Executive Director, Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia, SC

Executive Director, Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia, SC

The Columbia Museum of Art (CMA), in Columbia, South Carolina, an AAM-accredited institution, seeks an Executive Director to build upon its 75-year legacy. The Director will be charged with charting new pathways for growth, engagement, sustainability, and implementing an ambitious strategic plan. As the preeminent art museum in South Carolina’s capital, the CMA has been a dynamic prominent cultural anchor in the region for decades.

Founded in 1950 and celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2025, it was born from the inspired philanthropy of local citizens and has grown from its origins in the former Taylor House into a modern 25-gallery facility in the heart of Columbia's vibrant Main Street district. The CMA is driven by its mission “to spark powerful connections through art from around the corner and around the world in an environment that is welcoming to all”, fostering an inclusive and participatory environment where diverse audiences can experience, learn, and create.

CMA’s distinguished collection of more than 7,000 works spans 5,000 years of global art history, with strengths in European Renaissance and Baroque painting, 19th-century American art, and Asian ceramics. The Museum is also deeply committed to modern and contemporary art, featuring works by seminal artists such as Andy Warhol, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Robert Rauschenberg, alongside significant pieces by leading Southern artists.

This breadth allows it to present a compelling narrative of artistic achievement across cultures and time periods, which it activates through a robust schedule of both nationally touring exhibitions and innovative installations drawn from its own holdings.

The Museum operates as a vital community nexus, welcoming approximately 135,000 visitors annually from the greater Columbia area, across the state of South Carolina, the Southeast, and beyond. Its impact extends beyond its walls through extensive educational outreach, serving over 30,000 students and educators each year with curriculum-based tours, hands‑on workshops, and partnerships with local schools. Public programs including artist talks, film series, and community festivals reinforce the CMA’s role as a gathering place for dialogue and creative expression.

The Museum’s participation in Columbia’s annual "Artista Vista" gallery crawl, highlights its integration into the city’s cultural and economic fabric.

With an annual operating budget of approximately $6 million and a dedicated staff of 35 full- and part‑time employees, the CMA is poised for a transformative phase of leadership. Following a period of strategic assessment, the CMA Board of Trustees, the CMA Commission, and staff have recently developed a forward‑looking, three‑year Strategic Integration Plan. This plan establishes clear priorities for the institution’s next chapter: achieving Fiscal Sustainability;

enhancing Donor Stewardship; pursuing Operational Excellence; stewarding the Collections and Exhibitions; and deepening Education, Engagement, and Outreach. The plan will be in its first year of implementation during the 2026‑27 fiscal year, allowing the new Executive Director the opportunity to place their mark on how the strategic priorities are achieved.

The next Executive Director of the Columbia Museum of Art will arrive at a pivotal moment, inheriting an institution celebrated for its world‑class collection and Southern charm yet poised for transformative growth. They will be responsible for embracing the Strategic Integration Plan and bringing it to life, championing the Museum's mission to be an inclusive, participatory hub where art and community thrive.

This is an outstanding opportunity to lead a respected cultural institution into its next era by deepening financial resilience, expanding audience reach, and strengthening the CMA's role as an indispensable part of the region's economic, cultural, and social fabric.

The Executive Director, in partnership with an engaged Board, a passionate staff, and a supportive community, will focus on several key initiatives.

• Articulate and lead a visionary path forward,…