Description

Background/Mission:

 

Georgia State University’s RialtoCenter for the Arts is the cultural centerpiece of Downtown Atlanta, located inthe heart of Atlanta’s historic Fairlie-Poplar district. An anchor for the arts,the Rialto’s diverse offerings and unique role as a university performing andvisual arts venue make it a cultural resource for the entire Georgia State and MetroAtlanta community. The Rialto’s mission is to inspire, educate andentertain diverse audiences by presenting innovative and exceptional artsprogramming and cultivating community partnerships. Its nationally renownedarts programming is carefully curated to appeal to diverse audiences andrepresent the widest possible array of artistic styles and genres.

The Rialto’s intimate,833-seat performing arts venue is home to the Rialto Series, featuring the bestof national and international music, dance, comedy, and visual arts and GeorgiaState’s School of Music performances. It is also the Downtown Atlanta go-tovenue for other arts organizations’ performances, visiting companies andindependent film screenings, who utilize (1) the main performing arts venue;(2) the multi-purpose 1,100 square foot SunTrust Presidential Suite; (3) theintimate Rialto Lobby, which has a raised stage and can host almost 400 peoplefor receptions and other events; (4) the 1,100 sq. ft. SunTrust PresidentialSuite for small meetings and workshops; and (4) several10 ft. – 30 ft. gallery walls throughout the building capable of showcasing avariety of art.

Each year, the RialtoCenter presents the Rialto Series, a unique subscription series featuringworld-class artists, presenting an eclectic mix of music, dance, comedy, andvisual artists. In addition, the Rialto offers innovative educational programsto support and enhance the performing arts with Georgia State academicdepartments and students. The Rialto has a fast-growing reputation as the artscenter that brings once-in-a-lifetime cultural experiences to the Southeast andchallenges patrons to expand their artistic worldview.

The Rialto is proud to bepart of Georgia State University in the heart of Downtown Atlanta. GeorgiaState is a leading research institution of higher learning, ranked as the #2“most innovative” universities in the country, among the top “up and coming”national universities and among the country’s most diverse institutions. Morethan 53,000 students are enrolled annually on its seven campuses, arriving fromevery county in Georgia, all 50 states, and 159 countries.

Priorities andOngoing Responsibilities:

Reporting to the Office of the Provost, theExecutive Director will have responsibility for defining and implementing the Rialto’sstrategic goals, overseeing the strategy and design for fundraisinginitiatives, developing and administering program activities, providingleadership of the day-to-day administrative functions including overseeingstaff, collaborating with Georgia State academic and student affairsdepartments, convening the City of Atlanta’s arts community to bring about newideas and programs at the Rialto, and ensuring that the Rialto functions as atrue university performing arts center.  This individual should have a broad vision, bebold and creative in shaping the Rialto’s position as a vibrant communitycultural center, be an ally of the arts, and be a collaborative, energetic, andvisionary member of the Georgia State University community. All endeavors ofthe Executive Director will be to implement the Rialto’s mission in furtheranceof Georgia State’s Strategic Plan.

 

Much of the Executive Director’s energywill be spent with various Georgia State academic departments and studentorganizations and in the Metro Atlanta community creating and growing the Rialto’simage with a diverse variety of constituents. These will include Georgia Statefaculty, staff, and students, governmental officials, community leaders,donors, artists, leaders of other artistic/cultural organizations as well asother stakeholders. The Executive Director should have the standing to functionsocially and professionally among the community’s most highly respectedbusiness leaders and philanthropists, with a focus on maintaining and buildingstrategic alliances.

 

 

Essential Dutiesand Responsibilities:

TheExecutive Director will:

Vision, Strategy, and Leadership

§  Develop a strategicplan – in support of Georgia State’s global strategic plan – and be creative andwilling to work closely with University administration and unit/departmentmanagement to enhance the mission of the Rialto, its programs, and developmentefforts.

§  Develop a leanorganizational culture that supports cohesive, creative, and productiverelationships with Georgia State University stakeholders and strategicpartners.

 

Fundraising

 

§  Develop, inconjunction with a development officer and the Rialto’s Advisory Board, anannual fundraising goal to fund the strategic priorities and programs of theRialto and monitor progress and metrics associated with such efforts.

§  Work with GeorgiaState’s Foundation and Rialto’s Adivsory Board to lead and strengthenfundraising endeavors utilizing local, regional, and national resources, and overseea robust fundraising initiative with individual, corporate, and foundationdonors and appropriate underwriting sponsors.

§  In collaborationwith development staff and volunteer leadership, meet face-to-face with donorsto solicit gifts and steward relationships to fund the strategic priorities ofthe Rialto.

 

Managementand Financial Oversight

 

§  Lead and developthe team of experienced professionals and volunteers responsible for themanagement of daily affairs of the Rialto, including, but not limited to,artistic direction, production, ticketing, technical theatre operations, and marketingand public relations..

§  Work closely withUniversity administration and unit/department management, the ExecutiveDirector will be responsible for developing financial resilience through annualoperating budgets, overseeing the assets and financial affairs of the Rialto,ensuring expenditures are in line with the Rialto’s resources, and achieving anappropriate balance between revenue generation and fundraising and overallbudget management, with a goal of achieving a net profit each year.

§  Identify andrealize opportunities to improve the Rialto’s income generating activities,including maximizing the rental of all available spaces at the Rialtoyear-round.

 

Programs,Educational Programs, Community Engagement, and Activities

 

§  Collaboratewith Georgia State academic departments and engage the entire campus community– faculty, staff, students, and alumni – to celebrate the arts with high-quality exhibitions, programs, andactivities, to support the curriculum of academic departments, and to broadlysupport the educational aims of Georgia State.

§  Create richexperiences for Georgia State students, including points of entry to the artsand fortifying opportunities for students to gain an understanding of thecreativity and business of the arts.

§  Lead the development,securing, and scheduling of the Rialto’s high quality theatrical offerings, innovativeeducational programs (from K-12 to continuing eduation) and artisticperformance programming, consistent with the Rialto’s mission and relevant to adiverse range of audiences.

§  Inspire externalstakeholders to engage in the wide array of activities at the Rialto andconvene varied, diverse voices from the arts community at the Rialto.

 

Marketing,Branding, and Governance

 

§  Continue todevelop and promote the Rialto as a brand and successfully establish thetheatre as a recognized leader of artistic endeavors in the region, including,but not limited to, developing a strong digital presence that extends theRialto’s marketing reach and communication with its diverse audiences.

§  Develop andmaintain long-term relationships that will enhance the financial, artistic, andeducational goals of the Rialto, including, but not limited to internalconnections with Georgia State’s College of the Arts and the institution’sstudent programming board, Spotlight Programs Board.

§  Help to develop,engage and support a strong Board of Advisors and participate in local, state,and federal arts organizations.

§  Ensure propercommunication and relationships between Rialto staff and Georgia Stateadministrative and unit/department management through ongoing verbal andwritten reports and adherence to all Georgia State policies and procedures.

 

Qualifications

The successfulcandidate will have a minimum of 5 years’ experience as an executive directoror senior manager in a performing arts organization or have equivalent relevantexperience.  A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent is required; an advanceddegree is desirable (experience may be considered in lieu of an advanceddegree.). Candidates shall be able to maintain a rigorous schedule thatincludes evening and weekend performances and events. Experience working in auniversity environment will be considered an asset

College/Business UnitOpen until filled

College/Business Unit: Auxiliary & Support Services
Location: Atlanta Campus
Job Posting: 08/06/19, 3:27:59 PM