ABOUT STUDIO IN A SCHOOL
Agnes Gund, philanthropist and President Emerita of The Museum of Modern Art, founded Studio in a School in 1977 during a financial crisis that severely reduced arts education in public schools. With the support of generous individuals, foundations, and corporations, Studio in a School continues to provide visual arts programming taught by artists to students from Pre-K to college in New York City and beyond. Studio in a School Association, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, provides professional learning, partnerships, internships, and research grants on a local and national scale under the auspices of its two LLCs, Studio in a School NYC and Studio Institute.
Studio NYC engages more than 30,000 public school students in all five boroughs each year and aims to ensure that New York City public school students receive standards-based, quality instruction in the visual arts regardless of socio-economic status.
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Board of Directors of Studio in a School seeks a charismatic, visionary, politically fluent leader to serve as the new President of Studio NYC as it enters a key phase of its evolution. This is a highly specialized opportunity for an experienced, thoughtful individual to build on Studio NYC’s outstanding 47-year legacy of championing the arts in New York City and ensuring that visual arts education evolves with the rapid social, political, and economic changes that are shaping the future of New York City’s and our Nation’s public school students.
The President will
• Provide management acumen and strategic vision for the organization while building bridges among artists, schools, students and families, arts organizations, neighborhoods, and elected officials to advance arts programming, access, and equity in the New York City region.
• Play a significant and influential role in the continuing development of quality instruction in the visual arts and enhance its impact on the lives of students.
• Serve as a key leader, influencer, and change agent in the arts and arts education in the New York City region as well as at the national level.
• Position Studio NYC for continued success as an active and important advocate in these areas, and have a powerful voice in shaping the strategic direction of the organization, and its support for students and artists, its community partnerships, and its development and fundraising strategy.
• Lead Studio NYC’s partnerships with New York City by regularly interfacing with City and County leaders including the Mayor’s office and other elected officials and City agencies such as the Department of Education, Department of Cultural Affairs, and other potential partners.
• Deepen Studio NYC’s existing partnerships and endeavor to actively create meaningful arts education programming and pioneering strategies and initiatives.
• Build and establish new relationships with community groups, nonprofits, schools, foundations, and cultural organizations across the region, nationally, and around the world.
CANDIDATE PROFILE
Strong candidates will have a passion for the arts and their contributions to the development of children, experience in arts administration and relevant knowledge and expertise regarding the mechanics of providing age appropriate arts education. We recognize that there is a spectrum of lived and professional experience that will set candidates up for success in this role. While no one candidate will have every experience outlined in the position description, ideal candidates will display the following professional and qualities and personal attributes.
Executive Leadership and Management
The President will have proven strategic abilities, strong senior management experience, sound financial acumen, and a demonstrated record of collaborative leadership and executive-level experience in program leadership and resource development. Together with staff and the Board of Directors, the ideal leader will possess the skills to articulate the organization’s vision and lead its implementation. An open and inclusive management style ability is necessary to nurture, inspire, empower, and engender a shared vision with this diverse team. The President will have a record of initiating and overseeing complex projects and bringing them to successful conclusion, as well as directing and ensuring accountability for all finances and operations of a multifaceted organization.
Passion for Arts Education and Access
Studio NYC seeks a President who has a demonstrated passion for visual arts education, along with the ability to serve as a thought leader and respected advocate within the community. The ideal candidate will be familiar with current trends in visual arts education and a leader in and champion for the arts, with the gravitas and credibility to influence arts and education programming and funding. A bold thinker who is deeply community oriented, this leader will play a highly visible advocacy role on behalf of Studio NYC, with a deep focus on the future of the field and the impact of a changing political landscape. Most importantly, the President will possess a high degree of emotional intelligence and a natural ability to connect with the communities and students who are most impacted by Studio’s work with a sense of humility and warmth.
External Relations and Fundraising
The President will have a compelling public presence and be exceptionally skilled at developing, building, and sustaining excellent relationships. Politically astute, this leader will have a demonstrated ability to connect with and build bridges among the various stakeholders of Studio NYC and throughout the field, including staff, Board members, students, families, school officials, colleagues, community leaders, and donors. A strong communicator with the ability to galvanize an audience, the President will be able to speak and write clearly and compellingly to all audiences about the organization’s history, impact, growth strategy, and future direction. The President will be a highly skilled fundraiser with the ability to raise funds from individual donors, institutions, and events and serve as the face of Studio NYC. Considerate and open, the President will work for the benefit of Studio NYC by promoting dialogue to identify best practices, synthesize divergent views, and coalesce all constituencies around a shared view or plan.
Business Acumen and Operational Expertise
The President will bring a strong record of successful oversight and management of finance, human resources, and operations. This leader will promote a culture of excellence and high-quality execution at all levels within the organization and provide outstanding stewardship for Studio NYC.
Skilled and Inspirational Manager
The President will be a decisive, results-driven leader with a collegial, team-oriented working style that is open and nimble.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $210,000 - $270,000. Studio NYC provides a generous and comprehensive benefits package. Note: New York City area residency required. This position is NOT fully remote and consists of a hybrid in-office and remote work schedule.
CONTACT
Koya Partners, the executive search firm that specializes in mission-driven search, has been exclusively retained for this engagement. This search is led by Stephen Milbauer and Chartise Clark. To express interest in this role please submit your materials here: talent-profile.diversifiedsearchgroup.com/search/v2/20961, or email Stephen and Chartise Clark directly at [email protected]; [email protected]. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.