Ordway Center for the Performing Arts invites applications for the position of President & Chief Executive Officer.
The Position:
With an annual budget between $15 and $16 million, Ordway Center for the Arts is known for its wide programming mix including a large musical theater series and the development of new theatrical product, the Target World Music and Dance Season, the Flint Hills International Children’s Festival, and an impressive array of educational and community engagement programs.
The Ordway has recently adopted a strategic framework with three aspirational imperatives: (1) to become a leader in diversity, equity, and inclusion; (2) to be widely recognized for the value the Ordway brings to its community; and (3) to increase significantly both its contributed and earned revenue streams.
The Ordway contains a 1,900-seat Music Theater, a 1,100 seat Concert Hall, two large rehearsal halls, the spacious two-story Marzitelli Foyer, and other public spaces. The Ordway recently successfully completed a $83.8 million campaign to construct and partially fund the operation of its new critically-acclaimed world class concert hall.
Together with its resident arts organizations, Minnesota Opera, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and The Schubert Club, the Ordway participates in a strategic alliance,
the Arts Partnership. The Partners joined together to raise the funds necessary to build the new concert hall and to create an endowment fund to support the use of the Ordway by all of the Partners.
Leadership of the Arts Partnership rotates among the four organizations and the needs of the community are placed above the needs of any one organization. The goal of the Arts Partnership is to serve the mutual and individual interests of all the Partners in the most equitable and efficient manner, considering costs, scheduling, patron services, and community needs in a binding Master Agreement.
It is considered a national model of how arts organizations can thrive together, a truly ground-breaking effort of cooperation.
A recent Board task force confirmed the Ordway’s current commitment to providing its audience with compelling and relevant theatrical offerings, through self-productions, co-productions or touring product that aligns with calendar availability and financial resources.
The Organization:
The mission of the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts is to be a driver for the artistic vitality of its community by hosting, presenting and creating performing arts and educational programs that engage artists and enrich diverse audiences.
Named in honor of Saint Paul resident and philanthropist Sally Ordway Irvine who challenged her community to help her create a venue that could offer “everything from opera to the Russian circus,” the $46 million multi-purpose performing arts facility opened to the public on January 1, 1985. Mrs. Irvine’s vision is alive today as the Ordway presents theater, dance, music, family events, and educational and community engagement programs.
The Ordway builds on many partnerships to benefit the City of Saint Paul and other arts organizations. The new Concert Hall greatly increases the opportunities for Twin Cities-based artists and organizations to perform at the Ordway.
To contribute to excellence in the field and expand access, the Ordway participates in state, regional, and national organizations such as the Minnesota Presenters Network, Independent Presenters Network, Elephant Eye Theatrical, IPAY, and the Kennedy Center.
The Ordway has strong ties with the Saint Paul Public Schools and Minneapolis Public Schools through educational programming, as well as working partnerships with Perpich Center for Arts Education, COMPAS and other not for profit arts organizations working in arts education.
The City:
Saint Paul, part of the “Twin Cities,” was founded in 1849 in a spirit of optimism, collaboration, and new discovery. From its distinctive neighborhoods and tree-lined avenues, to its historic downtown core and reinvigorated commercial district, this State Capital is filled with the energy of its distinguished past and its promising future. Its strategic approach to city building has resulted in billions of dollars of new investment in its downtown core since 1998. St. Paul has been declared one of America’s “Most Livable Cities.”
Attributes of the New President & CEO:
The ideal candidate will have proven success in a leadership position with performing arts organizations of $7.5 million+ annual budget size, coupled with the ability to excite and mobilize a community with a clearly defined vision of artistic excellence and imagination and the leadership to find the resources necessary to sustain this vision.
Success with capital/endowment campaigns, senior experience with performing arts facility management, and knowledge of both presenting and theatrical producing are desirable.
A successful track record in fund-raising, excellent analytical, financial, and organizational skills, an entrepreneurial spirit and change agent with a consensus-building managerial style, a passion for the arts, political savvy, and the ability to deal respectfully and wisely with a broad spectrum of personalities would be essential characteristics of the new President.
Other desired attributes: an articulate champion for the performing arts, a masterful relationship builder, a leader with ten years of increasing responsibility in performing arts facilities management, an industry professional with existing networks within the cultural sector.
The new President & CEO will be charged with partnering successfully with the Ordway’s Arts Partners and the corporate and philanthropic communities to maintain this collaboration.
The President & CEO is also charged with both building audiences at the Ordway through creative and imaginative programming and sustaining the operation fiscally through excellent management and business accountability.
The President & CEO reports to the Board of Directors. Positions currently reporting to the President & CEO are: Executive Vice President/Chief Financial Officer, Vice President/Sales & Marketing, Vice President of Programming & Producing Artistic Director, Vice President of Arts Education& Community Engagement, Vice President of Advancement, Director of Production, and Executive Assistant.
Application Process:
Salary commensurate with experience. Please send applications with cover letter, resume, salary expectations, and a list of references by Friday, September 25th to:
Margaret Genovese
Senior Partner
Genovese, Vanderhoof & Associates
77 Carlton Street, Suite 1103
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M5B 2J7
gvasearch@gmail.com
Additional information: www.ordway.org; www.genovesevanderhoof.com
The Ordway is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, people with disabilities, and people of color are encouraged to apply for positions.