Swiss Institute – Contemporary Art, New York (SI) is looking for a full-time Director
Deadline for applications: May 5, 2013
application.swissinstitute [at] gmx.ch
www.swissinstitute.net
After leading Swiss Institute for over six years and implementing a highly successful program as well as organizing the relocation of Swiss Institute to its current address on 18 Wooster Street in Manhattan, Director Gianni Jetzer has decided to end his term at the end of August 2013.
Swiss Institute (SI) is an independent, not-for-profit cultural institution with an exhibition space in New York. It presents contemporary art exhibitions, lectures, performances, concerts, screenings and other events throughout the year.
Swiss Institute has grown into an innovative international venue for contemporary art that provides a significant forum for cultural dialogue between Switzerland, Europe, and the United States. This unique angle fosters the interaction between the Swiss and the many other communities and nationalities found in New York City. The result is a distinctive view of art and a way of thinking which asks audiences to break with traditional assumptions about art. The core of the program is dedicated to cutting-edge, contemporary art, including various non-visual art events.
Job description
SI is seeking an enthusiastic full-time director and curator. The current director has successfully shaped the SI into a professional, internationally well-noted, cultural institution in its new space in downtown Manhattan.
The new director should continue to bring an innovative international program, continue to draw many visitors, and implement well-featured shows with a strong focus on contemporary Swiss art. He or she should have excellent communication skills and will be called on to further develop the SI activities in all the Swiss, the New York and international art scenes.
Job profile
The successful candidate must be experienced in running an art institution with an international program and artistic projects in Switzerland and/or elsewhere. He or she should possess in-depth knowledge of emerging visual and non-visual art—both in content and in contacts—which will allow him or her to shape and implement a high-quality program of artistic and cultural events. Further, the candidate must have in-depth knowledge of the Swiss cultural art scene in order to strengthen the existing connections and continue to build new bridges between Switzerland and the SI.
The candidate will manage the institution’s personnel, budget, and technical resources, while working closely with the SI Chair, as well as with Pro Helvetia, the Swiss Arts Council. To further secure financing, an excellent knowledge and proven track record of both public and private fundraising sources are indispensable.
The candidacy requires leadership as well as teamwork within the small full-time SI staff members. Excellent writing and speaking skills are required. The candidate should speak English fluently, and should have a solid mastery of German, French and/or Italian. The job will be based on a 4-year term, with the possibility to extend.
Application
The position is available as of September 1, 2013, or at a date to be negotiated.
Candidates must submit a complete digital application file in English, comprising a cover letter, a detailed curriculum vitae, and a short presentation of the projects they have completed to date. In addition, candidates must present a 2-year program including 4 main exhibitions per year, 4 smaller projects per year, as well as 2 non-visual contemporary art projects, and a series of different art-related events. Each suggested program should be accompanied by 4 photos (low in KB). Further, a short outline of a four-year development strategy including realistic suggestions for sources of financing is also required.
The deadline for submitting applications is May 5, 2013, and should be addressed to the Search Committee at application.swissinstitute [at] gmx.ch. Applicants selected to the next round will be asked for a first interview in Basel, Switzerland, during the Art Basel fair, June 13–16, 2013.
Swiss Institute
18 Wooster Street
New York, NY
