Mystic Museum of Art
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Mystic, CT
Application Deadline: August 11, 2025
The Mystic Museum of Art (MMoA), a cultural institution located in the heart of downtown Mystic, Connecticut, seeks a dynamic and community-minded Executive Director to guide the organization through its next chapter. As the chief executive of MMoA, the Executive Director will provide strategic and operational leadership to fulfill the Museum’s mission to engage the public in the understanding, appreciation, and practice of visual arts.
The Executive Director will be a visionary and collaborative leader who can build on MMoA’s artistic heritage and recent growth to strengthen its role as a vibrant regional museum and creative hub. This is an opportunity for a skilled administrator and compelling communicator to lead a dedicated staff, build a culture of philanthropy, engage with artists and donors, and elevate MMoA’s visibility and impact within the local community and beyond.
Mystic Museum of Art
Founded in 1913 as the Mystic Art Association, MMoA has since evolved into a dynamic regional arts institution. Located on a scenic riverfront site in historic downtown Mystic, the Museum serves a broad audience through exhibitions, studio classes, and community programs.
MMoA presents a robust program of juried and thematic exhibitions. Recent notable exhibitions have included a showcase of Norman Rockwell magazine covers in partnership with the Rockwell Museum and “Printmaking and the Unconventional Pathways of African American Artist” guest curated by Dr. Curlee Raven Holten highlighting the resourcefulness of historically underrepresented artists. The Museum continues to broaden its curatorial scope while maintaining a permanent collection of over 300 works, largely focused on artists from the early 20th-century Mystic art colony.
In addition to exhibitions, MMoA maintains an active art school and outreach program. Studio classes serve more than 500 students each year, offering instruction in a wide range of media for children, teens, and adults. The Museum also provides in-school and community-based programs that bring art education to hundreds more, including local schools, hospitals, and senior centers. These educational initiatives are central to MMoA's mission and provide meaningful access to the visual arts throughout southeastern Connecticut.
The Museum is governed by a Board of twelve to eighteen Directors and operated by a professional staff of nine, including full- and part-time employees. It has an annual budget of approximately $1.2 million and an endowment of approximately $2.7 million. A recent strategic plan outlines ambitious goals to strengthen MMoA’s artistic vision, deepen community engagement, increase earned and contributed revenue, and guide future facilities planning and capital improvements.
Opportunities and Challenges
The next Executive Director will join MMoA at an exciting time with opportunities to lead growth and build on success. Among the Museum's current aspirations are:
Build a comprehensive contributed income program, with growth in all areas of giving.
Finalize the strategic plan and complete a facilities master plan that sets the stage for future capital improvements.
Update the MMoA brand including new visual elements to reflect the Museum’s growth and vision for the future.
Foster a vibrant and inclusive relationship with the regional artist community.
Expand MMoA’s curatorial reach through high-profile exhibitions and thematic programming.
Deepen the Museum's presence and partnerships within the local community and southeastern Connecticut.
Strengthen the impact and visibility of MMoA’s education and outreach programs.
Responsibilities, and Expectations
The Executive Director will have a background that includes proven effectiveness as an executive or senior-level professional in nonprofit organizations such as museums, art galleries, academic institutions, or other similar mission-driven organizations. The successful candidate will demonstrate passion for American art and accomplishments as a strategic thinker, team and consensus builder, fundraiser, communicator, networker, and leader adept at translating organizational vision into action. They will be expected to:
Serve as the chief executive, leading and managing all aspects of MMoA’s operations, programs, finances, and facilities.
Lead fundraising strategy and donor cultivation, with emphasis on major gifts and exhibit sponsorships.
Develop a robust membership program.
Supervise staff and foster a collaborative, supportive work culture.
Provide transparent and timely communication with the Board and work closely with the Executive Committee.
Oversee planning and execution of exhibitions and programs in collaboration with staff.
Represent MMoA in the broader community, cultivating partnerships with peer organizations, civic groups, government, and the tourism sector.
Advance the strategic plan and lead the development of a facilities master plan and future capital campaign.
Ensure the Museum’s fiscal health through sound budgeting, oversight, and reporting.
Experience, Skills, and Attributes
The ideal candidate will bring many of the following:
At least five years of senior leadership or executive experience in a nonprofit cultural or educational organization, preferably an art museum, gallery, art association, or similar institution.
Fundraising experience, including success with major donors, grants, and sponsorships.
A strategic and entrepreneurial approach, with experience guiding organizations through growth or transition.
Experience with Board relations, governance, and committee engagement.
Administrative, financial, and operational management skills.
Ability to guide curatorial vision.
Passion for arts education, community engagement, and the value of museums and artists in civic life.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, plus a genuine enjoyment of people and public engagement.
A warm, diplomatic, and collaborative leadership style.
Knowledge of the regional cultural landscape of southeastern Connecticut is a plus.
BA degree or equivalent life experience preferred, ideally in art history, visual art, management, museum studies, education, or humanities.
We recognize that it is highly unlikely that someone meets 100% of the qualifications for a role. If much of this job description describes you, then please apply for this position.
Compensation
The salary range is $120,000 - $160,000 commensurate with experience, plus benefits.
How to Apply
To apply in confidence, submit application by August 11, 2025, to: Dan Yaeger, Senior Search Consultant, Museum Search & Reference, via SearchandRef@museum-search.com.
Please include:
1) A cover letter expressing interest in the position and giving brief examples of past related experience.
2) A résumé.
3) The names and contact information for three professional references able to evaluate the candidate’s leadership and work, indicating their relationship with the candidate.
Applicants are encouraged to apply early as candidates will be considered on a rolling basis. Nominations are welcome. All applications and nominations are kept confidential; we will not contact references without your permission. EA/EO. For more details, visit: www.museum-search.com/open-searches.
About Mystic, Connecticut and the Region
Mystic, Connecticut is an historic and picturesque New England village comprised of land from the affluent towns of Groton and Stonington on either side of the Mystic River. It is situated in southeastern Connecticut along the bustling I-95 corridor, midway between New York City and Boston (each two hours away). Amtrak has a train station in Mystic that connects to New York and Boston, with stops in New Haven and Providence. Hartford, CT and Worcester, MA are each a one-hour drive north.
Mystic is steeped in early colonial and maritime history, and residents have a strong sense of historic pride, local identity, and awe of the beauty of the tidal Mystic River. Mystic was the summer home of the Mystic Art Colony at the turn of the 20th century, where its architectural charm and natural marine beauty inspired a significant group of American artists, and where a thriving artist community remains active today. The Mystic/Groton/Stonington area is now a major tourist destination with attractions including Mystic Seaport, the nation’s largest maritime museum; the Mystic Aquarium; nearby Foxwoods Casino and Mohegan Sun Casino; the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Preserve; several nearby vineyards, and a wide assortment of restaurants and boutiques.
The coastal area offers a vibrant local and regional arts scene, with many art galleries and museums across a 40-mile radius, from Old Saybrook, CT to Westerly, RI, including the Florence Griswold Museum, the Wadsworth Atheneum, and the Lyman Allyn Museum. There is a broad array of theater, dance and performing arts venues near-at-hand, and many colleges and universities are located within a 50-mile radius of Mystic, including both 2- and 4-year schools and nearby Connecticut College in New London.
With the river and ocean nearby, there are opportunities for fishing, sailing, and boating. The area provides easy access to outdoor recreational activities such as biking, hiking, and exploring several nature preserves. The public school systems are among the best in the state, and excellent private schools provide alternative options. Local amenities include family-friendly festivals, arts events, and a strong library system.
