Seeking director

Since their creation, the FRAC (Fonds Régionaux d’Art Contemporain / Regional Contemporary Art Funds) structures have been assigned four main missions by central government and regional councils: build up public contemporary art collections, exhibit these collections, raise public awareness of contemporary art, and support artists and the artistic scene. Created in 1982, the FRAC structures have been supporting contemporary creation for more than forty years. Since 2017, they have been accredited as owners of an artistic and cultural project of general interest.

Created in 1983, the FRAC Nouvelle-Aquitaine-Méca is a non-profit association under the French law of 1901. A historic player in France's visual arts sector and within its region, since 2019 the FRAC has been headquartered in the MECA (Maison de l'Économie Créative et de la Culture en Nouvelle-Aquitaine) building, designed by Danish architect Bjarke Ingels on the banks of the Garonne. With a team of 21 FTEs, the FRAC benefits from an average annual budget of €2 million.

The FRAC Méca's missions combine support for artists and public access to contemporary art. Its collection currently comprises more than 1,500 works, reflecting the topicality and diversity of artistic considerations and practices with, since the 1990s, a particular focus on emerging artists.

Missions
The general-interest missions of the FRAC Méca are governed by the regulations in force with respect to the "FRAC" label. In conjunction with the Region and the State, and under the responsibility of the President of the FRAC Méca, the Director shall manage the FRAC and, in this capacity, oversee the following tasks and activities:
–Designing, implementing and monitoring the structure's underlying project and its artistic and cultural project in accordance with the Multiannual Objectives Agreement signed between the FRAC, the Region and the State;
–Ensuring the establishment's administrative and financial management: responsibility for drawing up and implementing the organisation's budget;
–Seeking financial partnerships and developing its own resources, particularly through sponsorship;
–Defining policies to enrich, conserve, exhibit and promote collections to the public;
–Drawing up and implementing an annual programme of exhibitions, artist residencies, a publishing programme and initiatives to support artists and creative work;
–Designing and implementing the public awareness and development programme;
–Securing public and private partnerships that will contribute to the FRAC's artistic and cultural influence, notably through the Association of Friends, in France and abroad, and its economic development;
–Participating in the definition of a project to develop professional resources for the plastic and visual arts sector;

Profile sought
The short-listed candidate will be an experienced senior executive.
–Holder of a higher education degree (BAC + 5 / five-year degree), specialising in art history and, in particular, the contemporary art scene and its networks; excellent general knowledge/culture;
–Proven professional experience in managing a cultural establishment in the visual arts sphere;
–Ability to translate the Board's guidelines into operational objectives;
–Strong managerial and team leadership skills;
–Highly rigorous management skills;
–Proficiency in the artistic and budgetary aspects of setting up and developing projects; 
–Good knowledge of intellectual property in the field of the visual arts and the conservation of public collections;
–Excellent interpersonal, listening and communication skills;
–Fluency in a second language in addition to French.

Application
Applications shall include a CV and a letter of intent indicating the applicant's vision for the position and the main thrusts of the artistic and cultural project envisaged.

Applications must be sent no later than February 29, 2024, midnight, by e-mail (as attachments), with the subject "recrutement direction Frac Méca" and a read confirmation request, to administration@frac-meca.fr.

Schedule
Deadline for applications: February 29, 2024 (midnight)
Short-listing result: March 19, 2024
Submission of draft projects: April 22, 2024 (midnight)
Audition of applicants: May 7, 2024
Start date: as soon as possible

View the full application on our website.