Co-Executive Director

Charlotte Street

charlottestreet.org

Charlotte Street seeks a strategic, collaborative, and visionary leader to serve as its next Co-Executive Director (Programs). This is a pivotal moment in the organization’s evolution as it transitions to a co-leadership model designed to balance artistic innovation with operational excellence. The incoming Co-Executive Director (Programs) will play a central role in guiding the artistic direction of the organization, supporting and amplifying the work of contemporary artists, and advancing Charlotte Street’s mission in partnership with the Co-Executive Director (Operations). Together, they will steward a dynamic team and engage deeply with Kansas City’s local and regional creative communities to ensure Charlotte Street remains a national leader in artist-centered care and contemporary practice.

MISSION: Charlotte Street centers Kansas City’s most forward-thinking visual artists, writers, and performers—acting as the primary incubator, provocateur, and connector for the region’s contemporary arts community, and its leading advocate on the national stage.

VALUES: Risk-taking, Openness, Collaboration, Excellence

ON EQUITY: Charlotte Street values an equitable, diverse, and inclusive art community, which we interpret as all artists having fair access to the tools and resources they need to realize their artistic endeavors. We acknowledge structural inequities that have excluded individuals and communities from opportunity based on race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, class, age, and geography, and strive to counter those inequities in our work and in representation on our board, staff, and constituent groups.

More details on the Co-Executive Director (Programs) position can be found here: https://charlottestreet.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/co-executive-director-job-opportunity-charlotte-street.pdf

Responsibilities

The individual selected for this role will address the following priorities:

Lead the development, execution, and evolution of Charlotte Street’s artistic and public programs.
Oversee residencies, exhibitions, artist awards, and community engagement initiatives, while cultivating a bold curatorial vision that reflects the organization’s values of risk-taking, collaboration, openness, and excellence.
Mentor and support a talented program staff, manage key partnerships, and represent the organization in local, regional, and national conversations on contemporary art and artist development.
Partner with the Co-Executive Director in fundraising and donor stewardship.
As a member of the co-leadership team, share responsibility for organizational strategy, fundraising, board relations, and the overall health and culture of Charlotte Street.

Requirements

The ideal candidate is an experienced leader with a strong background in contemporary art, public programming, and community engagement. They are deeply committed to equity and accessibility in the arts, and bring a collaborative, thoughtful, and adaptive approach to leadership. They are energized by working closely with artists, curators, and cultural workers, and bring a nuanced understanding of interdisciplinary practice, experimental work, and artist-run culture. The successful candidate will have demonstrated success in managing teams, developing programming, fundraising, and building partnerships that center the voices and needs of artists.

Preferred qualifications include:

Five or more years of senior leadership or curatorial/programming experience within a contemporary arts, nonprofit, or cultural context.
Demonstrated experience in developing and delivering innovative programs and artistic initiatives.
Strong track record of team management, mentorship, and fostering inclusive organizational culture.
Fundraising experience, including proposal writing and donor cultivation.
Deep knowledge of contemporary art, interdisciplinary practices, and grassroots/artist-led cultural movements.
Commitment to antiracism, equity, and social justice in the arts.
Strong communication, facilitation, and partnership-building skills.

How to Apply

Charlotte Street is seeking to fill this position in the Fall of 2025. Interested candidates should submit a resume and a two-page cover letter detailing their qualifications, leadership experience, and vision for artist-centered programming. Applications should be sent to info@charlottestreet.org. Priority will be given to submissions received by June 13, 2025. Candidates who are most competitive will be invited to an initial virtual interview. All candidates will be notified of their status as it is decided.

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