National Sculpture Society
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
New York, NY
APPLICATION DEADLINE: OCTOBER 24, 2025
The National Sculpture Society (NSS), the nation’s oldest professional service organization dedicated to the advancement of figurative and representational sculpture, seeks a strategic and innovative Executive Director to lead the organization through a pivotal transition. The NSS was established in 1893 to promote excellence in sculpture and elevate the professional stature of sculptors in the United States. Today, the organization serves as a national hub for sculptors at all stages of their careers, offering opportunities for recognition, community, and advancement through exhibitions, publications, awards, and professional development.
This is an opportunity to lead a mission-driven, fiscally sound organization with a loyal national following, strong partnerships, and an influential legacy. The new Executive Director will guide NSS into its next chapter by implementing strategic goals, cultivating donor and member relationships, supporting working sculptors, building community, and ensuring organizational sustainability.
National Sculpture Society
The National Sculpture Society promotes excellence in sculpture through a national program of exhibitions, scholarships and awards, publications, and artist services. Founded by a distinguished group of nineteenth-century artists including Daniel Chester French, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, and John Quincy Adams Ward, NSS was created to champion the practice of sculpture in America and to elevate the professional stature of sculptors. Throughout its long history, the Society has played a formative role in the American art landscape, supporting the careers of some of the nation’s most celebrated sculptors and influencing the development of public monuments and civic art. In the 21st century, NSS extends this legacy by serving as a national hub for the representational sculpture community, offering connection, recognition, and resources to working artists across the country. Its signature initiatives include:
The Annual Awards Exhibition, a prestigious juried show that showcases the work of top representational sculptors from across the country and serves as a career-defining opportunity for many artists.
Sculpture Quarterly, a printed and electronic publication dedicated to figurative sculpture.
The Sculpture Celebration Conference, which convenes people who make, support, collect, and benefit from sculpture, held every other year in New York and other locations in off-years, plus year-round member convenings.
Grants, fellowships, and scholarship programs that support emerging sculptors, students, and working artists through juried awards and professional development opportunities.
Regional Ambassador Communities and studio visits, which provide opportunities for NSS members to engage locally through studio tours, peer critiques, and professional networking events organized by regional representatives.
NSS also maintains an archive, library, and national awards programs. The organization currently operates a small gallery and office near the New York Public Library in Midtown Manhattan, but is exploring the possibility of transitioning to a new space by 2026. NSS has a budget of approximately $900,000 and holds an endowment and investment portfolio valued at over $14 million. The Executive Director reports to a national Board of Trustees comprising twenty members and supervises a staff of two.
Opportunities and Challenges
The Executive Director will join NSS at a moment of transition, as its long-serving executive retires and the organization begins implementing a newly approved Strategic Plan (2025–2028). This leadership change coincides with the potential relocation of its office, rethinking of its gallery program, the need to diversify revenue beyond investments, and the goal of engaging a new generation of artists. While NSS is well-positioned financially and programmatically, the next leader must address challenges related to staff capacity, legacy systems, and broadening the Society’s geographic and demographic reach.
Opportunities
Strategic Renewal: Implement a bold, multi-year Strategic Plan that repositions NSS for national relevance, modernizes operations, and strengthens member value.
Visibility and Reach: Expand the organization’s visibility and impact through communications, partnerships, and national programs that celebrate and support representational sculpture.
Facilities Relocation: Manage the potential relocation from current office/gallery space and reimagine its physical presence and exhibition program delivery.
Member Growth and Engagement: Attract and engage a broader, more diverse community of sculptors and supporters, with emphasis on younger artists and geographic inclusion.
Fundraising Capacity: Build philanthropic support and fundraising infrastructure that can support growth beyond the current endowment draw.
Challenges
Leadership Transition: Navigate the departure of a long-serving Executive Director and shift from a legacy fundraising model to a new, sustainable leadership approach.
Operational Constraints: Address staffing and system limitations while pursuing ambitious modernization goals, including technology upgrades and process redesign.
