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CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts seeks new director

California College of the Arts is seeking a creative and dynamic individual to become the next director of the CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts.


California College of the Arts, San Francisco

The CCA Wattis Institute was established at CCA in 1998 as a forum for the presentation and discussion of international contemporary art, architecture, design, and curatorial practice. Through groundbreaking exhibitions, the Capp Street Project residency program, lectures, symposia, and publications, the Wattis Institute has become one of the leading art institutions in the United States and an active site for contemporary culture in the Bay Area.

About the position
The director is responsible for the curatorial vision, strategic leadership, and overall management of Wattis programs, staffing, and resources. The Wattis occupies a strategic niche between an artist-run space and a museum. The director formulates and implements its annual exhibition and public programs schedule, personally curates exhibitions, and engages other curators as needed. He or she researches and writes scholarly essays for catalogues and other print and online publications and is an effective and compelling communicator in print and in person. The director is a passionate advocate for the Wattis’s vision and values, building college-wide and public support for its programming with the goal of sustaining a robust visitorship, donor base, and reputation for excellence.

In January 2013, a brand-new 5,000-square-foot street-level gallery space for the Wattis Institute will open on Kansas Street in San Francisco’s Potrero Hill neighborhood. It is part of a recently acquired and newly renovated 10,000-square-foot facility that will be home to the Wattis Institute and other CCA public programming.

To apply
Review the responsibilities and minimum qualifications here. Applicants should please submit a letter of interest, a résumé/CV, and contact information for three professional references to:

California College of the Arts
Human Resources (Job #2125)
5212 Broadway
Oakland CA 94618-1487
F 510 594 3681
[email protected]

Applicants are requested to state salary history and requirements. The position includes a comprehensive benefits package. Screening begins immediately and will continue until the position is filled. If you wish to be notified of the status of your application, provide a current email address on your résumé or cover letter.