Institute for Contemporary Art Head of University and Community Partnerships

Working closely with curatorial leadership, the Head of University and Community Partnerships ensures that partnerships align with the ICA’s mission, artistic vision, and public engagement goals. The role supports the integration of artists and exhibitions into university and community life while overseeing the execution and implementation of partnership-based programs and initiatives from ideation through completion.

Designed by Steven Holl Architects and located at the corner of Broad and Belvidere, the Institute for Contemporary Art (ICA) at VCU presents the art of our time and provides an open forum for dialogue and collaboration across the region and throughout the world. With free admission, the ICA is a major resource for VCU, Richmond, and beyond.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, coordination, implementation, and stewardship of the Institute for Contemporary Art’s (ICA) university-facing initiatives and community partnerships.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the ICA, academic departments, faculty, students, community organizations, and civic collaborators.
• Oversee all partnership activity connected to exhibitions, programs, events, academic programs (including classes), and institutional space use.
• Ensure partnerships align with the ICA’s mission, artistic vision, and public engagement goals.

Management of Community Relationships and Program Implementation

• In concert with ICA leadership, cultivate and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with community organizations, local leaders, and other key stakeholders.
• Oversee all partnership-based initiatives and ensure alignment with the ICA’s mission, artistic vision, and public engagement goals.
• Manage program implementation through post-event follow-up, documentation, reporting, and relationship stewardship.

University Relations and Academic Engagement

• Serve as ICA liaison for faculty, academic departments, and university partners.
• Lead the planning, coordination, implementation, and follow-through of university-facing programs and initiatives from initial inquiry through final execution and assessment.
• Coordinate and execute university and community partner engagements, screenings, lectures, workshops, performances, symposia, classes, and curricular collaborations.
• Partner with appropriate colleagues and leaders in VCUarts administrative offices and academic units to ensure successful partnership development and collaborative management of engagement events, activities, and programs.
• Develop event plans and cross-departmental communication strategies to ensure successful implementation of academic and community initiatives.
• Oversee requests related to institutional space use connected to mission-aligned initiatives and ensure a collaborative review of requests is conducted with all appropriate parties.
• Collaborate with curatorial staff to facilitate artist engagement with students, faculty, and university partners.
• Oversee program implementation through post-event follow-up, documentation, reporting, and relationship stewardship.

Manage Operations of Engagement Projects

• In concert with the Curatorial Assistant, manage calendars, timelines, communications, and documentation related to ICA partnership activity and public programs.
• In concert with the Curatorial Assistant, coordinate travel, hospitality, itineraries, and logistics for visiting collaborators and community participants.
• Track partnership deliverables, agreements, and institutional records.
• Support institutional planning related to engagement initiatives, public programs, and collaborative projects.
• Ensure clear communication and workflow coordination across departments and external stakeholders.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Arts Administration, Museum Studies, Education, Public Humanities, Communications, or related field required, or the equivalent combination of professional experience, education, and training.
• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in partnership management, museum engagement, public programming, higher education, or community-based cultural work.
• Strong capacity for relationship building and networking.
• Strong organizational skills, project management abilities, and high attention to detail.
• Exceptional interpersonal, public speaking, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated experience managing collaborative initiatives and public-facing programs from planning through implementation.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and stakeholders simultaneously.
• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism, and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.

Qualifications

Knowledge of contemporary art and cultural institutions strongly preferred.

Pay

$70,000 - $82,000 per year

Benefits

• Comprehensive health benefits
• Paid annual and holiday leave
• Generous tuition benefits
• Retirement planning and savings options, including tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs
• Employee discounts
• Well-being resources
• Abundant opportunities for career development and advancement

Schedule

40 hours per week, exempt position. Hybrid flexible work arrangement available.