The comprehensive collection that the Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) holds in trust for the public and the complementary exhibitions that it organizes are fundamental to the CMA’s mission to create transformative experiences through art for the broadest possible audience in accordance with the highest aesthetic, intellectual, and professional standards. The Margaret and Loyal Wilson Chief Exhibition, Design, and Publications Officer is a key member of the museum’s executive leadership team who oversees exhibition management, design and architecture, and curatorial publications. The incumbent will partner and collaborate with the Deputy Director and Chief Curator, Chief Digital Information Officer, Chief Learning Officer, Chief Marketing Officer, and other appropriate staff and departments to implement the museum’s exhibition program.

Institutional Background:

The Cleveland Museum of Art is known nationally and internationally for the quality and scope of its collection, which comprises more than 60,000 objects and spans 6,000 years of human creativity. Incorporated in 1913, the CMA is today one of the most distinguished comprehensive art museums in the world and one of the most important in the country. Complementing its collections, the CMA’s Ingalls Library and Museum Archives is one of the largest of its kind in the United States, with some 600,000 volumes in its collection.

In 2013, the museum completed a $320 million renovation and expansion project designed by architect Rafael Viñoly. The project, which was funded by a successful capital campaign, included the complete restoration of the museum’s original 1916 building and 1971 Marcel Breuer addition, as well as the addition of two symmetrical wings to the east and west sides of the complex. Central to its design is a large, light-filled atrium enclosed by an elegantly soaring roof. The CMA is now considered one of the most beautiful and impressive civic spaces in Northeast Ohio, and its galleries are among the finest of any museum.

The CMA has 500 employees and a budget of approximately $69 million, of which a significant portion is restricted to acquisitions. Its endowment now stands at $1 billion. Founded “for the benefit of all the people forever,” the CMA remains free to all visitors, with attendance of approximately 700,000 annually.

The CMA’s most recent strategic plan, completed in 2017 and revised in 2022, stresses the primary importance of the collection as the foundation for everything that the museum does. It also underscores the primacy of the visitor experience; diversity in the museum’s collection, programs, audience, and staff; and participation in the life of the city and surrounding community, balancing local responsibility with a national and international presence.

Position:

The Margaret and Loyal Wilson Chief Exhibition, Design, and Publications officer is a strategic and collaborative leader who both develops and realizes the museum’s renowned and ambitious exhibition program, also overseeing the museum’s departments of design and architecture and publications, overseeing a combined total of up to 25 staff members and an annual operating budget totaling $2.6 million. The budget for special exhibitions totals approximately $5 million annually, depending on the works being exhibited. The work of the incumbent involves close collaboration with the museum’s staff in the areas of curatorial, conservation, public and academic engagement, preparation, registration, operations, communications, and administration. The CMA presents between 13 and 17 special exhibitions annually, staging temporary exhibitions that draw from its permanent collection as well as showcasing both national and international loan-based exhibitions.

Responsibilities:

A.    Assure effective management of staff within the Exhibitions, Design, and Publications departments, including organizational planning and development, hiring, employment, training, communication, compensation planning, and performance evaluation to attract, retain, and reward outstanding individuals capable of supporting the overall mission of the museum; promote personal, professional, and growth opportunities for all employees.

B.    Foster partnerships and transparency among all team members to ensure that excellence and creativity in scholarship and interpretation, design, and display in exhibitions are supported through disciplined budget development, oversight, and systematic planning.

C.   Leverage strategic partnerships with museums and other lenders to develop exhibition projects of the highest caliber, identifying and securing external collaborators and venues.

D.   Develop and refine the museum’s master schedule of approved exhibitions and projects and establish and monitor the sequence of activities necessary for all departments involved to keep projects on schedule and within budget.

E.     Prepare and review exhibition contracts, acting as the primary liaison in the negotiation of these documents, a function that may require travel. Monitor contractual agreements, distributing requirements internally.

