Description: Cedarhurst Center for the Arts seeks a strategic, collaborative Director of Visual Arts to serve as lead curator for our nationally accredited museum in southern Illinois. This position plays the lead role in developing Museum collections and realizing artist exhibitions, commissions, curatorial and public programs, and special projects that activate the Cedarhurst campus, advance forward-looking museum practices, and hone institutional thought leadership. This position reports to the Executive Director.

About Cedarhurst: Founded in 1965, the John R. and Eleanor R. Mitchell Foundation operates Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, a nationally accredited art and cultural institution in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. What began as a two-room museum has grown into a vibrant arts destination featuring:

• The expanded Mitchell Museum (33,000-square-foot cultural center with four galleries, interactive family space, and performance hall)
• The Shrode Art Center (gallery, classrooms, and studios)
• The Schweinfurth House and original Mitchell House (event and meeting spaces)
• A 65-acre Sculpture Park with 60 large-scale works

Cedarhurst advances its mission to enrich lives through the arts by presenting high-quality exhibitions, stewarding a nationally significant permanent collection, and developing programs that increase access to the arts for communities across southern Illinois and the surrounding region. In recent years, the museum has broadened its commitment to meaningful community engagement with increased partnerships and offsite programming,
and by launching The Lights, a seasonal evening experience that expands holiday access and transforms the sculpture park with immersive light installations.

The museum stewards approximately 800 works of art across multiple media, including paintings, works on paper, photography, sculpture, decorative arts, and global artifacts. The core of the collection – begun in the 1940s and 1950s by founding philanthropists John and Eleanor Mitchell – includes significant American works by artists such as George Bellows, Mary Cassatt, Robert Henri, and Thomas Eakins. In contrast, the Sculpture Park includes major contemporary works by artists such as Chakaia Booker, Dennis Oppenheim, Alexander Liberman, and John Kearney. Cedarhurst presents these holdings in dialogue with exhibitions, education, and community partnerships to serve a largely rural, multi-county region and impact more than 50,000 people annually.

The opportunity: The Director of Visual Arts enhances Cedarhurst’s reputation as a forward-facing public institution regionally and nationally. This role:

• Ensures professional stewardship of the permanent collection
• Leads curatorial vision and exhibition development
• Expands public access and engagement
• Contributes to scholarship, publications, and digital content
• Collaborates across departments and with artists, donors, and community partners

The Director of Visual Arts will support the Executive Director as a visible presence in the community and aid in the communication of Cedarhurst’s role as a nationally accredited museum with a significant permanent collection. A senior member of the Museum’s leadership team, this person will foster collaborative relationships across all museum departments, working closely with fellow Directors, as well as artists, donors, community partners, Docents, and other volunteers.

Responsibilities:

Collections Development and Stewardship (30%)

• Oversee the curatorial role in documentation, storage, conservation planning, and maintenance of archives, as well as in developing digital access and workflows that support collections stewardship.
• Oversee presentation and conservation of the indoor collection, advising on the need for more collections storage and potential for physical expansion.
• Oversee presentation and conservation of the outdoor collection, routinely assessing the art and site locations and working with Director of Operations to maintain proper care and presentation of outdoor gallery.
• Oversee, research, and coordinate national and international art loans, as needed.
• Research and recommend potential acquisitions that strategically strengthen and diversify Museum collections.
• Ensure upkeep of all art galleries, collections storage, crate storage, and other curatorial office spaces.

Exhibitions, Publications, and Programs (45%)

• Serve as lead curator in designing a multi-year exhibition plan – from concept to research to implementation – for the museum’s temporary exhibition galleries that expose audiences to a broad range of art. Oversee and assist with exhibition installation.
• Lead the Museum’s curatorial and program efforts, with fellow Directors (Education, Engagement, Communication, etc.), to create engaging experiences with the museum’s permanent collections, expanding access and fostering appreciation among southern Illinois audiences. Interpret historical works in new and innovative ways.
• Research, prepare, and facilitate gallery talks, conversation groups, and other longstanding Cedarhurst programs for the public and other Museum stakeholders.
• Work with fellow Directors (Communications, Engagement, etc.) to create and share content for a wide range of contexts – from written publication to social media context to seminar presentations – to broaden visitor engagement with Museum collections and exhibitions.
• Provide staff leadership for the Acquisitions Committee, Cedarhurst Docents, and other volunteer committees related to the visual arts.

Relationship and Research (10%)

• Attend weekly Team Meetings to develop ideas and collaborate with fellow staff members.
• Attend scheduled Counselor and Trustee meetings to make progress reports.
• Cultivate strong relationships with regional and national artists.
• Foster partnerships with museums, galleries, universities, and other cultural institutions and private collectors, for collaborative programs and exhibitions in an effort to extend Museum reach and capacity.
• In concert with the Executive Director and Trustees, assist with the proactive identification and stewardship of collectors and donors.
• Serve as a resource and research engine to staff and public for art and curatorial inquiries. Engage in the professional discourse related to the museum profession, participating as an active member of American Alliance of Museums and other professional organizations.

