Job Description

DIRECTOR OF VISUAL ARTS 

Description: Cedarhurst Center for the Arts seeks a strategic, collaborative Director of Visual Arts to serve as lead curator for our nationally accredited museum in southern Illinois. This position plays the lead role in developing Museum collections and realizing artist exhibitions, commissions, curatorial and public programs, and special projects that activate the Cedarhurst campus, advance forward-looking museum practices, and hone institutional thought leadership. This position reports to the Executive Director.

About Cedarhurst: Founded in 1965, the John R. and Eleanor R. Mitchell Foundation operates Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, a nationally accredited art and cultural institution in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. What began as a two-room museum has grown into a vibrant arts destination featuring:

• The expanded Mitchell Museum (33,000-square-foot cultural center with four galleries, interactive family space, and performance hall)
• The Shrode Art Center (gallery, classrooms, and studios)
• The Schweinfurth House and original Mitchell House (event and meeting spaces)
• A 65-acre Sculpture Park with 60 large-scale works

Cedarhurst advances its mission to enrich lives through the arts by presenting high-quality exhibitions, stewarding a nationally significant permanent collection, and developing programs that increase access to the arts for communities across southern Illinois and the surrounding region. In recent years, the museum has broadened its commitment to meaningful community engagement with increased partnerships and offsite programming, and by launching The Lights , a seasonal evening experience that expands holiday access and transforms the sculpture park with immersive light installations.

The museum stewards approximately 800 works of art across multiple media, including paintings, works on paper, photography, sculpture, decorative arts, and global artifacts. The core of the collection - begun in the 1940s and 1950s by founding philanthropists John and Eleanor Mitchell - includes significant American works by artists such as George Bellows, Mary Cassatt, Robert Henri, and Thomas Eakins. In contrast, the Sculpture Park includes major contemporary works by artists such as Chakaia Booker, Dennis Oppenheim, Alexander Liberman, and John Kearney. Cedarhurst presents these holdings in dialogue with exhibitions, education, and community partnerships to serve a largely rural, multi-county region and impact more than 50,000 people annually.

The opportunity: The Director of Visual Arts enhances Cedarhurst’s reputation as a forward-facing public institution regionally and nationally. This role:

• Ensures professional stewardship of the permanent collection 
• Leads curatorial vision and exhibition development
• Expands public access and engagement
• Contributes to scholarship, publications, and digital content
• Collaborates across departments and with artists, donors, and community partners

The Director of Visual Arts will support the Executive Director as a visible presence in the community and aid in the communication of Cedarhurst’s role as a nationally accredited museum with a significant permanent collection. A senior member of the Museum’s leadership team, this person will foster collaborative relationships across all museum departments, working closely with fellow Directors, as well as artists, donors, community partners, Docents, and other volunteers.

Responsibilities:

Collections Development and Stewardship (30%)

• Oversee the curatorial role in documentation, storage, conservation planning, and maintenance of archives, as well as in developing digital access and workflows that support collections stewardship.
• Oversee presentation and conservation of the indoor collection, advising on the need for more collections storage and potential for physical expansion.
• Oversee presentation and conservation of the outdoor collection, routinely assessing the art and site locations and working with Director of Operations to maintain proper care and presentation of outdoor gallery.
• Oversee, research, and coordinate national and international art loans, as needed.
• Research and recommend potential acquisitions that strategically strengthen and diversify Museum collections.
• Ensure upkeep of all art galleries, collections storage, crate storage, and other curatorial office spaces.

