Metro Arts Nashville Seeking Public Art Manager

Position Description

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Public Art Manager is a full-time Civil Service position responsible for leading the program management, policy development, financial analysis, and oversight of all aspects of Metro’s award-winning public art program, which includes administration of both capital (One Percent for Art) and operating budgets. The Public Art Manager oversees the permanent Percent for Art collection, including oversight of multiple ongoing projects that range in scope and complexity. The Public Art Manager serves in a key operational and strategic leadership position and supervises the work of all public art project managers (currently four). The position works directly with artists, community and institutional partners, colleagues across the agency, the Arts Commission, and other stakeholders to create and strengthen opportunities for public artists and expand access to public art experiences in Nashville and Davidson County. This position manages a wide array of public and private partnerships with Metro departments and local, state, and national organizations committed to public art. The Public Art Manager requires strong leadership skills, strategic thinking, interpersonal skills, and a passion for the mission of Metro Arts.

Metro Arts is the city of Nashville’s Office of Arts + Culture. Its mission is to drive a vibrant and equitable community through the arts where all Nashvillians have access to a creative life. Metro Arts encompasses a wide range of public programs, grant funding, and the management of the public art program and collection for the city. More information and history of the agency can be found at  https://www.metroartsnashville.gov .

Typical Duties

Public Art Program Oversight

Oversees the development of high impact public art projects including planning, procurement, artist selection and management, and monitoring progress from project conception to installation.

Designs and guides project schedules and multiyear tracking systems for all public art projects.

Develops and manages the capital (One Percent for Art) and operating budgets, schedules, and documentation for the public art program, in coordination with the Finance Administrator.

Manages contracts with vendors, contractors, and service providers and ensures responsible resource stewardship.

Serves as lead staff support to the Public Art Committee of the Arts Commission.

Public Art Program Development and Planning

Leads strategic planning and implementation of the Public Art Community Investment Plan.

Leads short- and long-term public art planning and evaluation.

Reviews and makes recommendations for updates to the Public Art Guidelines and other procedural and policy guidelines regularly.

Develops cross-departmental partnerships that increase opportunities for public art across the Metropolitan Government and Nashville community.

Identifies emerging opportunities, needs, partnerships, and program models that could strengthen the public art ecosystem.

Develops and facilitates artist trainings, residencies, temporary artwork, and other special programs that support the public art ecosystem.

Supervision and Team Leadership

Supervises the work of four direct reports, including three Public Art Project Managers and one Collections Manager. Sets and adjusts priorities, assigns projects, supports the development of annual work plans, and conducts annual employee reviews.

Identifies developmental and training needs of direct reports and develops strategies to provide training, support, and mentorship.

Agency Leadership

Serves as a member of the leadership team and supports the Executive Director and others to develop agency-wide short- and long-term planning, policy development, and evaluation.

Works collaboratively on agency-wide initiatives including programs, events, special projects, and external communications that celebrate organizational milestones, engage key stakeholders, and communicate the impact of Metro Arts and showcase the value of investments in public art.

Works on special projects and prepares and presents reports, recommendations, presentations, and related materials as required.

Represents Metro Arts and builds and maintains relationships with individuals and organizations to strengthen partnerships and opportunities to support public art.

Contributes to a collaborative team culture by facilitating clear and open feedback, effective communication, and coordination within the public art team and across the agency.

Minimum Qualifications

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s Degree plus five (5) years of professional management-level experience in public art administration or management or related fields such as capital project management, urban planning/design, architecture, public administration, or museum studies.

*The required experience above must include a minimum of two (2) years of supervisory experience, including coordinating and reviewing the work of others*.

NOTE – Additional experience may be considered in lieu of the degree requirement and an advanced degree may be considered in lieu of some of years of required experience.

Candidates with accreditations earned in a foreign institute are encouraged to apply.

Note: Per Metro Ordinance No. SO94-1078. All employees of the Metropolitan Government shall be residents of the State of Tennessee or become residents of the state within six (6) months of employment as a prerequisite to employment with the Metropolitan Government.

Preferred Experience, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Professional experience in municipal art programs, public art administration, visual arts administration, or creative placemaking.

Demonstrated experience managing programs, projects, exhibitions, or other complex collaborative initiatives, including the ability to manage multiple deliverables on overlapping deadlines.

Experience working with budgets, financial statements, and performing financial recordkeeping and analysis for projects and programs.

Experience building collaborative and professional relationships across different communities, organizations, and institutions, particularly with historically marginalized and underrepresented communities.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply. Metro Nashville is committed to selecting the most qualified candidate for each of our roles.

Metro Nashville Government respects the religious beliefs and practices of all employees and will make, on request, an accommodation for such observances when a reasonable accommodation is available that does not create an undue hardship on business operations.

Requests for ADA or other protected accommodations for the recruitment process should be directed to Human Resources at 615-862-6640.

For more information and to apply, visit Metro Nashville Career Opportunities .

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