AMP: Artists' Meeting Place and Resource Collective

from Franklin Furnace

Threewalls
Executive Director
Position Description

Mission
Threewalls is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to increasing Chicago’s
cultural capital by cultivating contemporary art practice and discourse.
Through a range of exhibition and public programs, including symposiums,
lectures, performances and publications, Threewalls creates a locus of
exchange between local, national and international contemporary art
communities.

History
Threewalls was founded in 2003 to provide greater support and visibility for
the visual arts community in Chicago. The founders wanted to encourage a
greater awareness of Chicago’s art scene by inviting emerging professional
artists to Chicago to share in the city’s rich histories, resources and
creative communities. After several years focused on residency programming,
Threewalls expanded its program to include SOLO, an exhibition series
curated by local artists that provided an exhibition opportunity to local
and area artists. Over 10 years, Threewalls has worked to form a sustainable
organization that provides exhibition space, residency opportunities and
artist fees to both local and visiting artists and writers through the
residency fellowships and exhibitions. Today, we continue to host artists
interested in self-directed research residencies; support SOLO exhibitions
of work by local and regional artists; program salons and symposiums to
generate open dialogue, the presentation of new ideas and the publication of
new writing; as well as partnering with other organizations on exhibitions,
publications and education programs in an effort to broaden and contribute
to the contemporary visual arts. Please visit our partnerships page for a
full picture of these

collaborations.
Threewalls is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council,
a state agency; The City of Chicago, Department of Cultural Affair and
Special Events Cultural Grants; The Chicago Community Trust; The Gaylord and
Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; The Alphawood Foundation; Art Matters
Foundation; The Arts Work Fund; The Foundation for Contemporary Arts; The
Irving Harris Foundation; The MacArthur Fund for Arts & Culture at the
Richard H. Driehaus Foundation; John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur
Foundation’s International Connection Fund; Walter and Karla Goldschmidt
Foundation; and major support is provided by The Andy Warhol Foundation for
the Visual Arts.

Position Description
Basic Function & Profile
Threewalls Executive Director oversees the implementation of Threewalls
stated mission:
managing staff, operating and financial obligations; board, patron and
foundation
relationships; and the overall direction of the organization’s programs,
ensuring that
Threewalls maintain a vibrant, artist-centered presence in Chicago’s art
community.
The Executive Director oversees program vision for the organization, guiding
initiatives so that they are within the organization’s mission and fit the
artist-centered ethos that is
central to the organization’s founding. The right candidate for the position
will have a
history with similar organizations or other experience that reflects a focus
on supporting
artists, trust in artistic process, an embrace of risk-taking in cultural
work, and advocacy for small-scale cultural production. Threewalls’ two
avenues of production focus on direct support for local and regional artists
in the form of grants, exhibitions and commissions and on advocacy and
support for a diverse arts ecology through services like field-guides,
conferences and organized networks. These avenues converge in Threewalls’
efforts to connect artists to this network of spaces to further their reach
nationally. The ideal candidate will understand these avenues as
interconnected and be able to articulate a vision going forward for how
Threewalls will continue to contribute to and nurture a healthy, diverse art
ecology that impacts the work of Chicago and regionally based artists and
cultural workers.

The Executive Director will maintain current fundraising commitments with
local and
national foundations as well as seeking new opportunities for program and
general
operating support that helps Threewalls implement and extend its mission.
They manage
the annual gala and Community Support Art (CSA) sales, alongside developing
and
implementing new fundraising initiatives that help diversify the
organization’s income. The Executive Director cultivates the Executive Board
and Community Cabinet, scheduling and participating in monthly board
meetings, communicating and reporting regularly and preparing any necessary
materials required for the Executive Board to meet its governance
obligations. The Executive Director also works closely with the board in
cultivating new board members and patrons including executing bi-annual
donor solicitation letters and developing patron events at least twice
annually. Reports to: Executive Board and Board Chair

Specific Duties and Responsibilities
Mission Implementation & Oversight:
• Oversees Artistic Director in charge of exhibition and program planning of
existing
Threewalls programs for fit with Threewalls stated mission
• Hire, develop and/manage existing/appropriate staff for the implementation
of
programs
• Manage Executive Board by reporting to Board Chair to coordinate meeting
agendas
and set strategic direction for volunteer involvement, including supporting
committees and cultivating new members.
• Support Community Cabinet, including board transitions, and cultivating
new
members
• Participate in professional activities and partnerships that further
Threewalls
programming or reputation in the field
Finances & Fundraising:
• Manage Threewalls budget, including tracking income, spending and
inventory with
the Associate Director
• Oversee execution of Threewalls cultivation and fundraising events,
including the
annual gala
• Coordinate annual fund solicitations
• Coordinate major donor stewardship
• Work with Threewalls Staff to promote events and subscriptions
• Coordinate all donor stewardship including acknowledgements and special
communications
• Grant proposal research and writing
• Plan and execute CSA subscription program
Communications & Marketing:
• Maintain Threewalls “voice” in communications and marketing
• Work with Programs & Communications Associate on an annual marketing plan
for
both digital and print media
• Support communications and marketing through personal funder, patron,
board and
audience communications
Exhibition and Program Activities:
• Oversees Artistic Director in the creation and conceptualization of
exhibitions and
programming
• Oversees exhibition requirements with Artistic Director, Associate
Director and
Programs & Communications Associate including budget, brochure design and
publication and marketing
• Artist hospitality
4/9/2015
Other Responsibilities
• Represent the organization at functions and in the media; be “the face” of
the
organization
• Be available to visiting or local professionals in the field to meet about
or represent
the organization
• Provide professional services that reflect positively on or promote the
organization
and its values
• Cultivate partnerships with colleagues in the field for resources,
programs or other
support

Qualifications
The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate a strong track-record of
mid-size arts
organization management and development, with significant experience in
fundraising and board development. Minimum of five years of applicable
experience with management experience required. Bachelor’s Degree required.
Masters Degree preferred.

Contact
Search Committee
threewalls
119 N. Peoria #2c
Chicago, IL 60607
threewallssearch@gmail.com