The Knoxville Museum of Art (KMA) is seeking an engaging and passionate leader to partner with the Board of Trustees in shaping the organization’s next exciting chapter as an innovative 21st-century institution. With a genuine desire to join and inspire the Knoxville community, this individual will build on established relationships, forge new ones, and seek to develop local and regional partnerships to leverage the KMA’s success with national and global networks. The Executive Director will foster and support a dedicated staff of 19 full-time and 20 part-time individuals. With a vision to conduct the efforts of the KMA’s dedicated volunteers, donors, artists, civic leaders, and community partners, the Executive Director will enhance the KMA’s impact and continue its efforts to broaden access to the museum’s collection and programs for its varied and diverse audiences. An authentic and accessible communicator, the Executive Director will collaborate closely with the Board to develop a sustainable operational and financial model to ensure that the KMA will remain a vibrant convener and significant pillar of Knoxville’s arts ecosystem, raising the museum’s profile in the broader cultural world.

The Knoxville Museum of Art (KMA) celebrates East Tennessee’s rich, diverse visual culture and its connections to the wider currents of world art. The KMA values diversity and inclusion in exhibitions, programs, staff, volunteers, visitors, and stakeholders; warmly welcomes and embraces all; operates ethically, responsibly, and transparently as a public trust; enhances the community’s quality of life; and strives to meet people where they are, to encourage life-long learning and engagement. Making the visual arts accessible to all via robust educational programming is a key institutional priority of the KMA.

Requirements

• Provides the vision and leadership for the institution’s growth and development, allowing it to continue to welcome and serve the Knoxville community with an ambition to attain national prominence and recognition.
• Develops strategies and initiatives to fulfill the KMA’s mission, increase its audiences’ participation, and ensure its financial stability and growth.
• Protects, maintains, and stewards the KMA’s collections in accordance with the highest professional and ethical standards.
• Advances inclusion, diversity, equity, and access, working in close partnership with Board members as well as staff on infusing these practices in all the work that the museum does.
• Supervises an experienced leadership team overseeing the policies and procedures of the museum to support the professional development of the staff and volunteers.
• Serves as chief spokesperson and advocate of the KMA to enhance the organization’s public image by expanding interest and support for the institution with all community, professional, governmental, civic, and private agencies.
• Actively solicits private support from donors, foundations, corporations, and others; cultivates
gifts (funds as well as artworks), develops sponsorships, and establishes bequests.
• Working with the Board of Trustees, provides the overall leadership, direction and the information required to make decisions and take actions.
• Brings together stakeholders to develop strategic vision and coordinates the annual implementation plan.

While it is understood that no one candidate will bring every desired skill, characteristic, and experience, the following offers a reflection of the ideal candidate profile.

Experience: Top candidates will possess at least ten years of progressively responsible experience
in a museum or similar cultural organization, and at least five years at a senior managerial level.

Education: Advanced degree or equivalent knowledge in Art History, Fine Arts, Education, Nonprofit
Management, or other related and allied fields.

Authentic Spokesperson and Adept Partnership Builder: An enthusiastic and persuasive spokesperson
committed to connecting a range of external audiences locally, nationally, and internationally.
Energized by the opportunity for dialogue with others and dedicated to reaching out as an
ambassador to the community.

An Effective Friend- and Fundraiser: An interest in fundraising principles with experience building
philanthropic relationships. Able to provide high-touch engagement with a range of constituents.
Adept at cultivating major gifts and stewarding past and current donors, while also engaging with
potential supporters.

Champion for All Team Members and Working Culture: Foster a positive working environment for the entire organization, enriching staff morale, and advancing an atmosphere of teamwork and mutual
support among all staff. A person who encourages the engagement, growth, and achievement of others
as an aspect of their leadership.

Operational Excellence and Financial Management: A successful record of oversight and management of
finance and operations, with the perspective to consider the impact of decisions and make sound
recommendations. Knowledge of and experience in the funding models and strategies of multifaceted
cultural institutions.

Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access: Genuine belief in and abiding commitment to
the values of inclusion, diversity, equity, and access. Experience and success in advancing these
values in a similar organization or community context.

Skills and Abilities: The next Executive Director of the KMA will also demonstrate the following
professional and personal qualities and characteristics:
•    Passion for the Mission
•    Strategic and Visionary Leadership
•    Deep personal interest in art with a nuanced appreciation for the evolving role of museums,
and an active voice as part of this conversation.
•    Commitment to art history, and expertise in the principal functions of art museums and best
practices in the field.
•    Enthusiasm for art and its role, purpose, and opportunities in today’s world, and a desire to
engage the community with and through art.
•    Collaborative leader who has been successful working with a range of constituents to define
and refine long-term institutional goals, creating and executing new strategic plans.
•   Decisive manager with experience maintaining a positive work environment for all.
•   Genuine and broad intellectual interests and openness to new ideas, thinking, perspectives, and
experiences, with the ability to serve as an effective leader in weaving these concepts directly
into the work of an institution.

Please contact Appleton Arts Consulting at appletonartsconsulting@gmail.com.