Executive Director

Baryshnikov Arts is headquartered in a dynamic performing arts center located in the Hudson Yards neighborhood of New York City. We serve artists and audiences through an annual series of public presentations, artist residencies, subsidized space rentals, and more.

The Executive Director is a full-time, hybrid position reporting to the Founder & Artistic Director and Board of Directors with a general working schedule of Monday through Friday, with evenings and weekends as determined by the programming calendar.  

Anticipated Start Date: August 1, 2025

Position Overview

The Executive Director (ED) guides the overall administrative and programmatic activities of BA, building on and supporting the Founder and Artistic Director’s vision, while providing leadership to staff and oversight of departments and their core functions. Specific areas of responsibility include:

Vision & Leadership

• Lead BA and its staff with the values of transparency, communication, and collaboration, consistently acting with clarity, decisiveness, and diplomacy
• Partner with the Artistic Director and the Board of Directors to articulate and implement BA’s long-range vision, and develop goals and timelines to realize that vision
• Acknowledge and embrace BA’s unique position in the cultural landscape, and work to deepen and enhance its role, reputation, and impact
• Ensure that all of BA’s activities and programs reflect and enhance the organization’s focus on diversity, inclusion, and equity
• Encourage creative thinking and independence among BA’s staff, while recognizing each staff member’s contribution to the success of the organization
• Establish a positive and fruitful relationship with BA’s Board of Directors, identifying ways of engaging directors in programs, fundraising, and developing and expanding the board
• Encourage and facilitate a healthy working relationship between board and staff

Fundraising & Earned Revenue

• Serve as a primary fundraiser for the organization – with the opportunity to build out a development team – partnering with the board and staff to identify and secure philanthropic dollars in support of BA’s operations, programs, and future strategic campaigns (e.g., capital, endowment)
• Cultivate and steward existing supporters, and develop and implement strategies for new or increased support from major donors and board members, as well as foundations, corporations, and government agencies
• Ensure that BA’s facilities maximize their income-generating potential via space rentals and other opportunities

Programming

• Oversee the successful implementation of BA’s programming, including residencies, presentations, and education and community engagement opportunities
• In collaboration with the Artistic Director and the programming staff, ensure that BA’s programs are of the highest artistic caliber, while remaining relevant to a wide range of audiences and participants, balancing artistic integrity with fiscal responsibility and commercial viability

Administrative & Facilities Management

• Lead BA’s administrative and operations functions and staff
• Develop staffing plans, policies, and procedures to successfully execute BA’s programs and achieve its goals, providing leadership, coaching, and evaluation to develop and retain a strong and diverse staff
• Partner closely with the Director of Finance to develop and manage BA’s annual operating budget, capital budget, financial reporting systems, and investment portfolio
• Along with representatives from the Orchestra of Saint Luke's, serve as a voting member of the 450 West 37th Street Condo Association, overseeing the management and operation of the building (450 West 37th Street)

External Relations

• Serve as a primary ambassador and spokesperson, effectively representing BA both locally and nationally
• Partner with BA’s Founder and Artistic Director to continue elevating the organization's visibility and position as a unique leader among cultural institutions
• Build and engage audiences and supporters via regular communications
• Represent BA in the press/media

Core Qualifications

• 5+ years of senior leadership experience at an arts/cultural organization, including staff management, fundraising, financial management, and public and educational program development
• Broad knowledge and a deep understanding of the performing arts landscape in New York City and internationally
• Demonstrated ability to manage strategic organizational growth – the ability to focus, prioritize, and execute
• Demonstrated success in raising funds from corporations, foundations, individuals, and government sources, and familiarity with major arts funders
• Strong fiscal management experience and a proven track record achieving budget goals
• Experience working in an organization that operates a public-facing facility
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• A collaborative approach to leadership – the ability to cultivate effective relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders, including artists, board members, staff, community members, government officials, donors, corporate sponsors, and the media
• A high degree of emotional intelligence and strong interpersonal and leadership skills: decisive, confident, measured, and humane, with the ability to listen, unify, and inspire
• An innovative and entrepreneurial spirit, and an impeccable reputation for integrity
• Enthusiasm for BA’s mission and excitement about serving as a key partner to the Artistic Director and the organization’s creative team

About Baryshnikov Arts

Baryshnikov Arts Center is the realization of a long-held vision by artistic director Mikhail Baryshnikov who sought to build an arts center in Manhattan that would serve as a gathering place for artists from all disciplines. Baryshnikov Arts Center's opening in 2005 heralded the launch of this mission, establishing a thriving creative laboratory and performance space for artists from around the world. Setting the stage for an illustrious legacy to come with an emphasis on inclusive and innovative thinking, as of June 2023, Baryshnikov Arts Center is Baryshnikov Arts. Headquartered at the Center in NYC, Baryshnikov Arts hosts a robust residency program augmented by a range of professional services, commissions of new work, and presentations of performances by artists at varying stages of their careers, acting as a multidisciplinary, multi-platform haven for artistic freedom. In tandem with its commitment to supporting artists, Baryshnikov Arts is dedicated to building audiences for the arts by presenting contemporary, innovative work at affordable ticket prices.

Application

Submit cover letter, resume, and three professional references to [email protected] with Executive Director as the subject. No phone calls please. All applications will be treated as confidential. References will not be contacted without prior notice. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Equal Opportunity

Baryshnikov Arts firmly supports the principle and philosophy of equal opportunity for all individuals, regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, creed, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other protected category pursuant to applicable federal, state, or local law.

06/16/2025