Archived listing. The details below describe a past opening.
Executive Director Byrdcliffe | Woodstock, New York An opportunity to lead America's oldest continuously operating arts colony Byrdcliffe seeks an entrepreneurial, collaborative Executive Director to guide its next chapter. Founded in the 1902, Byrdcliffe has long offered artists a place to create, exchange ideas, and draw inspiration from the natural landscape of Woodstock and the Catskills. Today, its artist residencies, exhibitions, performances, and classes carry that legacy forward. The next Executive Director will work with a dedicated staff and Board to strengthen Byrdcliffe's residency program, care for its historic campus, expand its public programs, and build the contributed and earned revenue needed for long-term sustainability. This is an opportunity for a leader who can attend to daily operations while bringing people together around an ambitious, practical vision for Byrdcliffe's future. Byrdcliffe operates with an annual budget of approximately $750,000, six full-time staff members, and a 16-member Board of Directors. Its 300-acre campus and historic buildings are extraordinary assets, as well as significant stewardship responsibilities. The Board seeks a leader who will take charge of the organization's operations, develop strong relationships with artists and supporters, and work closely with staff and trustees to set priorities and carry them out. As Byrdcliffe approaches its 125th anniversary, the organization has an opportunity to reaffirm its place among the country's leading artist residency programs. The Executive Director will help build the support, facilities, programs, and organizational capacity to serve artists and the wider community for generations to come. About Byrdcliffe Ralph Radcliffe Whitehead and his wife, artist Jane Byrd McCall, established the Byrdcliffe Arts Colony in 1902. Their vision brought artists together in a setting that connected creative work with nature, community, and reflection. Byrdcliffe's history includes artists, writers, musicians, thinkers, and performers who later achieved national and international recognition, among them Charlotte Perkins Gilman, John Dewey, Bob Dylan, Milton and Sally Avery, George Bellows, Philip Guston, Eva Hesse, Wallace Stevens, and Helen Hayes. The organization encompasses 31 buildings and 300 wooded acres. Its facilities also include the Kleinert/James Center for the Arts, which houses a gallery, performance space, and offices in downtown Woodstock, as well as an adjacent commercial property that provides rental income. Byrdcliffe offers ceramics classes throughout the year and seasonal jewelry and metalsmithing courses. Each year, the Byrdcliffe Artist-in-Residence program provides more than 100 visual artists, writers, architects, and composers with time and space for focused creative work. Residents stay in cottages or shared facilities and may take part in a range of programs. Fellowships based on artistic merit and financial need cover part or all of residency fees for selected artists. Byrdcliffe is at a pivotal point. The Board aspires to a residency program of the highest caliber, supported by a welcoming, well-maintained campus. Priorities include growing the donor and sponsor base, improving facilities, exploring year-round residencies, and presenting vibrant programs for a broader public. The annual operating budget is balanced, while an endowment of approximately $600,000 will need to grow to support the organization's long-term ambitions. Learn more about Byrdcliffe and explore its campus and history. Compensation and Location Anticipated salary is $90,000 depending on qualifications. A housing benefit may include a reduced rate for an on-site residence or a stipend to help offset housing costs elsewhere in the region. Benefits include a health care stipend, paid vacation and sick time, and relocation expenses. The Executive Director must be able to relocate to the Woodstock region, be eligible to work in the United States, and successfully complete a background check. A periodic hybrid schedule may be negotiated, but the role requires an active, consistent presence at Byrdcliffe and in the community. How to Apply Application deadline is November 2, 2026. To apply, send a cover letter; résumé or CV; and the names, contact information, and professional relationship of three references to: Dan Keegan Senior Search Consultant, Museum Leadership Placement dankeegan@museumleaders.com References will not be contacted without the applicant's prior permission. Woodstock and the Catskills Woodstock's identity as a creative community took shape in the early twentieth century. In 1902, Ralph Whitehead sent Bolton Brown to find a setting for his vision of an arts colony. Brown's view from Overlook Mountain helped bring that vision to Woodstock. Byrdcliffe's founding was followed by the Maverick Art Colony, the Art Students League's presence in town, and a growing network of cultural organizations that continues today. Generations of artists, writers, musicians, and performers have found in Woodstock a place to work, experiment, and connect with others. Its proximity to New York City and its location in the Catskills have long made it both a retreat and a creative catalyst. The town's year-round population of approximately 6,200 expands considerably during the visitor season. The surrounding Catskills offer four seasons of outdoor recreation, historic towns, and access to the Hudson Valley. Catskill Park encompasses approximately 700,000 acres of forests, streams, lakes, and mountains. For more than a century, Byrdcliffe has been an essential part of this landscape and of Woodstock's commitment to living artists.