Amistad - Executive Director

HR & Talent Acquisition•Hartford, CT

16d

About The Position

About the Amistad Center for Art & Culture The Amistad Center for Art & Culture is Hartford, Connecticut's premier institution dedicated to the collection, preservation, and interpretation of art and cultural materials by and about people of African descent. Located in the heart of Hartford at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, the Center serves as a vital bridge between the rich cultural heritage of the African Diaspora and the diverse communities of Greater Hartford and beyond. Founded on the principles of inclusion, equity, and community, the Amistad Center maintains one of the most significant collections of African American art and cultural artifacts in New England. Through its exhibitions, public programs, community partnerships, and educational initiatives, the Center illuminates the creativity, resilience, and contributions of people of African descent to American and global culture. At this important moment in its history, the Amistad Center seeks a visionary, community-centered, and strategically minded Executive Director to lead the institution into its next chapter of growth, deepened community engagement, and expanded impact. The Opportunity The Executive Director serves as the chief executive of the Amistad Center and is responsible for the institution's overall leadership, vision, management, and sustainability. Reporting directly to the Board of Trustees, the Executive Director will steward the Center's mission, cultivate and grow its community relationships, lead fundraising and revenue development, and ensure the institution's long-term financial and programmatic health. This is an extraordinary opportunity for a bold and collaborative leader who is deeply committed to centering communities of color, advancing equity in the cultural sector, and leveraging art and culture as a force for social connection, healing, and transformation.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required, preferably with a focus in art history, museum studies, African American studies, nonprofit management, arts administration, or a closely related field.
A minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience, including significant senior management experience in a museum, cultural institution, arts organization, or comparable mission-driven nonprofit.
Demonstrated success in fundraising, including major gifts cultivation, foundation relations, and campaign leadership, with a track record of meeting or exceeding revenue goals.
Strong financial management skills, including experience overseeing organizational budgets, financial reporting, and long-range financial planning in a nonprofit environment.
Deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and community engagement, with demonstrated experience centering communities of color in organizational leadership, programming, or service delivery.
Proven ability to build and sustain authentic partnerships with diverse communities, particularly African American and communities of the African Diaspora.
Demonstrated experience with Board governance, including the ability to cultivate, engage, and work effectively with volunteer leadership.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to represent an organization publicly with clarity, passion, and credibility.
Experience managing and developing staff teams, with a track record of building inclusive, high-performing organizational cultures.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in art history, museum studies, African American studies, nonprofit management, arts administration, or a closely related field.
Deep knowledge of African American art, history, and culture, and familiarity with the leading institutions, scholars, and practitioners in this field.
Experience with collections management, curatorial practice, or museum programming, ideally at a collecting institution.
Familiarity with the Greater Hartford region and its communities, civic landscape, and philanthropic ecosystem.
Experience leading organizational change, strategic planning, or institutional repositioning efforts.
Demonstrated ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments including Board members, staff, community partners, funders, and government entities.
Experience with capital campaigns, endowment development, or other complex fundraising initiatives.

Responsibilities

Provide bold, values-driven leadership that advances the Amistad Center's mission, deepens its community relevance, and positions the institution as a national model for African American arts and culture.
Partner with the Board of Trustees to articulate and execute a compelling long-term strategic vision, translating that vision into actionable goals and measurable outcomes.
Foster an internal culture of belonging, collaboration, equity, and excellence, ensuring that staff and volunteers are engaged, developed, and supported.
Champion diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility across all organizational functions - from hiring and programming to partnerships and governance.
Serve as an inspiring and accessible presence for staff, Board, community members, and institutional partners alike.
Serve as the primary ambassador and public face of the Amistad Center, building authentic, sustained relationships with the Greater Hartford community, local residents, civic leaders, cultural institutions, schools, and community organizations.
Develop and deepen partnerships with historically underserved communities, centering their voices, stories, and leadership in the Center's programs and initiatives.
Engage actively with Hartford's African American community and the broader African Diaspora community, ensuring the Center remains accountable, responsive, and relevant to the people it serves.
Build coalitions with peer institutions, regional arts organizations, universities, and advocacy groups to advance shared goals and amplify the Center's impact.
Lead community listening initiatives to understand evolving needs and ensure programming reflects the priorities and aspirations of the community.
Serve as the chief fundraiser for the Amistad Center, leading and actively participating in all aspects of development including major gifts, individual giving, institutional philanthropy, government grants, and earned revenue.
Develop and implement a comprehensive, multi-year fundraising strategy that grows the Center's revenue base, diversifies income streams, and builds long-term financial resilience.
Cultivate and steward a portfolio of major donors, foundations, and institutional funders, building deep and lasting relationships that translate into sustained financial support.
Lead the development and execution of capital campaigns, special initiatives, and endowment-building efforts in collaboration with the Board.
Identify and pursue new funding opportunities, including corporate sponsorships, government contracts, and earned revenue through programming, events, and membership.
Support and empower Board members to leverage their networks and participate actively in fundraising on behalf of the institution.
Oversee all financial operations of the Amistad Center, ensuring fiscal integrity, transparency, and sustainability across all functions.
Develop and manage the annual operating budget in close partnership with the Board Finance Committee and senior staff, ensuring alignment between financial planning and strategic priorities.
Maintain strong financial controls, sound accounting practices, and adherence to all regulatory and compliance requirements applicable to nonprofit organizations.
Analyze financial reports, forecasts, and trends to guide informed, data-driven decision-making and provide clear, timely financial updates to the Board.
Lead efforts to build organizational reserves, diversify revenue, and ensure the Center's long-term financial health and sustainability.
Evaluate and optimize the operational and administrative infrastructure to maximize efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability.
Provide strategic oversight of the Center's collections, exhibitions, and interpretive programming, ensuring the highest standards of scholarship, care, and accessibility.
Champion the growth, stewardship, and increased visibility of the Amistad Center's permanent collection of African American art and cultural materials.
Guide the development and presentation of exhibitions and public programs that engage diverse audiences and reflect the depth and breadth of the African Diaspora experience.
Ensure the Center adheres to best practices in museum management, collections stewardship, and professional ethics as established by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) and peer institutions.
Explore and advance opportunities to expand the Center's physical presence, digital reach, and programmatic footprint in partnership with the Wadsworth Atheneum and other collaborators.
Build and sustain a strong, trust-based partnership with the Board of Trustees, providing transparent communication, timely reporting, and strategic counsel.
Support the Board in fulfilling its governance responsibilities, including providing the information, analysis, and context needed for informed decision-making.
Collaborate with Board leadership on recruitment, development, and engagement of Trustees who reflect the communities the Center serves and bring the expertise needed for institutional growth.
Prepare comprehensive reports, financial analyses, and strategic recommendations for Board meetings and committees.
Serve as the primary spokesperson and public representative of the Amistad Center, articulating its mission and impact to diverse audiences including media, government, funders, and the public.
Develop and implement communications strategies that elevate the Center's visibility, strengthen its brand, and deepen public understanding of its mission and collections.
Cultivate relationships with local, state, and federal government officials to advocate for policies and resources that support the arts, cultural equity, and the Center's work.
Represent the Center in regional, national, and international conversations about African American art, culture, and the role of cultural institutions in advancing equity.