Administration and Leadership (10%)

• Create and manage the annual operating budgets for Visual Arts related to collections care and program planning, establishing the museum’s curatorial objectives each year and ensuring their alignment with the Museum’s Strategic Plan.
• Oversee the development and adherence to the Museum’s Collections Management Policy, Acquisitions Plan, Collections Plan, and Exhibition Plan.
  With the Director of Operations, help oversee the development and management of the Disaster Preparedness Plan.
• Evaluate exhibitions, educational programs, and curatorial projects to gauge success and measure impact.
• Develop talking points and provide content for fundraising and communication efforts such as grant applications, press releases, the semi-annual newsletter, etc.

Misc. (5%)

• Interact with guests, volunteers, and staff to ensure a positive visitor experience.
• Attend community events and serve on external councils/committees, as needed, to build relationships, promote Cedarhurst offerings, and increase the impact of the arts throughout the region.
• Support museum access and overall program efforts by contributing to and working major events, such as The Lights: An Exhibition of Holiday Magic at Cedarhurst.
• Contribute to a positive organizational culture based on mutual respect, collaboration, creativity, openness, and kindness.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Art History or related field preferred (Bachelor’s required)

• Minimum 3–5 years of curatorial experience, ideally with increasing leadership responsibility

• Demonstrated record of exhibition development and scholarly research, publication development, and public programming

• Appreciation for Cedarhurst’s mission and expertise in American art; with knowledge of Impressionism and/or Realism strongly preferred

• Strong understanding of and experience with collections planning, acquisitions, and policy development

• Strong writing, public speaking, and cross-departmental leadership skills

• Meeting management, organizational, and negotiation skills.

• Demonstrated passion for the visual arts, with a strong commitment to making art collections more accessible and meaningful to the general public.

• Ability to represent Cedarhurst and its mission to a wide external audience; communicate effectively and interact with all levels of staff as well as artists, visitors, and the general public in a positive, professional, and friendly manner.

We strongly encourage candidates to apply even if they do not meet every qualification but feel aligned with the role and mission.

Compensation and Hours

• Salary range: $70,000 – $80,000, commensurate with experience

• Full-time, in-person, position

• 35 hour workweek with weekend rotation and occasional evenings/events

• Comprehensive benefits package includes health and dental insurance, paid time off, 401K match, professional development opportunities, and a great working environment

Location: Mt. Vernon, Illinois offers affordable living, a strong sense of community, and access to major metropolitan areas within driving distance, including St. Louis, Nashville, and Chicago. Cedarhurst provides an opportunity to make national-level impact while enjoying a balanced quality of life.

To Apply
Please submit a cover letter, writing sample, and resume with references to hr@cedarhurst.org.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is looking to hire a Museum Section Head III (working title Director of Collections and Research) for its State Museum Division. The Director of Collections and Research works closely with the Director of the Illinois State Museum (ISM) in guiding and contributing to established goals in the State Museum Division’s research, collection, exhibition, and education programs in art, anthropology, botany, geology, history, and zoology. Its collections focus on emphasis on Illinois. As a member of the Division’s Leadership Team, this position will act administratively for and collaboratively with the ISM Director. Leadership-level staff are responsible for preparation of detailed, specialized budget materials and professional reports. They contribute to Division administration by formulating and carrying out strategic planning & implementation, and discipline-based programming. They are responsible for working with senior and subordinate staff in establishing objectives and subsequent evaluations. This position will also work assiduously with all State Museum sites to support their administrative, management, and collections care needs. We welcome all interested applicants to apply today.

Museum staff are impelled to engage in a regular cycle of professional development to maintain competence and currency in their areas of expertise or responsibility; and participate in relevant professional organizations. This position is expected to be able to occasionally travel locally, regionally, or statewide to participate in professional development, outreach events, and for general operational needs of their work site. They may be requested to consult, advise, or present information to share their knowledge and experience with museum professionals, students, and the public. Each staff member is expected to create work that is visible to the residents of Illinois; work in a team environment across geographic locations and disciplines; perform at a level that reflects national standards and best practices of an accredited museum and brings state, national, and/or international recognition to the Museum; follow all relevant state and federal laws; and abide by professional museum ethics.

Essential Functions
Serve as a senior manager at Illinois State Museum
Serve as Research and Collections head: in either art, history, or science- serves as a subject matter expert
Serves as a content specialist
Perform other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the Position Overview.

