Description

Executive Director

Byrdcliffe | Woodstock, New York

An opportunity to lead America's oldest continuously operating arts colony

Byrdcliffe seeks an entrepreneurial, collaborative Executive Director to guide its next chapter. Founded in the 1902, Byrdcliffe has long offered artists a place to create, exchange ideas, and draw inspiration from the natural landscape of Woodstock and the Catskills. Today, its artist residencies, exhibitions, performances, and classes carry that legacy forward.

The next Executive Director will work with a dedicated staff and Board to strengthen Byrdcliffe's residency program, care for its historic campus, expand its public programs, and build the contributed and earned revenue needed for long-term sustainability. This is an opportunity for a leader who can attend to daily operations while bringing people together around an ambitious, practical vision for Byrdcliffe's future.

Byrdcliffe operates with an annual budget of approximately $750,000, six full-time staff members, and a 16-member Board of Directors. Its 300-acre campus and historic buildings are extraordinary assets, as well as significant stewardship responsibilities. The Board seeks a leader who will take charge of the organization's operations, develop strong relationships with artists and supporters, and work closely with staff and trustees to set priorities and carry them out.

As Byrdcliffe approaches its 125th anniversary, the organization has an opportunity to reaffirm its place among the country's leading artist residency programs. The Executive Director will help build the support, facilities, programs, and organizational capacity to serve artists and the wider community for generations to come.

About Byrdcliffe

Ralph Radcliffe Whitehead and his wife, artist Jane Byrd McCall, established the Byrdcliffe Arts Colony in 1902. Their vision brought artists together in a setting that connected creative work with nature, community, and reflection. Byrdcliffe's history includes artists, writers, musicians, thinkers, and performers who later achieved national and international recognition, among them Charlotte Perkins Gilman, John Dewey, Bob Dylan, Milton and Sally Avery, George Bellows, Philip Guston, Eva Hesse, Wallace Stevens, and Helen Hayes.

The organization encompasses 31 buildings and 300 wooded acres. Its facilities also include the Kleinert/James Center for the Arts, which houses a gallery, performance space, and offices in downtown Woodstock, as well as an adjacent commercial property that provides rental income. Byrdcliffe offers ceramics classes throughout the year and seasonal jewelry and metalsmithing courses.

Each year, the Byrdcliffe Artist-in-Residence program provides more than 100 visual artists, writers, architects, and composers with time and space for focused creative work. Residents stay in cottages or shared facilities and may take part in a range of programs. Fellowships based on artistic merit and financial need cover part or all of residency fees for selected artists.

Byrdcliffe is at a pivotal point. The Board aspires to a residency program of the highest caliber, supported by a welcoming, well-maintained campus. Priorities include growing the donor and sponsor base, improving facilities, exploring year-round residencies, and presenting vibrant programs for a broader public. The annual operating budget is balanced, while an endowment of approximately $600,000 will need to grow to support the organization's long-term ambitions. Learn more about Byrdcliffe and explore its campus and history.

Compensation and Location

Anticipated salary is $90,000 depending on qualifications. A housing benefit may include a reduced rate for an on-site residence or a stipend to help offset housing costs elsewhere in the region. Benefits include a health care stipend, paid vacation and sick time, and relocation expenses.

The Executive Director must be able to relocate to the Woodstock region, be eligible to work in the United States, and successfully complete a background check. A periodic hybrid schedule may be negotiated, but the role requires an active, consistent presence at Byrdcliffe and in the community.

How to Apply

Application deadline is November 2, 2026. To apply, send a cover letter; résumé or CV; and the names, contact information, and professional relationship of three references to:

Dan Keegan
Senior Search Consultant, Museum Leadership Placement
dankeegan@museumleaders.com

References will not be contacted without the applicant's prior permission.

Woodstock and the Catskills

Woodstock's identity as a creative community took shape in the early twentieth century. In 1902, Ralph Whitehead sent Bolton Brown to find a setting for his vision of an arts colony. Brown's view from Overlook Mountain helped bring that vision to Woodstock. Byrdcliffe's founding was followed by the Maverick Art Colony, the Art Students League's presence in town, and a growing network of cultural organizations that continues today.

Generations of artists, writers, musicians, and performers have found in Woodstock a place to work, experiment, and connect with others. Its proximity to New York City and its location in the Catskills have long made it both a retreat and a creative catalyst. The town's year-round population of approximately 6,200 expands considerably during the visitor season.

The surrounding Catskills offer four seasons of outdoor recreation, historic towns, and access to the Hudson Valley. Catskill Park encompasses approximately 700,000 acres of forests, streams, lakes, and mountains. For more than a century, Byrdcliffe has been an essential part of this landscape and of Woodstock's commitment to living artists.

