Small Museum Association

The Swope Art Museum | Terre Haute, Indiana

Executive Director Job Description and Responsibilities

About the Swope Art Museum

Mission | The Sheldon Swope Art Museum collects, preserves and shares American art to engage a diverse audience.

Vision | The Swope is a vibrant social, cultural, and economic centerpiece of the Wabash Valley, a cultural destination and a resource for scholars.

Collection | The Swope Art Museum is home to one of the Midwest's finest American art collections. Significant paintings by Edward Hopper, Thomas Hart Benton and Grant Wood anchor an "American Regionalist" foundation to the Museum's holdings, which also includes late twentieth century works by Andy Warhol (10 Screen series prints), Robert Rauschenberg, Leonard Baskin, Alexander Calder, and Richard Hunt. The Swope also serves as the cultural anchor for a vibrant arts community, hosting activities for all ages.

Position Overview

The Executive Director provides strategic and operational leadership, ensuring the Museum’s financial stability, artistic excellence, and community impact. Reporting to the Board of Managers and in partnership with the Board of Advisors, this individual will lead fundraising, collections management, programming, and audience engagement, positioning the Swope Art Museum as a vibrant cultural destination in West Central Indiana and beyond.

Why the Swope Art Museum?

The Swope Art Museum is at a transformational moment, making this a rare opportunity for a visionary leader to shape its future. As it approaches its 85th anniversary, the Museum is building on momentum and embracing new possibilities for growth, accessibility, and impact. Our new executive director will be energized by our:

• Bold Vision – A new strategic plan and engaged board guides growth and sustainability.
• Major Investment – A $6 million capital campaign is funding significant improvements.
• Enhanced Facilities – Ongoing renovations improve accessibility, storage, and public spaces.
• Prestigious Partnerships – A new collaboration with the Art Bridges Foundation.
• Grand Reopening in 2025 – Opportunity to reintroduce the Museum to old and new audiences.

This is a once-in-a-generation leadership opportunity to drive growth, elevate programming, and expand impact.  Are you ready to lead the Swope into its next great chapter?

Executive Director Job Description and Responsibilities

Strategic Vision and Planning

• Lead implementation of the Museum’s 2025-2027 Strategic Plan in collaboration with the Board of Managers and Board of Advisors.
• Partner with board leaders and members to achieve strategic goals, deepen community connections and ensure the Museum’s long-term success.
• Advance organizational capacity, financial stability and sound infrastructure through the successful integration of strategic plan priorities into the Museum operations.
• Provide vision, innovation and creativity to enable the Museum to achieve its mission and vision today and into the future.
• Stay abreast of and communicate to the boards all key information and perspectives from the community as well as potential opportunities and risks that may impact the Museum.

Executive Leadership and Management

• Create and manage the annual operating plan that aligns with the Strategic Plan and includes the following: annual budget, annual event and exhibition calendar, fundraising strategies and goals, marketing/promotion/communication plan, facilities/maintenance schedule, and staff development.
• Foster a culture of excellence, integrity, respect and collaboration.
• Cultivate, manage and retain a highly qualified and talented team of staff and volunteers providing ongoing training, evaluations and professional development opportunities.
• Provide diligent oversight and responsible stewardship of financial resources including development and management of the annual budget. 
• Represent the Museum at events and programs across the community, serving as ambassador, authority and chief engagement officer.
• As the voice of the Swope Art Museum, provide engaging, transparent and frequent communication to the board, staff, community and all other constituents.
• Ensure museum-wide compliance with board-approved policies and operating procedures, museum accreditation, security measures, risk-management guidelines, employment law, and applicable local, state, and federal regulations. 
• Oversee the Museum’s facilities, collaborating with staff and board, to ensure the physical environment is conducive to both the preservation of art and the enjoyment of visitors. 

Development

• With staff and board, create and oversee a development plan to support annual and long-term revenue goals.
• Meet and engage with current and potential donors, members of the boards, Museum members, affinity groups, community and government leaders, and other stakeholders to increase and sustain support. 
• Identify and build strategies for new/expanded funding sources including planned giving, grants, membership, business partners, sponsorships, art donations, events, special campaigns and earned income.

Art Collection and Programming 

• In collaboration with the curator and other staff as well as the boards, shepherd the Museum’s artistic vision to ensure fulfillment of its mission “to collect, preserve and share American art to engage a diverse audience” through compelling exhibitions, educational programs and community events.
• Maximize the impact of programming and events to build, broaden and deepen connections within our community.
• Network within the art and museum world to foster collaboration on meaningful exhibitions for the community and our constituents.
• Advocate for and promote the Museum’s commitment that art should be accessible to all (without an admission charge). 

Community and Visitor Engagement 

• Position and market the Swope as an essential art, entertainment and cultural destination.
• Elevate the visitor experience and ensure the Museum is welcoming and accessible to all.
• Maximize programming and event impact to build, broaden and deepen connections with our community.

Marketing & Communications: 

• Supervise the creation and execution of an annual marketing, promotions and communication plan to advance the Museum’s mission, programs, collections, reputation, and visibility. 

Qualifications and Terms

• Deep passion for art and a strong belief in its power to connect people and build community.
• The proven ability to think creatively and strategically, bringing innovation to programs and problem-solving.
• Strong business acumen, with demonstrated experience in organizational leadership, financial management and fundraising, and operational effectiveness.
• Minimum of five years of executive management experience in an art museum or an arts or non-profit organization.
• Master’s degree (preferred) in arts administration, art history, museum studies, or related field.
• The proposed compensation range is $70 to $80 thousand plus benefits.

If the Swope Art Museum seems like an exciting opportunity for you:

Please send an introductory letter sharing your story and telling us why you should be our next executive director along with your resume and contact information for four references, to Swopesearch25@gmail.com by Friday, June 20, 2025.

To learn more about the Museum, visit our website: www.swope.org and our socials – Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

If you have questions, please email Murray Pate, Treasurer at wmpate47@gmail.com.