Minimum Qualifications
Requires a minimum Bachelors in appropriate area of specialization such as anthropology, zoology, botany, museum studies, collection management, art history, studio art, history, historic preservation or similar fields. Masters degree in appropriate field(s) of study or higher degree in museum adjacent fields preferred.
Requires a minimum of 15 years’ experience working in museum-related areas such as collection, research, and curation. Work history should demonstrate increasing job responsibilities in program administration and staff management.
Requires 10 years of people management experience.

Applications close 4/7/26

Please follow this link or go to our website and click on the employment option at the bottom.

Position Description

Position Overview:

The Director of Grants and Strategic Partnerships leads The Wright’s efforts to secure funding through grants (government, corporate, private) while cultivating key partnerships to expand community impact and financial sustainability. This position manages the entire grant lifecycle, develops strategic relationships with stakeholders, and oversees, reports on, and aligns these efforts with organizational goals and strategic plans. This position reports to the Vice President of Development. This position may supervise staff or interns.

Essential Functions:

• Grant Management & Strategy: Identifying funding opportunities, managing grant writing, and ensuring compliance with requirements.
• Strategic Partnerships: Cultivating and maintaining relationships with corporate, private, and governmental funders to align with organizational goals.
• Reporting & Compliance: Managing grant deliverables, tracking progress, and communicating impact to partners.
• Cross-Departmental Collaboration: Working with teams to define funding needs and develop proposals.

Additional Key Responsibilities:

• In partnership with institution leadership, support development strategy and oversee ongoing development efforts with public/private institutions.
  Work with key internal and external stakeholders to identify resources needed, funding prospects, and execute funding approaches.
• Design and implement an annual giving campaign in the form of an annual development plan that includes strategies and goals for annual giving.
• Support and partner with VP of  Development on all major fundraising initiatives.
• Oversee development and execution of all fundraising proposals, including corporate sponsorship and local and national grants and grant compliance/reporting.
• Ensure prompt acknowledgement of foundation gifts.
• Submit grant requests, letters of inquiry, and proposals.
• Tracks performance against grant proposals and awarded grants, as well as sources of funds.
• Prioritizes projects to keep multiple projects moving in a timely manner, meets deadlines, and manages supplemental material required for proposals.
• Provides writing support for major donor and individual contribution letters and acknowledgements.
• Prepares and produces final written reports as part of evaluation of final results for grants.
• Oversee the hiring, training, and mentoring of the development team, as well as additional staff, interns or contractors related to special projects.
• Devise and implement special fundraising projects as needed (e.g., capital campaign, programmatic campaigns, etc.)
• Oversee all donor information using our membership database system, provide statistical analysis to board and senior leaders as needed, and support staff responsible for daily system functions and gift processing.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred in English, Journalism, Art, or related area.
  Five or more years of professional experience with grant writing and management in a nonprofit organization.
• Proven success leading and managing fundraising at the organizational level.
  Excellent communication skills, both written and oral; ability to influence and engage a wide range of donors and build long-term relationships.
• Flexible and adaptable style; a leader who can positively impact both strategic and tactical fundraising initiatives.
• Ability to work both independently without close oversight, but also a team player who will productively engage with others at varying levels of seniority within and outside the organization.
• High energy and passion for the Museum’s mission.
• Exceptional computer literacy skills and familiarity with development related databases.
• Strong organizational and time management skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• A willingness and ability to work some evenings and weekends is essential.

Position Overview:

The Manager of Individual Engagement at The Wright drives member retention, acquisition, and satisfaction by developing strategies to foster deep, personalized connections with members. This position manages the full member lifecycle—from onboarding to renewal—while analyzing engagement data, enhancing member value, and overseeing daily operations and communications. In addition, this position strengthens nonprofit revenue by developing strategies to attract, retain, and steward individual donors. This position reports to the Vice President of Development. This position may supervise staff and interns.

Essential Functions:

• Retention & Recruitment: Develop and execute strategies to increase the membership base and increase retention rates.
• Individual Engagement: Create personalized, high-touch experiences for members and individual donors, ensuring consistent, positive interactions across all channels.
• Onboarding & Support: Guide new members through onboarding, serving as a primary point of contact to ensure they utilize member benefits.
• Data Analysis, Reporting & CRM Management: Monitor membership workflows, analyze member and individual donor engagement data, and track metrics to identify opportunities for improvement. Maintaining donor databases, tracking portfolio activity, and using data to inform engagement strategies.
• Strategy Development: Align membership and individual donor initiatives with organizational goals and develop strategies for member and individual donor cultivation and satisfaction.
• Technology Utilization: Manage and maintain member and donor records within CRM systems.
• Donor Cultivation & Strategy: Developing and executing strategies for annual and mid-level giving, including identifying new prospects and nurturing existing relationships.
• Donor Communications: Managing stewardship efforts, including donor newsletters, personalized communication, and fundraising appeals.
• Relationship Management: Directly interacting with donors, conducting meetings, and ensuring high-quality donor experiences.
• Collaboration: Working with internal divisions and departments, and program teams to align donor engagement with organizational goals.
•  Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher preferred
• 3+ years of development, fundraising, membership and donor relations.
• Progressive project management responsibilities and experience overseeing complex, deadline-driven fundraising events.
• Track record of success in building relationships leading to membership or individual donations to meet organizational goals.
• Impeccable writing and speaking skills with the ability to communicate persuasively to senior executives and external groups.·
• Experience creating original presentations for targeted audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and interest in African American history and culture.
• Strong computer skills with an emphasis on Microsoft Office programs, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and CRMs and Social Media platforms
• Must be able to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion.
•  Ability to work independently with limited supervision and instruction at times; demonstrate sound decision-making skills and resourcefulness.

