Seeking Director

The LaM, Lille Métropole Museum of Modern Art, Contemporary Art and Art Brut, is operated as a Public Institution of Cultural Cooperation (EPCC-EPIC). Its mission includes preserving, restoring and studying the collections of modern art, contemporary art and Art Brut (outsider art) it has in custody, as well as keeping an eye on the ongoing development of modern art, contemporary art and Art Brut. Moreover, it is committed to sharing with the widest possible audience the main art movements of the 20th and 21th centuries.

Set within an exceptional sculpture park in Villeneuve d’Ascq, an hour and a half from Paris, the LaM—ever since it reopened in 2010—has thus been the only museum in France and Northern Europe to showcase a combination of modern and contemporary art alongside an outstanding collection of Art Brut.

Job description:
Reporting to the LaM Board of Directors, and acting within the legal and financial framework defined by the latter...

–you will draw up a new project for the museum and oversee its implementation. You will ensure the programming of artistic, cultural and educational activities.
–you will organise and put together the museum's collection and ensure it is preserved and showcased. You will oversee collection development, especially in line with the major acquisitions policy set by the Métropole Européenne de Lille.
–you will oversee implementation of an overall audience, communication and partnership policy.
–you will bolster the museum's role in the metropolitan network of structuring events and facilities.
–you will see to the museum's promotion.
–you will be responsible for the buildings' technical management and the EPCC's administrative and budgetary management.
–you will take overall responsibility for all services and a team of some 50 staff members.

You will therefore act as guarantor of the LaM's overall project, both in cultural and audience terms.


Skills and experience required:
–Art historian specialising in the 20th and 21st centuries, with proven knowledge of Art Brut, a qualified Heritage Curator or with other qualifications or a degree that are recognised by the French Ministry for Culture
–Curator of exhibitions and partnerships of international standing
–Sound and diversified experience in running an institution and artistic and cultural projects alike
–Robust management skills enabling teams to be mobilised and employees' skills and efforts to be valued
–Strong interpersonal skills enabling orderly and constructive group work to be achieved with all the public decision-makers on the Board of Directors
–Good knowledge of cultural and economic networks and excellent ability to develop the diversity of partnerships required to put the museum's project into practice, both in cultural and economic terms, at local, national and international levels alike.

Must have good command of French.


Job type
Full time (initial term of a 5-year contract renewable for further 3-years period), civil service fixed term contract.

To apply for this vacancy
Please post your application to the following address:

Le LaM
Monsieur Le Président du Conseil d’Administration du LaM
Direction administrative et financière
1 allée du musée
59650 Villeneuve d’Ascq
France

or

Isabelle Descheemaeker, Head of administration and finance:
idescheemaeker@musee-lam.fr

Your application must include: CV, cover letter, a paper two to three pages long setting out your artistic, cultural, educational or scientific intentions—written in French.