Job Opening – Executive Director (06/2010)

Heckscher Museum of Art
Huntington, New York

Heckscher Museum of Art, Huntington, NY. Executive Director. We seek an experienced museum executive who has substantial knowledge of and passion for the fine arts and enthusiasm for and proven track record in development and fundraising. Must have solid competency in planning and management, including oversight of fiscal matters and the sound management of facilities and resources. We welcome candidates who by their nature and experience have an eagerness to provide collaborative, non-hierarchical leadership and partnership with our motivated museum team, which includes our chairperson and officers, trustees, staff, volunteers, and the wide community of Heckscher supporters, friends and associates.

Qualifications: A graduate degree (e.g., M.A., M.S., Ph.D.) in arts management, arts education, art history, or another art-related field and at least five years non-profit arts management experience. Prior museum leadership experience is preferred.

Applications should include a resume and cover letter, which should be sent promptly and in confidence to the Heckscher Museum Search Committee by e-mail to the chair of the Search Committee, Bette Schneiderman, at BES.HeckscherSearch@gmail.com. Please write Heckscher Museum Candidate in the subject line. An acknowledgement of receipt of your application will be e-mailed to you within 24 hours.

About us
The Heckscher Museum of Art, founded in 1920 by industrialist and philanthropist August Heckscher, presents exhibitions and educational programs that broaden appreciation of art and enrich the quality of life for this and future generations. Centrally located on Long Island’s North Shore in Huntington, the Museum is accredited by the American Association of Museums (AAM). The museum is just one-hour by train from Manhattan.

Permanent Collection
The Heckscher Museum maintains a Permanent Collection of more than 2,000 works including paintings, sculpture, works on paper and photography spanning five centuries from the early 16th to present. It is the only museum on Long Island with extensive European holdings. The Heckscher holds a distinctive collection of Hudson River School and Early American Modernist works. Works from the Permanent Collection are shown in the Museum on a rotating basis and are loaned to institutions throughout the United States and worldwide.

Exhibitions
The Heckscher Museum presents a broad range of exhibitions inclusive of historical and contemporary art and featuring a variety of art forms, media and styles. The exhibition schedule comprises both themed shows developed in-house from Permanent Collection and loaned works and occasional traveling exhibitions.

This summer, 2010, The Heckscher will hold its inaugural Long Island Biennial, a juried competition showcasing the work of Long Island artists.

Education and Public Programs
The Heckscher Museum offers grade-specific K-12 programs designed to enrich the educational experience of more than 6,000 students annually from some 40 Long Island school districts. The Museum’s Junior Docent training is a hallmark instructional program that provides fifth graders with a unique peer teaching experience. All of the educational programs meet the New York State Learning Standards for the Arts.
Additionally, the Museum offers an array of public programs for adults, families and children, including artist lectures, panel discussions, musical performances and workshops. Each strives to enhance the museum-going experience, encourage inquiry and creativity, and broaden interest in the arts.

Mission Statement
The Heckscher Museum of Art is dedicated to furthering appreciation and understanding of art by conserving, interpreting, refining and expanding its permanent collection, fostering scholarship, and presenting stimulating and inspiring exhibitions and educational programs for this and future generations.

Vision Statement
The Heckscher Museum of Art strives to serve individuals of all ages by being a leading art museum on Long Island and a prestigious regional museum in the United States.

Please visit our website at www.Heckscher.org to learn more about us.