Director of Exhibitions

Position Title: Director of Exhibitions

Department: Exhibitions

Reports To: Executive Director

Position Classification: Full Time Exempt

Work Site Location: Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City, Queens

Salary: $80,000 per year

About Socrates Sculpture Park:

Socrates Sculpture Park is a community engaged New York City waterfront park dedicated to supporting artists in the production and presentation of public art.

Socrates Sculpture Park was an abandoned riverside landfill and illegal dumpsite for decades leading up to 1986 when a coalition of artists and community members, under the leadership of artist Mark di Suvero, transformed it into an open studio and exhibition space for artists. Today, Socrates is an internationally renowned outdoor museum and a designated New York City public park.

Known for fostering ambitious and visionary artworks, Socrates has presented more than 1,200 artists on its five waterfront acres, providing them the financial support, materials, equipment, and space necessary to create large-scale works in the public realm. The Park is a center of cultural programming, a producer of contemporary exhibitions, a presenter of a multi-disciplinary performance series, and an arts educator. Socrates’ existence is based on the belief that reclamation, revitalization and creative expression are essential to the survival, humanity and improvement of our urban environment.

Role Overview:

The Director of Exhibitions is a senior member of staff and leads the research, planning and implementation of the Park’s public art program. The scope of programming includes thematic and solo presentations of mid-career and established, internationally acclaimed artists and, especially, of those at the start of promising careers through the longstanding Fellowship Program and Exhibition. In close partnership with the Executive Director, this role manages the Park’s public art programming, maintains artist relationships, and works closely with all other areas of programming and operations to ensure integrated program activity.

The Director of Exhibitions will administer all aspects of a three-year curatorial plan anchored by the Park’s 40th Anniversary, which includes a newly integrated public area of the Park opening in the fall of 2026 entitled The Point, planned alumni commissions, as well as the ongoing coordination of the Fellowship Program, including a two-year experimental, alumni cycle of the program.

Primary Responsibilities:

Exhibitions (80%):

• Work closely with the Executive Director to implement public art programming for the Park aligned with the philosophical, cultural, and strategic goals of the organization
• Work closely with the Executive Director to manage and execute all aspects of planning, budgeting, scheduling, installation, content development, communications and event coordination for the Park’s public art program
• Work closely with the Artist Fellowship Liaison on artist correspondence and planning for all aspects of artistic production and onsite activations
• Work closely and collaboratively with the Director of Public Programs & Community Engagement and Director of Park Operations to integrate artist-related public & horticultural programming including artist-led workshops, performances, and artist driven projects
• Work closely with a consultancy team on Archive projects, including a new Oral History project
• Work closely with the Communications team to develop and coordinate exhibitions-related messaging
• Manage partnership needs and maintain correspondence with outside visual arts collaborators, colleagues, and other cultural organizations
• Contribute to the organization and coordination of texts related to the public art programming including program, exhibition, and artwork descriptions

Additional Managerial Expectations (20%):

• Direct and participate in budget creation, budget reporting and maintenance
• Assist with press outreach and other communication efforts to raise awareness for the organization
• Partner with the Development team to integrate fundraising opportunities into public events and maximize revenue generation
• Draft all agreements, recommendations, and correspondence with artists and partner organizations
• Work with the Communications team to ensure the maintenance and update of portions of the website pertaining to exhibitions, artists, artist-driven events and performances, as well as manage the organization’s artist and exhibition digital archive
• Contribute to department-wide resource allocation, staff development, and training
• Contribute to direct report staff performance reviews, hiring, and terminations
• Assist with the day-to-day operations and functions of the office

Qualifications:

Competitive candidates will have at least 5 years of exhibitions project management experience and related professional experience working with other relevant visual arts organizations. Candidates must understand the importance of our local context of Queens and legacy of artistic production at the intersection of community engagement, ecological stewardship, and activism. Socrates is a highly collaborative workplace where decision-making is driven by our organizational values:

• Freedom of Creative Expression
• Open & Inclusive Public Access
• Artistic Experimentation & Exploration
• Community Collaboration & Civic Engagement
• Stewardship of the Land and Respect for Place
• Cultivation of Mutual Respect and Joy

The ideal candidate is, therefore:

• Committed to anti-oppressive values and practices
• A self-starter who also works well collaboratively
• A high-caliber worker
• An efficient delegator and manager
• A strong communicator
• Able to maintain a strong sense of emotional intelligence
• Excited about community engagement and public participation in the arts
• Studied in the evolving field of art in the public realm
• Knowledgeable of supervisory best practices
• Able to hit the ground running

Technical Skills:

• Google Workspace
• Working knowledge of Adobe design programs a plus (e.g., InDesign and Photoshop)
• Prior experience with website maintenance through WordPress and database management is helpful

Work Environment:

This role operates in both an onsite administrative office environment and outdoors in the Park. This role, therefore, requires the routine use of standard office equipment such as computers, printers, photocopiers, filing cabinets, etc. This role also requires the physical ability to work outside in the Park for aspects of the public art program’s management

Supervision:

The Director of Exhibitions will report directly to the Executive Director and will directly supervise the Artist Fellowship Liaison and seasonal interns (as needed)

Work Hours and Schedule:

Full-time / Monday – Friday / 10:00am – 6:00pm

During the park’s high season, April – October, some weekends and nights will be required.

The position includes fully paid health benefits (including dental and vision) and a 401K match, as well as competitive paid time off and hybrid work options.