HAYSTACK MOUNTAIN SCHOOL OF CRAFTS SEEKS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Haystack Mountain School of Crafts was founded in 1950 as a research and studio program in the arts. A pioneer among summer craft programs, Haystack offers intensive workshops from May to August in book arts, ceramics, drawing/painting, glassblowing, metals, papermaking, printmaking, textiles, wood, and a variety of mixed media. Our students, who range in age from 18 to over 90, and in experience from beginners to advanced professionals, come from throughout the United States and the world. Our Open Studio Residency, begun in 2013, is a free, two-week summer residency for emerging and established artists. Haystack’s formative role in craft education was recognized in 1987 when the American Craft Council gave the school its Gold Medal Institutional Award citing its “trailblazing leadership” and “longtime service” in education. Most of the nation’s leading craft makers have either taught or studied at Haystack, or both. Among these are textile designer Jack Lenor Larsen, glass artist Dale Chihuly, blacksmith Tom Joyce, weaver Anni Albers, and potter Toshiko Takaezu. Approximately 600 people attend our summer sessions. Nearly one-quarter of the students attending programs receive full financial aid. For residents of Maine, we have intensive residential workshops for high school students and Maine makers, mentor programs for teens to work with area artists, conferences for Maine architects and designers, and community-based artists’ residencies. Annually, approximately 400 Mainers participate in these programs. Haystack also functions as a “think tank” in looking at crafts—publishing annual monographs, and organizing retreats, conferences, and symposia that examine craft making in broader contexts. These include collaborations with other institutions such as the MIT Media Lab and the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution. One of these collaborations (with the Center for Bits and Atoms at MIT) is the school’s fab lab, a digital fabrication facility that augments other studio practices. Faculty and students experiment with digital fabrication, fostering a dialogue about the creative process, ingenuity, technology, and the work of the hand. Haystack’s campus, designed by noted American architect Edward Larrabee Barnes, has long been recognized for its innovative integration of program and site. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a building of national significance and received the Twenty-Five Year Award from the American Institute of Architects—one of only 40 buildings in the country to receive this designation. The campus and offices are located in coastal Deer Isle, Maine, which is about 60 minutes from Bangor. Deer Isle is part of a uniquely rich artistic and cultural community which includes Deer Isle, Stonington and Blue Hill. Haystack has an annual operating budget of approximately $2 million and an $8 million endowment (for scholarships, programs, and general purposes). There are 25 full- and part-time employees from May through October, and a year-round staff of 5 (registrar, development director, business manager, administrative assistant, and community programs coordinator). Job Description This position is year-round and full-time. Working with board and staff, the director conceives of and plans the school’s programs and initiatives in keeping with Haystack’s mission.The director supervises the maintenance of the physical plant and studio facilities, manages the finances of the institution, and, most important, fosters the development of an intensive creative community at the school. Specifically, the director: -Establishes and evaluates programs. -Hires faculty and manages workshop sessions and conferences. -Supervises applications and admission procedures and policies. -Monitors the school’s finances and prepares budgets for the annual operating fund and projects. -Oversees fundraising, including soliciting donors, writing grants, and engaging supporters and potential supporters. -Fosters relationships with alumni and other cultural institutions. -Promotes and publicizes the school. -Oversees community relations. -Ensures compliance with regulations and laws that pertain to the school. -Hires staff as necessary to assist with all phases of the program and operations. -Reports to Board on a regular basis. -Serves as ex officio member of standing committees of the Board. Candidates should have experience in managing people, fundraising and working with a board. They should have excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to craft and share a compelling story to inspire individuals and diverse audiences. They must have a passion for and broad appreciation of contemporary crafts and have the ability to connect easily with others, including students, staff, faculty, donors and members of the local community. Salary is commensurate with experience. Housing and meals on the Haystack campus are provided to the director and his/her family when the school is in session. Benefits include health insurance, pension plan, vacation and sick days. Haystack is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To Apply: Applicants should submit a CV/resume, a one-page narrative describing interest and experience, and the names of three professional references. Send to: [email protected] Application deadline: February 15, 2015
Posted on: Wed, 31 Dec 2014 16:12:07 +0000
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