Requirements

The Role

The Executive Director is responsible for Byrdcliffe's overall leadership, administration, fundraising, programs, residencies, finances, and operations. The successful candidate will be a compelling spokesperson and relationship builder who can strengthen Byrdcliffe's visibility and relevance locally, regionally, and nationally. They will be present and engaged in Woodstock while cultivating connections with artists, alumni, donors, civic leaders, foundations, and other partners well beyond the region.

The Board seeks a leader who combines imagination with sound judgment; leads with openness and accountability; and values the arts, the people who make them, and the communities they enrich. Staff and trustees are ready to work with the new Executive Director to develop a shared plan, execute it, and inspire support for Byrdcliffe's future.

Fundraising and External Relationships

The Executive Director will lead fundraising, with the support of staff and the Board, to meet annual needs and build long-term financial strength.

• Develop and implement an annual fundraising plan with clear goals and achievable strategies.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors, artist alumni, foundations, sponsors, and other funding partners locally, regionally, and nationally.
• Build major gift and planned giving efforts to expand the endowment and strengthen sustainability.
• Engage civic leaders and community partners as an advocate for Byrdcliffe's mission and impact.
• Oversee grant development, proposals, and reporting, contributing directly when appropriate.
• Equip trustees and staff to participate effectively in relationship building and fundraising.
• Strategy and Programs

The Executive Director will engage the Board, staff, artists, and community in setting a clear course for the organization.

• Lead a collaborative strategic planning process and translate the resulting priorities into actionable goals.
• Assess residencies, public programs, facilities, collections, and financial performance to inform decisions about investment and growth.
• Strengthen the artist residency program and explore opportunities for expanded or year-round offerings.
• Stay informed about developments in the artist residency field and build partnerships that advance Byrdcliffe's work.
• Balance respect for Byrdcliffe's history with the needs of today's artists and audiences.
• Operations and Staff Leadership

The Executive Director will ensure effective daily operations and support a capable, collaborative team.

• Oversee programs, services, facilities, and business operations, ensuring that objectives are met and resources are used responsibly.
• Pursue appropriate opportunities to increase earned revenue.
• Develop, review, and administer operational and Board-approved personnel policies.
• Hire, supervise, support, and evaluate staff; establish clear expectations and sound employment practices.
• Provide the Board with timely, accurate information about organizational performance, opportunities, and risks.

Board Partnership

The Executive Director and Board share responsibility for Byrdcliffe's direction and success, with distinct management and governance roles.

• Work closely with the Board chair to plan meetings, prepare useful materials, and maintain open communication.
• Bring forward policy recommendations, strategic priorities, and decisions requiring Board action.
• Support the recruitment, orientation, and development of trustees and work with Board committees as appropriate.
• Draw on trustees' expertise and relationships while taking responsibility for the execution of Board-approved plans.
• Communications and Public Presence

Communications and Public Presence

The Executive Director will serve as Byrdcliffe's primary spokesperson and a visible ambassador for its mission.

• Represent Byrdcliffe to artists, donors, community members, cultural organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Communicate the value and impact of its residencies, programs, and historic setting through clear, compelling messages.
• Maintain strong relationships with donors, sponsors, foundations, and nonprofit partners.
• Support staff and trustees in representing Byrdcliffe consistently and effectively.
• Financial Stewardship

Financial Stewardship

The Executive Director will ensure sound financial management, transparent reporting, and appropriate protection of the organization's assets.

• Develop and monitor annual budgets with input from staff and the Board.
• Maintain appropriate accounting, financial controls, and risk-management practices, including accurate treatment of restricted funds.
• Review expenditures, projections, and financial performance regularly, and recommend adjustments when needed.
• Provide timely financial statements and clear analysis to the Board and staff.

Desired Qualifications and Experience

The Board recognizes that candidates develop relevant skills through varied combinations of education, professional experience, and community leadership. Experience beyond artist residencies or nonprofit organizations will be considered. The strongest candidates will bring many of the following:

• A college degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
• At least five years in a senior leadership role with responsibilities relevant to this position.
• Demonstrated fundraising experience, including donor relations, grants, sponsorships, and planning.
• Direct accountability for an organization, program, or enterprise of comparable size or complexity.
• Financial judgment and the ability to make informed decisions with available data and resources.
• Strong organizational and staff leadership skills, coupled with creativity and an entrepreneurial approach.
• Clear, persuasive written and verbal communication, including public speaking and presentations.
• Experience building teams and developing or supporting programs.
• A record of community engagement, networking, and relationship building.
• Nonprofit leadership or Board service, or comparable experience working with a governing body.