F.     Lead the development of an exhibitions program that is accessible to all audiences and in alignment with the CMA’s Strategic Plan, while working with the Director and other staff to revise the plan and guide its implementation.

G.   Drive the development of more sustainable work practices within Exhibitions, Design, and Publications, thereby reducing the environmental impact of exhibitions and permanent collection installations.

H.   Provide financial oversight of the exhibitions and publications programs, including design and architecture, through establishment of detailed project budgets and accurate reporting and forecasting.

I.       Establish and realize an ambitious and compelling exhibition program to ensure a full range of coverage in subject matter, approach, scholarship, popular appeal, and interpretive methods, while experimenting with novel and innovative initiatives, including through installation, electronic media, gallery labels, and printed materials. Partner with the Chief Digital Information Officer and related staff on digital displays and elements in the galleries.

J.      Be a strategic partner with the Deputy Director and Chief Curator, the Curators, the Collections Management team, and the CMA’s Director in key loan negotiations.

K.    Highlight the strength and breadth of the CMA’s collection through special exhibitions and displays. Originate and seek out loan exhibitions while maintaining the priority of presenting the CMA’s permanent collection, including new acquisitions, through frequent rotations.

L.     Manage all major collection reinstallations and other special in-gallery projects.

M.   Direct the work of the Publications and Design and Architecture departments by setting priorities, assigning tasks, establishing schedules, and reviewing projects with staff.

N.    In partnership with the Director and Deputy Director and Chief Curator, make periodic presentations on the museum’s exhibition program, design efforts, and publications to the Board of Trustees. As a member of the executive leadership team, attend Board of Trustee meetings.

O.   Partner with Philanthropy on presentations regarding the Fund for Exhibitions, and for grant preparation and reporting, while assisting in securing sponsorship for exhibition, design, and publication projects.

P.    Partner with the Marketing division on press releases regarding exhibitions and installations, reviewing credit lines established by contracts and other aspects of printed and digital matter for consistency and accuracy, sometimes serving as a spokesperson for the museum.

Q.   Perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements and Qualifications

The Chief Exhibition, Design, and Publications Officer will be a leader in the museum field with proven experience in developing and managing a world class exhibitions program. The successful candidate will demonstrate a passion for art; a broad awareness of exhibition programming across major international museums with high-level contacts throughout those institutions; keen financial acumen; excellent communication, interpersonal, and negotiation skills; sound judgment, pragmatism, and a strong sense of integrity and personal responsibility; the ability to address complex issues and disagreements, resolve conflicts, and remain calm in high pressure situations; a commitment to intellectual inquiry and audience engagement; the ability to recruit, manage, and develop staff; and have prior experience working with a board and multiple stakeholders and a strong commitment to quality and excellence.

The ideal candidate will have:

·        An advanced degree in art history, business administration, museum studies, or arts management with

experience in a management position, preferably in a comprehensive art museum.

·        A minimum of five years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities of this position.

·        A broad network of national and international peers and other museum colleagues.

·        Deep knowledge of exhibition concepts, practices, policies, and procedures.

·        Extensive experience with international projects and partners.

·        Knowledge of current and emerging trends in museums and great familiarity with their professional

standards.

·        Strong financial acumen and experience with detailed budget creation, oversight, and reporting.

·        A proven track record as an excellent team leader, with a take-charge and decisive nature while being

open-minded and encouraging of new ideas and voices.

·        Proven ability to manage multiple projects and tasks and to establish credibility with the Director, Board

members, staff, affiliate groups, and members of the community.

Reporting Relationship and Start Date:

This position reports to the museum’s Deputy Director and Chief Curator. The successful candidate will be part of the executive leadership team and attend executive team meetings. The position is currently open and will be filled at the earliest opportunity.

Please apply at:

https://recruiting.ultipro.com/CLE1004CMA/JobBoard/14a13635-e1f1-6802-5…