Fieldwide Headwinds: Confront challenges to representational sculpture, including declining visibility in contemporary art and arts education.
Responsibilities, and Expectations
The Executive Director serves as the chief executive of the National Sculpture Society and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of its operations, programs, and strategic direction. As the leader of a small, mission-driven team, the Executive Director works closely with the Board of Trustees to shape and implement organizational goals, build meaningful relationships with members and donors, and ensure that NSS remains a vital force in the support and celebration of representational sculpture. The Executive Director also serves as the National Sculpture Society’s primary spokesperson, representing the organization to the public, media, funders, and arts community nationwide.
Lead Strategic Implementation: Drive execution of the 2025–2028 Strategic Plan, translating its goals into actionable initiatives that strengthen the organization’s impact, member engagement, and national reach.
Fundraising and Resource Development: Increase contributed income through major gifts, individual giving, planned giving, and foundation support. Engage the Board in fundraising efforts and lead initiatives such as the launch of a new Giving Circle.
Communications, Media Relations, and Advocacy: Serve as the Society’s lead public voice, building visibility through strategic communications and media engagement. Represent NSS in the broader arts ecosystem and advocate for the importance of representational sculpture at the national level. Provide general oversight of the flagship publication Sculpture Quarterly by supporting editorial direction and ensuring alignment with the Society’s mission and communications strategy.
Board Partnership and Governance: Maintain a strong working relationship with the Board of Trustees. Collaborate with Board committees to ensure effective governance, transparent decision-making, and strategic alignment.
Program Oversight: Oversee exhibitions, publications, awards, fellowships, annual conference, and member convenings. Ensure programs reflect the Society’s mission, are artist-centered, and reach audiences nationwide. Consider how the values of NSS align with broader contemporary art conversations, and harness opportunities for collaborations, dialogues, and increased visibility.
Operational Management: Guide day-to-day operations, including budgeting, financial planning, and administrative systems. Lead planning for the relocation of the Society’s office space and transition from a gallery-based model to a nationally distributed program approach.
Staff Leadership and Development: Supervise a small, long-serving staff team, formalizing roles, encouraging innovation, and continuing the culture of collaboration..
Financial Stewardship: Work with the Finance Committee to ensure best-practice management of the annual budget and investment income.
Equity and Inclusion: Champion diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility across the organization. Prioritize generational inclusion and geographic diversity for a broader and more inclusive community of sculptors and supporters.
Community Building and Mentorship: Foster a vibrant professional community by facilitating networking, peer learning, and mentorship opportunities for sculptors at all stages of their careers. Encourage intergenerational exchange and professional development that advances the field of representational sculpture.
Experience, Skills, and Attributes
The NSS seeks a mission-driven and relationship-centered leader with a strong understanding of how professional associations support artists and advance artistic fields. Candidates should bring a passion for representational sculpture, the ability to work collaboratively across generations and constituencies, and the strategic and administrative skills to lead a respected organization through transition and growth.
Minimum of five years in a leadership role within a nonprofit, preferably an arts service organization or professional membership association.
Demonstrated experience supporting working artists, managing member-based services, or building strong professional communities.
Success in fundraising across varied channels, such as individual, foundation, and planned giving, and including donor cultivation and stewardship.
Financial and operational management skills, including oversight of budgets and administrative systems. Experience overseeing investments is a plus.
Experience successfully leading organizational change and managing transitions.
Ability to work closely with an engaged national board; experience guiding nonprofit governance and supporting board development.
Knowledge of and genuine enthusiasm for representational sculpture and its role in the broader cultural landscape.
Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills; capable of serving as a compelling spokesperson and advocate for NSS and its members; publishing and editorial experience is a plus.
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 $150,000 - $170,000 commensurate with experience, plus benefits.
How to Apply
To apply in confidence, submit application by October 24, 2025, to: Dana Friis-Hansen and Dan Yaeger , Senior Search Consultants, 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. For more details, visit: www.museum-search.com/open-searches.
