• Experience at a senior level in at least one of BAX’s program areas, program development, implementation, and evaluation.
• Comfort and experience with public speaking and communicating with community members, community leaders, funders and the media.

Competitive salary and benefits in a positive working environment.

Salary is commensurate with experience and in keeping with a non-profit arts payscale.

Qualified candidates should email cover letter and resume to executivesearch@bax.org (PDF’s preferred).

This position is open until filled. However, it is our intention to start interviews in mid-May 2018. To learn more about BAX, please visitwww.bax.org

BAX is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, and LGBTQ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Director of Marketing and Communications (DMC) is a key member of the senior management team of Carolina Performing Arts (CPA) and is accountable for all CPA marketing, sales, and communications strategies and activities including ticket revenue, brand development and visibility, advertising, audience development, social media, and printed materials. The successful candidate will have demonstrable experience leading a team and balancing creativity and collaboration with efficiency, deadlines, and aspirational objectives while being able to adapt to change and competing priorities. The DMC must possess both exceptional analytic skills and a big-picture mentality when developing marketing and sales strategies, as well as an adeptness for institutional branding and the enhancement of the public image of Carolina Performing Arts regionally, nationally, and internationally.

The DMC will work closely with the Artistic and Engagement, Development, and Operations teams in developing and stewarding budgets, sales projections, and effective marketing and communications plans to achieve organization goals. This position requires an accountable and collaborative leader committed to supporting and empowering a high-performing team.

Education
Bachelors degree required. Masters degree in related field preferred, e.g. journalism, marketing, public relations, English, or public affairs.

Experience

• Substantial Work Experience: 5 to 10 years of marketing and communications leadership, ideally in a successful arts organization of similar or larger size, or in a similar field.
• Industry Expertise: Thorough knowledge of marketing and communications best practices, especially success with increasing earned revenues. Knowledge specific to the performing arts industry is preferred.
• Proven Staff Management Skills: Highly developed staff management and leadership skills, with a focus on building stability and empowering staff.
• Adaptable Leadership Skills: Ability to keep pace with rapidly changing society and corresponding marketing strategies, from the growth of new media and technologies to behavior differences across audience demographics. Must have an astute analytical eye for distinguishing real trends and investing in new areas that allow for experimentation and learning.
• Proven Team Builder: Demonstrated experience building and leading a team of specialists and subject matter experts that is highly competent, action oriented, customer-centric and revenue accountable. Proven track record of developing effective working relationships with internal colleagues, board members, patrons, external vendors, media, etc.
• Knowledge of Tessitura CRM system is a plus.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran.