Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

POSITION:  Associate Director of Exhibitions

SUPERVISOR: Executive Director of Academic Affairs and Academic Dean

DEPARTMENT: Academic Affairs

The Art Academy of Cincinnati is seeking a full-time, experienced, and strategic Associate Director of Exhibitions to join our team. This role oversees the college’s multi-channel exhibitions strategy to advance visibility, engagement, and excellence across all gallery spaces and public programs. The position includes a six-month probationary period, after which a formal review will be conducted to assess performance and guide success in the role.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Associate Director of Exhibitions oversees all aspects of exhibition programming and event management across AAC’s three on-campus galleries, a hybrid gallery and event space that serves as both a creative hub and an income generator, and multiple off-site exhibitions and special projects throughout the year. This position is responsible for managing, curating, and producing exhibitions from concept to completion; supervising and coordinating an installation crew to ensure timely and professional exhibitions, and initiating press releases, marketing, and social media promotion. The role also leads opening receptions, public programs, and special events, ensuring seamless operations and meaningful audience engagement. The Associate Director of Exhibitions also builds and maintains relationships with artists, curators, and community partners to expand AAC’s visibility and impact while providing strategic leadership and contributing to revenue-generating initiatives. The ideal candidate brings demonstrated curatorial and managerial experience, strong organizational and communication skills, and the ability to balance creative vision with administrative excellence.

The Associate Director of Exhibitions plays a vital role in shaping the public face of AAC. Through these spaces, AAC showcases the creative excellence of its students, alumni, faculty, and visiting artists. The galleries are central to AAC’s mission by offering opportunities for community engagement and dialogue, supporting academic learning, and modeling the professional, ethical, and practical standards of art, design, and creative writing industries.

Essential duties:

1. Represent AAC and its mission, serving as the face of creative public programming and exhibitions, and represent Exhibitions and Public Programming in the Strategic Planning process.
2. Serve as Chair of the Exhibitions Committee and Events Planning Committee.
3. Oversee the development and implementation of AAC’s exhibition philosophy, annual schedule, and curatorial calendar in collaboration with the President, Executive Director of Academic Affairs and Academic Dean, the Executive Director of Facilities, and the Exhibitions Committee.
4. Curate, organize, and direct the operation of all school galleries and exhibits, including the fall and early spring schedule of special exhibitions, spring semester Senior Thesis exhibitions, and summer Master of Arts in Arts Education exhibition, in collaboration with the Executive Director of Academic Affairs and Academic Dean and Department Chairs.
5. Create cohesive policies that provide an appropriate balance between academic and artistic programming, community engagement, and revenue-generating opportunities across all venues.
6. Oversee all aspects of AAC’s three galleries and hybrid gallery/event space:

1. McClure Gallery
2. Pearlman Gallery
3. Chidlaw Gallery
4. SITE1212

1. Oversee all off-site exhibitions and special projects.
2. Provide strategic leadership for the hybrid event/gallery space SITE1212, maximizing its role as a creative incubator and income-generating asset in collaboration with the Director of Institutional Advancement and SITE1212 Coordinator.
3. Assist the Director of Institutional Advancement and Institutional Advancement Team with forecasting, planning, budgets, and reporting for large-scale city-wide events such as FotoFocus and BLINK.
4. Serve as the main point of contact for all artists and curators, securing artwork loan contracts and planning for visiting artists as necessary in collaboration with the Executive Director of Academic Affairs and Academic Dean.
5. Supervise and coordinate a small, flexible installation crew that is typically two people and up to five depending on the exhibition, including student workers. As AAC does not maintain a formal installation team, the Director of Exhibitions will handle most installations directly while ensuring all exhibitions are executed to professional standards.
6. Oversee the handling of artwork, including receiving, packing, shipping, hanging, and cleaning.
7. Maintain the organization of all gallery spaces, ensuring that supply closets are clean, organized, and fully stocked.
8. Lead opening receptions, performances, and public programs, ensuring a welcoming and professional experience for artists, visitors, and partners, including the setup and cleanup of all gallery receptions, securing bartenders and refreshments as needed.
9. Initiate all associated exhibition marketing activities, including press releases, digital communications, and social media outreach, in coordination with the Executive Director of Enrollment, Marketing, and Student Success and/or the Marketing Team.
10. Track expenses and maintain the exhibitions budget.
11. Maintain and expand AAC Archives through the organization, cataloguing, and preservation of materials related to AAC’s history and exhibitions:
    1. Develop and maintain cataloguing procedures for all archived work, including student, alumni, and professional contributions.
    2. Track all incoming and outgoing artwork.
    3. Maintain and rotate artwork from the Archive in hallways, offices, and other non-gallery spaces.
12. Develop and implement student Exhibitions Internships in coordination with the Director of Career Services.
13. Collaborate with the Executive Director of Academic Affairs and Academic Dean and the Director of Student Affairs on curricular and student-life initiatives related to exhibitions.
14. Develop and sustain relationships with artists, curators, community organizations, and donors to enhance visibility and create new opportunities for collaboration and funding.
15. Participate in travel when and where needed.
16. Additional duties that drive our Vision and fulfill our Mission as assigned and required by the President and Executive Team.

The ideal candidate will possess:

1. Demonstrated experience in curatorial practice, exhibition management, and arts administration.
2. Strong managerial and leadership skills, with experience overseeing installation crews or production teams.
3. Excellent written, verbal, and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
4. Proven ability to engage with diverse audiences and foster community partnerships.
5. Familiarity with marketing, communications, and media relations in an arts or cultural institution setting.
6. A collaborative, proactive, forward-thinking approach to expanding AAC’s visibility and impact through its exhibition and archival programs.

Reporting Structure
This full-time, salaried position reports to the Executive Director of Academic Affairs and Academic Dean and collaborates closely with the President; Executive Director of Enrollment, Marketing, and Student Success; Executive Director of Facilities; and Director of Institutional Advancement to advance AAC’s mission and uphold its standard of excellence.

Minimum qualifications:

1. Bachelor's degree in fine arts, Design, Art History, Arts Administration, Nonprofit Leadership or another related field
2. Minimum of two years' experience relevant to the job description
3. Minimum of two years of managerial experience
4. Strong time management and attention to detail
5. Willingness to collaborate
6. Effective communication skills
7. Ability to analyze and interpret information
8. Experience with photo documentation and photo editing software
9. Must be able to perform physical activities associated with exhibition installation, including fine motor skills.
10. Ability to lift, move, and carry objects up to 50 lbs unassisted and heavier objects with assistance.
11. Position requires physical stamina for handling artwork, including climbing ladders, using tools, and operating equipment.

Desired Qualifications:

1. Expertise in the Adobe Suite and Microsoft Suite, including Photoshop and Excel
2. Experience in an AICAD or other art college setting

Program Summary

The Art Academy of Cincinnati’s mission is to create and sustain radical, forward-thinking, contemporary visual artists and designers whose creative contributions make a substantial difference in all the lives they touch. AAC, established in 1869, is an independent college of art and design. Degrees granted are the Associate of Science in Graphic Design; the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, Design, Illustration, Painting and Drawing, Photography, Print Media, Digital Arts Animation, and Sculpture; and the Master of Arts in Art Education. Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), AAC is a charter member of both NASAD and the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD). AAC is also accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the Strategic Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE).

Application Information

To apply, please submit the following:

• A Letter of Interest
• Curriculum Vita
• In one PDF, a minimum of three examples of professional work in the field (curated exhibition images, website links, exhibition proposals, marketing materials, etc.).
• List of three references and contact information, including email and phone numbers

For full consideration, applications should be submitted by December 1, 2025.

Compensation Information

Competitive salary range based on experience.

Comprehensive insurance plans, including medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage.

Retirement plan options.

Professional development opportunities.

AAC is committed to building a culturally diverse educational environment and encourages candidates representing diverse backgrounds to apply. AAC is committed to policies of equal opportunity and non-discrimination based on sexual orientation, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or gender expression, age, or disability, and veteran's status, as protected by law. This includes all educational programs and activities, admission of students, advertisements, and conditions of employment. This policy is consistent with relevant governmental statutes and regulations, including those pursuant to Title IX of the Education Amendment Act of 1972 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

For more information, please visit

Job Tags

Similar Jobs