Current Opportunities

Located on Venice’s Grand Canal between Santa Maria della Salute and the Gallerie dell’Accademia, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection (PGC) is one of Europe’s premier museums devoted to modern art and is the second-most-visited museum in Venice. At the core of the museum’s holdings is Peggy Guggenheim’s personal collection of 20th-century art comprised of masterpieces ranging in style from Cubism and Surrealism to Abstract Expressionism, which is housed in her former home, the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni. The PGC also exhibits other works owned by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, presents temporary exhibitions both at the PGC and at other museums, has a renowned educational and internship program, and manages and operates the U.S. Pavilion of the Venice Biennale.

The Foundation is seeking a Director for the Peggy Guggenheim Collection who will also serve as the Foundation’s Director for Italy and will report to the Director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation. The individual who assumes this position will provide leadership for the PGC, honoring Peggy Guggenheim’s legacy and collection while creating a vision for the future.  The Director of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection oversees the professional staff of the museum, and its collection, buildings and gardens, plans and directs the PGC’s exhibitions (collaborating with the Foundation’s Artistic Director and curators), educational and other programs and events, activities and operations, and leads fundraising and development for the institution.  The Director provides leadership in the various disciplines of the PGC through planning, organizing, staffing, supervising, and coordinating activities with the museum staff.  The PGC Director also engages with the Peggy Guggenheim Collection Advisory Board, collaborates with the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation leadership team and staff, and serves as the official public spokesperson for the PGC.

Key Responsibilities

• Provides leadership and a compelling and sustaining vision and strategic direction for the PGC, which honors and builds upon Peggy Guggenheim’s legacy and positions the PGC for the future.
• Manages, inspires and supports the forty member staff of the PGC.
• Fosters and maintains strong relationships with, builds and engages the membership of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection Advisory Board, and develops the program and agenda for meetings.
• In collaboration with the Director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation and the Artistic Director, develops and implements the PGC’s exhibitions and exhibition calendar.
• Ensures that all publications and other content produced by the PGC demonstrate the highest level of scholarship.
• Promotes the PGC's fiscal stability and growth by managing the budget and identifying revenue generating opportunities. Actively cultivates gifts and bequests from individuals and support from corporate donors, foundations, government sources and other funders.
• Operates the PGC within the Foundation’s policies, systems, and objectives and with an understanding of PGC’s status as the Italian branch of a U.S. not-for-profit institution.
• Serves as spokesperson to the media and advocates on behalf of and represents the institution to the international and local community, and to professional, governmental, civic and private institutions and associations; enhances the organization’s public image to gain wider interest and support.
• Oversees the design, plans, fundraising and approvals for PGC capital improvement and building projects; develops and manages a strategic plan for the institution to implement.
• Develops and expands relationships with the artist community, and with other museums and nonprofit cultural organizations.

Qualifications and Requirements

• A passion for and deep knowledge of 20th century art and art history, an appreciation of the importance of Peggy Guggenheim as a collector and historical figure, and an ability to translate this passion, knowledge and appreciation into a compelling vision for the PGC.
• An ability to provide strong leadership and strategic direction with a record of professional accomplishments, scholarship and publications.
• An accomplished advocate for the arts and the PGC, with a deep understanding of curatorial programming; one who champions intellectual, artistic rigor.
• The demonstrated ability to bring together diverse interests across an institution and the capacity to work cross-culturally with demonstrated diplomacy.
• A respectful and inclusive management style that will engage and inspire the PGC team and foster staff trust and loyalty to the institution.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to act as a charismatic ambassador for the PGC.
• An ability to work collaboratively and effectively with colleagues at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao.
• Experience working with the international art community.
• Success in cultivating donors and soliciting gifts and a proven ability to build and sustain relationships with diverse constituents including trustees and advisory board members, donors, corporate and institutional supporters, collectors, artists, museum and civic leaders, and the media.
• A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in a museum.
• Fluency in English and Italian required and fluency in additional languages is desirable.
• This position is located in Venice, Italy; living in Venice is required.

Qualified applicants should send a resume and cover letter, including salary expectations, to employment@guggenheim.org.  Indicate the job title “Director, Peggy Guggenheim Collection and Foundation Director for Italy” in the subject line. Only those applicants who meet our requirements for this position will be contacted.

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation is an equal opportunity employer.