Exhibitions, Publications, and Programs (45%)

• Serve as lead curator in designing a multi-year exhibition plan - from concept to research to implementation - for the museum’s temporary exhibition galleries that expose audiences to a broad range of art. Oversee and assist with exhibition installation.
• Lead the Museum’s curatorial and program efforts, with fellow Directors (Education, Engagement, Communication, etc.), to create engaging experiences with the museum’s permanent collections, expanding access and fostering appreciation among southern Illinois audiences. Interpret historical works in new and innovative ways.
• Research, prepare, and facilitate gallery talks, conversation groups, and other longstanding Cedarhurst programs for the public and other Museum stakeholders.
• Work with fellow Directors (Communications, Engagement, etc.) to create and share content for a wide range of contexts - from written publication to social media context to seminar presentations - to broaden visitor engagement with Museum collections and exhibitions.
• Provide staff leadership for the Acquisitions Committee, Cedarhurst Docents, and other volunteer committees related to the visual arts. 

Relationship and Research (10%)

• Attend weekly Team Meetings to develop ideas and collaborate with fellow staff members. 
• Attend scheduled Counselor and Trustee meetings to make progress reports. 
• Cultivate strong relationships with regional and national artists.
• Foster partnerships with museums, galleries, universities, and other cultural institutions and private collectors, for collaborative programs and exhibitions in an effort to extend Museum reach and capacity.
• In concert with the Executive Director and Trustees, assist with the proactive identification and stewardship of collectors and donors.
• Serve as a resource and research engine to staff and public for art and curatorial inquiries.
• Engage in the professional discourse related to the museum profession, participating as an active member of American Alliance of Museums and other professional organizations.

Administration and Leadership (10%)

• Create and manage the annual operating budgets for Visual Arts related to collections care and program planning, establishing the museum’s curatorial objectives each year and ensuring their alignment with the Museum’s Strategic Plan.
• Oversee the development and adherence to the Museum’s Collections Management Policy, Acquisitions Plan, Collections Plan, and Exhibition Plan. 
• With the Director of Operations, help oversee the development and management of the Disaster Preparedness Plan.
• Evaluate exhibitions, educational programs, and curatorial projects to gauge success and measure impact.
• Develop talking points and provide content for fundraising and communication efforts such as grant applications, press releases, the semi-annual newsletter, etc.

Misc. (5%)

• Interact with guests, volunteers, and staff to ensure a positive visitor experience.
• Attend community events and serve on external councils/committees, as needed, to build relationships, promote Cedarhurst offerings, and increase the impact of the arts throughout the region. 
• Support museum access and overall program efforts by contributing to and working major events, such as The Lights: An Exhibition of Holiday Magic at Cedarhurst. 
• Contribute to a positive organizational culture based on mutual respect, collaboration, creativity, openness, and kindness.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Art History or related field preferred (Bachelor’s required)
• Minimum 3–5 years of curatorial experience, ideally with increasing leadership responsibility
• Demonstrated record of exhibition development and scholarly research, publication development, and public programming
• Appreciation for Cedarhurst’s mission and expertise in American art; with knowledge of Impressionism and/or Realism strongly preferred
• Strong understanding of and experience with collections planning, acquisitions, and policy development
• Strong writing, public speaking, and cross-departmental leadership skills
• Meeting management, organizational, and negotiation skills.
• Demonstrated passion for the visual arts, with a strong commitment to making art collections more accessible and meaningful to the general public.
• Ability to represent Cedarhurst and its mission to a wide external audience; communicate effectively and interact with all levels of staff as well as artists, visitors, and the general public in a positive, professional, and friendly manner.

We strongly encourage candidates to apply even if they do not meet every qualification but feel aligned with the role and mission.

Compensation and Hours

• S alary range: $70,000 - $80,000, commensurate with experience
• Full-time, in-person, position
• 35 hour workweek with weekend rotation and occasional evenings/events
• Comprehensive benefits package includes health and dental insurance, paid time off, 401K match, professional development opportunities, and a great working environment

Location: Mt. Vernon, Illinois offers affordable living, a strong sense of community, and access to major metropolitan areas within driving distance, including St. Louis, Nashville, and Chicago. Cedarhurst provides an opportunity to make national-level impact while enjoying a balanced quality of life.

To Apply

Please submit a cover letter, writing sample, and resume with references to hr@cedarhurst.org.

Resumes will be reviewed every 2 weeks.

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