South Shore Arts and the Northwest Indiana Symphony announce the retirement of Executive Director, David Mika. Mika, who had served as a previous Board Member for both organizations, accepted the role after long-time Executive Director, John Cain announced his retirement in 2020. David Mika plans to retire by July 2025.
“When John Cain retired, the Board knew finding the right replacement would be a challenge. Dave postponed his retirement to support us during this transition. Thanks to his leadership, we've found a new way forward and it's important for us to keep that momentum,” says William Neff, South Shore Arts Board President. “We’re grateful for his dedication and look forward to working together to support the cultural arts in NWI.”
South Shore Arts and the Northwest Indiana Symphony Boards have formed an executive search committee to mount nationwide search for the next Executive Director for both organizations. Solicitation for qualified candidates will begin in full in October 2024, with interviews slated to begin at the beginning of the new year.
Executive Director Salary Range: $100,000–$125,000
FLSA Status: Salary, Exempt
Reports to: Board of Directors
Background
South Shore Arts envisions a progressive region that employes the arts to transform lives and strengthen communities. The mission of South Shore Arts is to transform the South Shore region through the arts. We recognize our region’s diversity, its widely dispersed population and the need for revitalization and improved quality of life throughout the communities that we serve. We provide programs that showcase self-expression and nurture creativity in individuals and act as a catalyst by promoting the arts as a tool for revitalization of communities. We reach new audiences through collaborations with a wide range of community partners, including schools, nonprofits, units of local government, businesses and artists; our programs are provided on a large and accessible scale, often at no cost. We serve as a Regional Arts Partner for the Indiana Arts Commission, a state agency, offering broad local access to statewide arts services and funding opportunities to residents of our region.
South Shore Arts has been a successful nonprofit arts provider for 85 years. From a modest beginning with an art exhibit in the lady’s hat department of Minas Department Store in downtown Hammond in 1936, we have grown to become the regional leader for arts support and promotion in Northwest Indiana, directly serving approximately 80,000 people every year. Year-round visual arts programming, including exhibits, classes and art appreciation activities, began in downtown Hammond with the purchase of a former Christian Science Church in 1970. When the property was sold for the expansion of neighboring St. Margaret Hospital in the early 1980s, Northern Indiana Arts Association, as we were known, relocated to a storefront in Munster, later moving into the Center for Visual and Performing Arts upon its completion in 1989. Here, we occupy 16,000 square feet, approximately one third of the building, including a 5,000-square-foot main gallery, classrooms, art storage, offices and a gift shop. Our programs consist of 1) the "everykid" education outreach program serving students with free instruction in visual and performing arts; 2) exhibits of local, regional, national and international artists and cultures in six venues; 3) fee-based classes in all media for children teens, adults and seniors; and 4) art appreciation programs for people of all ages. We also manage the over 80-year-old Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra.
Since 2008, South Shore Arts entered into an agreement with the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra that makes South Shore Arts the exclusive management and operations agent for the Symphony. Per the agreement, South Shore Arts has operational control of the Symphony, including planning, budgeting, fundraising, marketing, governance, education, administration, accounting, and contract negotiations. The Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra is located in the Center for Visual and Performing Arts along with the South Shore Arts.
Position Available
South Shore Arts seeks a dynamic and experienced leader to serve as Executive Director to advance the mission and agenda of the organization. Recognized as a model statewide, South Shore Arts provides innovative programs and services to artists, arts organizations, educators, youth, and the general public. Reporting to the Board of Directors, this position oversees all aspects of business related to South Shore Arts and the management of the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra. The Executive Director is the public face of both organizations. The Executive Director is responsible for ensuring the health of these organizations by working with staff, the Board of Directors and key constituents to implement a shared vision, form partnerships and secure funding from a variety of sources. The Executive Director is responsible for creating a positive internal culture that aligns with programmatic objectives and that treats everyone with dignity. The Executive Director exudes hope, optimism, and bold vision for the organization and its mission.
Essential Duties/Responsibilities
Administration
General supervision of all business and operations of South Shore Arts, including management of
the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra;
Supervise staff of South Shore Arts and the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra according to
the combined organizational chart;
Sustain and strengthen a culture of compliance with office policies and procedures;
Recruit, hire, evaluate, terminate staff;
Oversee and monitor operations, goals, and objectives to effectively guide the business
operations and staff;
Manage the organization by communicating goals, vision and mission to inspire and motivate
staff, implementing any necessary action plans to lead individual and organizational objectives;
Collaborate with governance and leadership to develop and implement succession plans for key
organizational roles.
