President

Building for the Arts | New York, NY | $250K+ | Full-Time

Building for the Arts (BFA) in New York City seeks a collaborative and innovative leader to join a team of talented staff, artists, and board members in the role of President.

Who is Building for the Arts?

Nonprofit Building for the Arts (BFA) expands access to the performing arts by providing creative space, learning opportunities, and hubs for artistic connection.

Founded in 1976 as the 42nd Street Development Corporation, the organization was crucial in transforming the stretch of 42nd Street west of the Port Authority into a vibrant, accessible, and welcoming area. BFA has owned its facility since 1991 when it was purchased from the City of New York. The organization remains in a strong financial position with an overall operating budget of $4.5 million with opportunities for growth through earned and contributed revenue streams.

Today BFA is a leader in building communities through artist services, affordable theatre and arts programming, and a highly effective music education program. We truly are building for the arts.

BFA operates Theatre Row (TR), a vibrant and affordable performing arts complex that provides a Theater District home for non-profit and commercial live entertainment and performing arts companies. TR has six theaters and five rehearsal studios with capacities ranging from 55 - 199 seats each, as well as support spaces, BFA administrative office spaces, and rental office spaces. Building for the Arts partners with more than 100 companies each year, offering reasonably priced rentals, ticketing, and tech support to more than 3,000 artists. The ten companies-in-residence —including Theater Breaking Through Barriers, The Mint, Pan Asian Rep, Keen Company, and NYC Children’s Theater—represent a diversity of missions and audiences, forming one of NYC’s most vibrant collections of companies under one roof.

Music and the Brain, our signature arts education program, brings a music literacy curriculum and classroom keyboard instruction to schools in under-resourced communities. We empower music educators and ensure equity for all learners, helping students build skills to succeed academically and in life. Our new Music and the Brain All Access hybrid learning platform (recognized by Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Awards and the Webby’s Anthem Awards) allows us to reach our students in schools, at home, or both. As we reach our 25th anniversary year, the program has benefitted more than 500 teachers and 475,000 students nationwide. We currently have 350 partner schools, in NYC, Newark, NJ, Philadelphia. Miami, New Orleans, Nashville and Ferguson, MO to name a few.

In 2021, the American Playwriting Foundation (AFP) merged with BFA to award and present APF’s Relentless Award (established in honor of Philip Seymour Hoffman). The award is the largest annual cash prize in American theater given to a playwright in recognition of a new play. For the past six years, APF has launched new talent and works of art that may not have been produced otherwise. Recipients of the award include award winning authors Sarah DeLappe, Clare Barron, Aleesha Harris, and Harrison David Rivers. In 2022, for the first time, this award will recognize a new musical in honor of Adam Schlesinger. The annual Award celebration, held at Theatre Row, will include a reading of a portion of the winning play/musical, performed by professional actors. The audience will be comprised of invited producers, directors, dramaturgs, actors, as well as the members of the Award Committee (which includes such notables as Lynn Nottage, Eric Bogosian, Sam Hollander, and Jonathan Marc Sherman), all Finalists and Honorable Mention Winners and more.

Our Board of Directors is composed of 11 members who represent many different facets of professional, social, and demographic life. We are continually seeking greater diversity on our Board, based on both personal identity and skill set. Currently 55% of our board are women and 18% are people of color.

Who is in Leadership?

Jeffrey A. Horwitz (he/him), Board Chair

Jeffrey A. Horwitz is a partner in Proskauer's Corporate Department where he co-heads our Private Equity Real Estate practice and runs our internationally recognized Hospitality, Gaming & Leisure Group. He also has served as co-head of Mergers & Acquisitions and as a member of our Executive Committee. Jeff is a general corporate and securities lawyer with broad-based experience in mergers and acquisitions, cross-border transactions, and long-term joint ventures. He is regularly engaged to advise boards, management teams and investors on strategic matters, from litigation to personnel to transactions. Jeff is also the head of the Firm’s cross-disciplinary, cross-jurisdictional Coronavirus Taskforce helping to shape the guidance and next steps for clients impacted by the pandemic.

He was a founder and chairman of The American Playwriting Foundation. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Building for the Arts and is a member of the Board of Directors of StreetSquash. He also served as a Vice Chair of the Associates' Campaign for The Legal Aid Society.

For more Information about the board, please visit - https://bfany.org/building-for-the-arts-leadership/

What will you do?

The President at Building for the Arts is responsible for the strategic and operational management of the organization. The role serves as an external representative of Building for the Arts to the greater New York City community. In partnership with the Board of Directors, the President shapes BFA’s overall strategic vision to carry out the organization’s mission. The BFA President manages BFA’s three major programs: Theatre Row, the American Playwriting Foundation’s Relentless Award, and Music and the Brain.

The President of Building for the Arts reports to the Board of Directors and manages a staff of approximately 45, evenly split between full and part time employees. BFA also owns and manages numerous real estate properties that will be under the supervision of this role. The President directly supervises the Artistic Director of the American Playwriting Foundation, the Director of Music and the Brain, the Director of Finance, the Director of Advancement, and the Director of Theatre Operations for Theatre Row.

Your Areas of Accountability

Strategic Leadership

• In collaboration with the Board of Directors, develop strategic priorities for the organization
• Work with senior leadership to implement and advance goals aligned with strategic priorities in all three of BFA’s programs
• Work with the Directors of Music and the Brain, Theatre Row, and the American Playwriting Foundation to find efficiencies, opportunities, and partnerships between the three programs
• In collaboration with the Director of Advancement, develop a fundraising strategy to maximize contributed revenue across all programs.
• Provide leadership and guidance on major capital expenditures

Operational Leadership

• Serve as the primary external representative for Building for the Arts
• Continue to cultivate and maintain a positive and empowering organizational culture
• Develop and manage the organization’s budget in collaboration with senior leadership and in particular the Director of Finance and Director of Advancement
• Supervise the maintenance and upkeep of all BFA properties
• Develop and maintain relationships with current and potential Board members
• Operationalize and lead the organization's values of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Revenue Generation

• Supervise all commercial and residential leasing of BFA properties
• Determine and develop additional revenue streams in consultation with Board and senior leadership
• Work with the Director of Advancement to cultivate and grow a strong donor base including individual, foundation, and government sources
• Participate in fundraising activities and events, as needed

Who are we looking for?

The top candidates will have the following qualifications:

• Experience in an executive or senior leadership position in a performing or arts-related organization
• Financial acumen with non-profit operations, specifically an ability to supervise a multimillion-dollar operating budget.
• Strong interpersonal skills
• The ability to work collaboratively with board members
• The ability to motivate staff
• Effective internal and external communication skills
• Skilled public speaking
• Effective strategic thinking
• Fundraising experience including soliciting donations from individuals and institutions as well as familiarity with government grants.
• The ability to juggle multiple priorities under pressure and time constraints
• Strong commitment to continuing BFA’s DEI initiatives

How much are we paying and what are the perks?

Salary: $250K+

Benefits Package: Benefits package includes medical and dental, commuter benefits, FSA, 403b, PTO, and bereavement and parental leave offerings, and opportunities to enjoy live theatre and attend social events/gatherings with members of the team.

How do I apply?

Visit https://aljpconsulting.applytojob.com/apply to submit your application. Applications are due no later than September 14th, 2022.

Building for the Arts is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in recruitment or employment on the base of race, color, national origin, age, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, genetic information, citizenship status, uniformed service member or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. We strongly encourage applications from people of color and members of underrepresented groups.

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