ABOUT AMERICANS FOR THE ARTS
Americans for the Arts builds recognition and support for the extraordinary and dynamic value of the arts. Americans for the Arts does this by leading, serving, and advancing diverse networks of organizations and individuals who cultivate the arts around the nation. By connecting the best ideas and leaders from regionally diverse communities, Americans for the Arts’ work helps ensure that every American has access to the transformative power of the arts.
Since its founding in 1960, Americans for the Arts (“AFTA”) has never been just one thing. Instead, AFTA represents a diverse portfolio of organizations advocating for the economic, cultural, and social power of the arts. The Family Tree from AFTA’s 2011 publication commemorating 50 years highlights its dynamic evolution over time, linked HERE.
Today, AFTA continues its legacy by blending expertise in research, advocacy, convening, and communication to make an impact that bridges local and national efforts.
Alongside all Americans, AFTA is adapting to the nation’s evolving economic, cultural, social, and technological landscape. However, AFTA’s 60+ year commitment remains unwavering: connecting and transforming America’s collective creativity into a powerful engine that drives innovation, protects democracy, and expands opportunities for artists to thrive while helping the communities they love to flourish and grow.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Americans for the Arts (“AFTA”) seeks a CEO who will examine a legacy institution with fresh eyes to lead the development and implementation of a bold strategy and plan that will revitalize AFTA’s relevance, reach, and impact.
This is an exciting – and challenging – leadership opportunity for an individual with demonstrated success stewarding organization-wide transformations to join an influential national organization and guide a talented team committed to supporting a healthier, more vibrant future for the arts field.
Working closely with the Board, staff, membership, and partners, the CEO will be responsible for shaping the future of AFTA. This includes refining its value proposition, rethinking the business model, diversifying revenue streams, identifying new ways to serve and expand its membership, promoting all avenues for impact in the sector, advocating for the arts at large, and fostering membership growth through visibility, engagement and thought leadership in the sector.
Additionally, the CEO will oversee – and build strong connections between – AFTA’s membership and its full scope of offerings, programming, and the communities it serves through authentic engagement, mutually beneficial partnerships and collaborations, and by advocating for AFTA and its offerings in a variety of public settings.
As the primary spokesperson and high-visibility ambassador of AFTA, the CEO will engage local and state arts agencies, artistic and cultural organizations, policymakers, artists, educational institutions, donors and funders, civic groups, businesses, the media, and the public. In support of members, partners, and the broader arts community, the CEO is charged with realizing AFTA’s role as a convener, coach, connector, and capacity-builder in the field. The CEO will embrace the opportunity to re-establish AFTA’s role as a thought leader in these areas, particularly AFTA’s role as a bridge to a web of support that strengthens the entire arts ecosystem.