Fundraising
In collaboration with the Director of Development, plan, implement, and oversee all fundraising
efforts of South Shore Arts, including individual, corporate and foundation giving; the annual fund
campaign, grants, capital and endowment appeals, and other special needs;
Ensure that the Director of Development is setting and maintains all fundraising campaign
deadlines— production of materials, creation of lists, issuing of acknowledgments, reporting and
recognition;
Maintain excellent relationships with potential, current and past donors;
Provide fundraising leadership to ensure funds are there to execute the budget;
Expand local revenue generating activities to create a culture of fundraising.
Board of Directors
Schedule and attend all meetings of the Board of Directors, Executive Committee and other
board committees;
Provide reports on all matters of business and operations as requested by the Board of Directors;
In collaboration with the Finance Committee, present a proposed annual budget for the next
fiscal year at the Annual Meeting held in June;
Identify and recruit new directors in collaboration with the Board of Directors;
Maintain professional relationships with all members of the Board of Directors;
In collaboration with the Board President, provide support and guidance to ensure that the board
members successfully fulfill their roles and responsibilities.
Planning & Evaluation
Coordinate strategic planning for South Shore Arts with the Board of Directors;
Based on data gathered from staff, key stakeholders, Board of Directors and any contracted
consultant during strategic planning, articulate scope and emphasis of strategic plan
Ensure implementation of strategic plan
Evaluate organizational operational effectiveness based on alignment with strategic plan;
Establish standards and measures for performance and monitoring productivity in all operational
areas, including contracts, grants administration, database management, personnel policies that uphold the organization’s stated commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access.
Financial Management
Familiarity with 990s, audits, and compliance;
Competence in reading, creating, and understanding financial statements including budgets, cash
flow, income statements, balance sheets, and expense reports;
Develop an annual budget through collaboration across all departments of the organization;
Monitor the adherence to the budget once adopted.
Programs
Ensure that staff are developing, implementing and reviewing programs that align with the
mission, strategic plan, and budget of South Shore Arts;
Develop, implement, and oversee programming that meets the needs of the constituents;
Ensure that the Gallery Manager is successfully managing all aspects of program implementation
in the areas of exhibits;
Ensure that the Director of Education is successfully managing all aspects of program
implementation in the areas of classes, performances, educational outreach, and fee for service contracts.
Community Relations/Marketing
The Executive Director is the public face of the organization and serves as the chief spokesperson
to the media for South Shore Arts;
Perform public speaking duties;
Serve as the South Shore Arts representative at community meetings;
Maintain communication with various local, state, regional and federal agencies whose programs
and services are relevant to South Shore Arts;
Work with staff and board to market and promote the public image of South Shore Arts, including
effective and responsive methods of marketing and promotion that shift and adapt to marketing
trends;
Review and approve all marketing materials and campaigns (e.g. print publications, direct mail
campaigns, newsletters, postcards, digital advertising, billboards, etc.).
Preferred Candidate Qualifications
Graduation from an accredited 4-year college or university;
Professional experience in the arts and experience in an administrative capacity;
Abilities in the areas of public relations and public speaking;
Professional experience with fundraising, cultivating donors and managing endowment
campaigns;
Professional experience in federal, state or local government in the arts and/or national, state,
regional or local arts not-for-profit services is highly preferred;
Experience in organization management, including three (3) years of experience in supervision
and staff management;
Specialized training and/or experience in negotiation, meeting convening, and organizational
development;
Ability to communicate with constituents and staff at all levels;
Proven track record of leadership as a strategic thinker with a hands-on style in executing change;
Proficiency in MS Office Professional and standard office IT systems;
Must have access to a reliable mode of transportation.
Difficulty of Work
Work requires a high degree of concentration, self-direction, creativity, interpersonal and time management skills. Work requires the ability to develop and maintain an effective working relationship with a wide variety of people, including internal and external customers. Employee must be skilled in conflict resolution and have well-developed diplomatic skills. Employee must be willing to represent the organization to the public at all times.
Responsibility
Employee must be able to manage effectively multiple projects and competing priorities. Employee must be able to manage and motivate staff and be skilled as a change agent. Employee must be able to conceptualize work related to program and project design, development and evaluation. Employee must be able to analyze data and trends, and recommend strategies to achieve organization goals. Employee makes decisions related to recommendations about allocation and utilization of federal and state funds. Employee makes decisions in accordance with organization policies and procedures and is responsible for hiring and firing of personnel.
Working Conditions
May be required to lift up to 20 lbs. occasionally. Work may be performed in an office environment and remotely. Some work may be performed in the field and require some overnight travel (no greater than 10% of the time). Work will involve attendance at community events, social occasions, meals, and other local events.
Submit resumes to Carly Brandenburg
cbrandenburg@eichhorn-law.com or ATTN: Carly Brandenburg Eichhorn & Eichhorn, LLP 2929 Carlson Drive, Ste 100 Hammond, IN 46323