The Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture (MOAC) is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Director of the Public Art. Promoting equitable access to the creation and experience of public art and equitable representation of diverse communities, histories, and artistic expression are core tenets of MOAC.

As an important member of the MOAC team, the Director will provide professional oversight and process alignment across all public art projects to ensure project excellence and equitable consideration and management of projects whether City or community initiated. This position will focus on the public art team’s portfolio-wide operations by regulating cross-project workflow, including staff capacity, cross-team coordination, and planning for related events and communications. They will also manage budget, contracting, and grant agreement development in coordination with MOAC colleagues.

The Director runs the daily operations under the purview of the Boston Art Commission (BAC), oversees the administration of all MOAC public art projects that are proposed for or intended to be placed on City of Boston property, and manages the team responsible for the commission and care of the City of Boston’s art collection, and the public approvals of all artwork intended to be placed on City property.

Administered by the Public Art Registrar, the BAC is an independent board composed of two ex-officio and seven appointed volunteer art and design professionals that attends public meetings to review, discuss, hear public testimony, and vote on matters concerning the City’s art collection and artworks sited on City property.

This work serves:

• All Bostonians to be connected to and express their own creativity which is an essential part of a healthy and thriving community;
• The creative economy sector to secure Boston as the region’s cultural hub;
• Artists, cultural organizations, and creative workers to thrive in Boston through access to suitable, secure, and affordable space to produce and present their work;
• Boston residents, workers, and visitors to experience a healthy, accessible and culturally resonant city through improving the design and programming of the built environment.

The Director of Public reports directly to the Chief of Arts and Culture and manages the public art team staff. As of January 2024, this includes two Public Art Project Managers, a Public Art Registrar, as well as anticipated roles including an Artist Program Manager, Mural Crew Director, and a Mural Crew Project Manager.

• Overseeing all aspects of the MOAC public art team’s portfolio-wide operations by regulating cross-project workflow, including staff capacity, cross-team coordination, and planning for related events and communications. 
• Leading the public art team, including supervising 3-4 positions, managing team resources and processes.
• Designing and implementing systems and processes leading to successful delivery of public art commissions and project conservation.
• Executing and supporting the new initiatives created by and within externally funded programs.
• Leading in the formation of departmental design goals and standards, and in the management, evaluation of, and maintenance of programs.
• Providing professional oversight and process alignment across all public art projects to ensure project excellence and equitable consideration and management of projects whether City or community initiated.
• Responsible for the procurement and budget management for the public art team, which includes contracting, grant agreement development, and procurement strategies across public art programs in collaboration with the Director of Administration and Finance, including the Percent for Art capital budget, the Public Art Revolving Fund, and public art specific grants.
• Planning and scheduling public art of projects on a five-year capital timeline or annual timeline as appropriate and oversee successful project management and program execution.
• Creating a framework for expanding tiered commissioning and technical assistance opportunities for local artists working in diverse media at different experience levels. 
• Managing the development of commissioning project scopes and budgets, working with Public Art Project Managers. 
• Overseeing the management of the City’s public art collection such that the collection is cared for and conserved, as well as serves as an educational and cultural resource to the public. 
• Managing the development of conservation project scopes and budgets, working with the Public Art Registrar.
• Embedding public art vision and policy into MOAC’s procedures and processes internally and inter-departmentally, working in collaboration with public art staff and the Boston Art Commission 
• Overseeing review and preparation of all public art projects proposed for City of Boston property for alignment with the City’s curatorial vision in preparation for community outreach across neighborhoods and public meetings with the BAC, working with Public Art Project Managers and the Public Art Registrar.
• Serving as liaison to other City departments and public agencies with respect to their planning processes to ensure that they are in line with and reflect MOAC’s public art priorities.
• Educating colleagues, residents, and stakeholders on the City’s art collection and public art opportunities and application processes. 
• Planning and overseeing public art related programming and communications, including creating and sharing educational material, organizing talks or speaker series, and other events that help raise awareness of existing programs and/or contribute to field building in the sector. 
• Overseeing processes to strengthen community engagement in all stages of public art creation and care and expanding the public art team’s community engagement practices and networks. 
• Establishing trust by meeting residents where they are, understanding challenges communities face, and exploring new opportunities with them. 
• Prioritizing equity by thinking consistently of BIPOC residents, residents with language access needs, residents living below the poverty line, and residents whose experiences are not yet reflected in the City’s Art collection
• Coordinating with the MOAC communications team on public art press and documentation.
• Performing related work as required.

• At least five (5) years of full time or equivalent part-time professional experience in a non-profit, government agency, arts organization, or similar enterprise.
• A bachelor's degree in studio art, architecture, urban planning, urban design, or related fields is strongly preferred and may be substituted for two (2) years of experience. A master’s degree in one of the above listed fields is preferred and may be substituted for an additional year of experience.
• Project management experience, including operations and budget management.
• Familiarity with current issues related to cultural planning, urban development, public art, and grant making required.
• Experience managing projects with an equitable and collaborative decision making approach.
• Team player who is flexible, adaptable and who can get along with a diverse team.
• Technology skills: strong proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, able to use social media to advance and promote programs.
• Ability to build and cultivate relationships with a variety of stakeholders.
• Considerable leadership, budgeting, problem-solving, and strategic planning, written and oral communication skills.
• Familiarity with MA Public Procurement laws, preferred. MCPPO designation preferred.
• Experience with fabrication and construction project management preferred.

BOSTON RESIDENCY REQUIRED

Terms:

Union/Salary/Grade: MYO/MO-11

Hours: 35