Position Title:                            Director of Development
Department:                              Development
Reporting Supervisor:              President
Location:                                    Minnetrista Center Building
FLSA Status:                              Exempt, Full-Time
Organizational Function:         Senior Manager

PURPOSE:
Administer and grow the fundraising and membership programs at Minnetrista. Work to build intentional relationship pathways between community members and Minnetrista. Implement donor-centered programs in annual fundraising, memberships, and special projects. Maintain and grow the fundraising portfolio, increase contributed revenue, and achieve the overall success of the development program at Minnetrista. Manages full-time fundraising staff. Key participant in strategic and operational discussions and decision-making as a member of the Leadership Team.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor’s degree and at least five years of experience in fundraising, with progressive responsibility. CFRE, CFRM, or master’s degree preferred.
Direct experience with grant writing, raising funds from individuals, and securing corporate sponsorships is highly preferred.
Be highly organized, detail oriented, dependable, and able to prioritize and execute multiple tasks, on time and on budget.
Complete tasks independently and collaborate effectively on project-oriented teams.
Have outstanding communication skills be an active listener, articulate speaker, and a clear and persuasive writer.
Possess strong organizational and project management skills.
Work with diverse members of the public and have a strong customer service mindset.
Demonstrate sound knowledge of professional fundraising principles, ethics, and practices, including maintaining a high standard of integrity, professionalism and accountability.
Understand the many tools available for business communications and marketing and know how to strategically implement these tools.
Lead, motivate, and delegate to department staff.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, and experience working with data and ensuring data integrity. Strong understanding of institutional databases and CRM; Raiser’s Edge, Altru or Blackbaud product experience preferred.

To be successful in this position, an individual must be aligned with Minnetrista’s cultural values and visitor-centric focus. The incumbent ensures effective working relationships by cultivating and maintaining professional credibility with all staff, administration, and volunteers. The individual demonstrates maturity, sound judgment, positive attitude, and works collaboratively with peers and colleagues throughout the organization and community.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Minnetrista’s culture is team-oriented and collaborative. To that end, all position responsibilities include the following three performance expectations & priorities:
Achieve the organization’s purpose by demonstrating Minnetrista’s vision, values, mission, goals, and strategies daily.
Help others achieve the organization’s purpose through collaboration and teamwork.
Carry out your job function through completing the following essential duties directly or through subordinate personnel.

JOB DUTIES:
Administer the Institutional Giving program, including:
Prepare high quality sponsorship proposals and supporting documents in collaboration with colleagues from across the organization.
Build strong business partnerships, matching potential funding opportunities with Minnetrista programs.
Oversee the grants program and support staff in research, proposal preparation, and reporting requirements.
Administer the Annual Fund & Membership programs, including:
Create effective appeals and manage membership and annual fund acquisition and renewal processes.
Create strategic pathways to cultivate patron relationships to grow membership and donation revenue.
Management of the Museums for All program, including growing beneficial community partnerships.
Oversee fulfillment of donor and member benefits for all giving programs.
Serve as the main point of contact for donors and members, responding to information requests and other needs.
Coordinate with the President in qualifying annual fund donors for major gift and planned giving appeals. Act as the main manager for contact reporting and portfolio management.
Provide high-level oversight of institutional CRM database management processes and guide data collection, analysis, and reporting efforts.
Manage department budget, including development and approval/tracking of expenses.
Support institutional leadership initiatives as a member of Leadership Team and represent fundraising efforts as a regular attendee at Board meetings.
Support development and membership events.
Engage in professional development and maintain an understanding of trends in fundraising in order to make strategic decisions related to this work.
Participate in development department success by improving processes, sharing information, and contributing new ideas.
Perform all other duties as required.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Primary sedentary office environment with desk, computer, phone, some physical files; remote work may be appropriate as facilitated through President. Must be able to move about 40-acre main campus. Work hours require flexibility with some evenings and weekends.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Minnetrista values diversity and inclusivity and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.