Art Director jobs in Little Rock, AR

A non-degree granting wing of AMFA, the Windgate Art School offers art-making classes, workshops, and other programming for youth and adults. The Director will oversee all aspects of the school including the development and implementation of a strategic plan focused on growth and increasing community impact.

The Director reports to the Executive Director and oversees daily operations of the School including management of staff and faculty, studio spaces, equipment, safety conditions, and supply inventory. This full-time exempt position has the support of AMFA’s Facilities Department to maintain studio spaces and Marketing Department to promote offerings.

The WAS Director works with Museum programmatic departments to ensure all offerings reflect the institution’s mission and values and position AMFA as a nationally leading place for learning and visual and performing arts.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

• Develop short and long-term programming vision and strategies to maximize community outreach and impact with the goal of expanding audiences, increasing relevancy, and raising the profile of the School.
• Analyze statistics, trends, and best practices to develop a schedule of innovative offerings that include, but are not limited to, quarter-long classes, workshops, artist residencies, and special-topic programming.
• Seek creative ways for WAS programming to leverage AMFA exhibitions, programs, events, and performances to result in a richer and deeper student experience with art.
• Continually seek to create and maintain a welcoming, supportive, professional, and safe creative culture for all faculty, instructors, volunteers, and students.
• With Associate Director, provide direct supervision of faculty, assistants, and volunteers, adhering to AMFA’s human resources policies.
• Hire new or guest faculty or instructors and conduct regular evaluations to ensure optimum experience for all.
• Prepare and administer an annual budget to ensure all programs are executed within the approved resources and meet the established fiscal year revenue goals.
• Design standards and procedures to ensure that all equipment and studios are maintained and up to date and supplies are replenished in a timely manner.
• Understand and support all AMFA policies and procedures regarding mission and values, DEAI culture, and the facility and grounds.

Candidate Profile:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in art, art education, museum studies, education, or related field
• Five years of experience as an administrator or instructor at a museum, art school, or equivalent
• Measurable familiarity with K-12 education and/or adult learning and ability to work with a wide range of individuals
• Demonstrated success in developing community partnerships to ensure programmatic depth and increase reach and impact
• Excellent leadership skills and the ability to teach and create a supportive learning environment
• Ability to supervise, guide, and mentor instructors and act as first point of contact for instructor issues
• Strong management skills, both strategic and operational, and experience with Microsoft Office Suite or Office 365
• A commitment to AMFA’s mission and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

About AMFA

AMFA is celebrating its one-year anniversary, having undergone an extraordinary transformation that includes the construction of a new state-of-the-art facility.

Designed by the renowned architecture firm, Studio Gang, the new facility has secured AMFA’s position as one of the top cultural institutions in the state and region. The new AMFA features state-of-the-art galleries, art school with fully-equipped studios, a theater, lecture hall, outdoor event area, and other spaces to host programming, classes, and performances. The innovative Cultural Living Room, restaurant, store, and landscaped grounds position the AMFA as a cultural hub for Little Rock and the Delta region.

About the Windgate Art School

The Windgate Art School (WAS) is a 17,245 square-foot space that includes a gallery, flexible studio spaces, and studio classrooms equipped to teach painting, drawing, ceramics, wood, metals, glass, printmaking, and other media.

The School is a blend of traditional weekly studio classes and workshops with new programmatic formats. Designed for students of all ages and skill levels, offerings include quarter-long classes, workshops, introductory sessions, open houses, and more. As an example, a new workshop model offered on Friday evenings is designed for couples—partners, friends, family—to start and finish an art project in one evening. This new workshop is called “Art for Two,” and it has been a runaway success.

Families also rely on the Windgate Art School for K-12 art instruction. Budding artists can enroll in a number of offerings, including Youth Studio Series, a build-your-own-schedule spring break and summer program, as well as after-school classes. Creative Saturdays, a free, recurring artmaking drop-in program in the flex studios, encourages families to make AMFA a part of their weekend routine.

The Windgate Art School also serves as a hub for established and up-and-coming artists from across the country. Raven Halfmoon and Chakaia Booker, AMFA’s inaugural artists-in-residence, led workshops in the studio and visited art students at local schools. The Robyn and John Horn Gallery exhibited prints and a sculpture by Booker, and currently features ceramic installations by Risa Hricovsky.

Since opening, the Windgate Art School cemented itself as a campus for all. Regular open houses encourage new and current students to explore the studios, meet with the faculty, see live demos, and learn first-hand about upcoming course offerings. At the close of 2023, the Art School served 2,808 students through classes, workshops, summer art camps, and drop-in artmaking sessions during eight months of operations.

About Life in Little Rock

Central Arkansas offers a vibrant blend of urban amenities and natural beauty, providing residents with the best of both worlds. With its capital city of Little Rock nestled amid scenic landscapes, residents enjoy a rich cultural scene, diverse dining options, and abundant outdoor recreation opportunities. Boasting a welcoming community spirit and one of the country’s most affordable cost of living rates, Central Arkansas stands as an ideal destination for those seeking a balanced and fulfilling lifestyle.

In the next few years, Little Rock will see major improvements and additions to its downtown. The City of Little Rock is pursuing a new master plan and cultural organizations, such as the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and Arkansas Repertory Theater, continue to serve the community. A new ArtSpace designed to serve both visual and performing artists is scheduled to break ground in 2024.

Downtown Little Rock’s arts and culture community is about to be as connected as ever. This is a critical time to center AMFA and the Windgate Art School as a hub for artists and artmaking in this fast-developing landscape.