Ballinger|Leafblad is proud to present the following information on behalf of our client, Metropolitan Regional

Arts Council (MRAC) and a retained search for Executive Director

Presents

Executive Director

www.mrac.org

www.ballingerleafblad.com

Metropolitan Regional Arts Council

Executive Director

PRESENTING OUR CLIENT METROPOLITAN REGIONAL ARTS COUNCIL (MRAC)

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW
In 1977, the Minnesota legislature established a system of eleven regional arts councils to distribute state
government appropriations to small arts organizations around the state. The Metropolitan Regional Arts
Council (MRAC), which serves the 7-county Twin Cities metropolitan area, is the largest of the regional arts
councils. Each regional arts council is an autonomous organization designated to assess arts needs, develop
programs and services to meet those needs, and distribute funds to arts programs in its region.
All of the regional arts councils began as programs of larger regional development commissions. MRAC was a
program of the Metropolitan Council until 1989, when MRAC became an independent nonprofit organization.
The Metropolitan Regional Arts Council serves nonprofit arts organizations, informal arts groups, community
education, and non-arts nonprofit organizations with annual operating expenses under $400,000, and
individual artists in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington counties. This region
includes urban, suburban, and rural communities. While the region comprises only 4% of the states
geography, its population is approximately 50% of the states total.
As one of the 11 regional arts councils in Minnesota, MRACs funding is derived primarily from appropriations
from the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the States general fund and Arts and Cultural
Heritage Fund. MRAC also receives a generous grant from The McKnight Foundation.
MISSION AND VISION
The Metropolitan Regional Arts Council increases access to the arts in 7-county metropolitan area
communities by providing information, organizational support and grants. We believe that the arts strengthen
communities, and stimulate diversity of expression, communication, and commemoration of communities and
cultures, and that all people should have opportunities to engage in the arts.
Accordingly, MRACs vision for the region is that:

Artists, arts organizations, and arts activities thrive.

Art is integrated into the social fabric and identity of every community.
Public value of the arts is understood and acted upon by community members, leaders and policy
makers.

In FY 2015, MRAC received 838 applications and awarded 457 grants totaling $3,214,221 to arts
organizations and/or projects including the ADA Access Improvement Grants for Metro Arts Organizations.
These grants were funded by an appropriation from the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the
State's general fund, and by the voters of Minnesota, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and
cultural heritage fund. MRAC also received 346 applications from individual artists in the Next Step Fund
program and awarded 37 grants totaling $180,450 with funds from The McKnight Foundation. MRAC also
provided 14 arts management training sessions and 32 grant application workshops.

Metropolitan Regional Arts Council

Executive Director

PRESENTING THE POSITION OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

OVERVIEW OF THE POSITION
In support of the vision set forth by the MRAC board of directors, the Executive Director will develop and drive
the organizational strategy, manage and develop staff, and represent MRAC throughout the 7-county
metropolitan area and with the 10 other regional arts councils throughout Minnesota.
The Executive Director reports to the MRAC Board of Directors and supervises three Program Directors, a
Program Associate, Grants and Operations Coordinator, and a Communications and Events Coordinator.
THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Organizational Leadership
o

Assure that the organization has a long-range strategy which achieves its mission, and toward which it
makes consistent, timely progress.

Oversee the recruitment, employment and supervision and release of all personnel, both paid staff
and volunteers.

Ensure that job descriptions are developed, that regular performance evaluations are conducted, and
that sound human resource policies and practices are in place.

Maintain a work environment that attracts, retains and motivates a diverse staff of top quality
individuals committed to organizational excellence and the constituency that MRAC serves.

Encourage staff and board development and education, and assist staff in relating their specialized
skill to MRACs overall vision, mission and goals.

Program Management
o

Actively participates in statewide planning efforts in partnership with the Minnesota State Arts Board
and the Regional Arts Councils to ensure healthy management of the state arts funding system and
ensuring the development of sound programs and services that are aligned to achieve MRACs mission
and strategies.

Oversee MRACs grant making policies and procedures, and maintain consistently high quality of
MRACs panel recruitment, training and application review.

Ensure that MRACs interaction with constituents reflects and supports MRACs organizational values,
commitment to access, and service to all metro communities.

Maintain a working knowledge of significant developments and trends in the field, sharing this
information with board and staff when it has potential to influence or impact MRACs work and using
this information to position MRAC for greater community impact.

Metropolitan Regional Arts Council

Executive Director

Operations and Financial Management

o

Develop the organizations non-program, general operations financial plans, policies and procedures
with the board of directors and staff, and carry out plans and policies authorized by the board.

Develop and oversee sound accounting, financial and investment practices, policies and procedures.

Work with staff, executive committee, and the board in preparing a budget, ensures that the
organization operates within budget guidelines.

Ensure that adequate funds are available to permit the organization to carry out its work.

Monitor policies and actions of the Minnesota Legislature, Minnesota State Arts Board, Minnesota
Citizens for the Arts, and Forum of Regional Arts Councils to ensure that MRACs financial interests
are protected.

Maintain official records and documents, and ensure compliance with all appropriate legislation,
administrative rules and policies, federal, state and local regulations, and any and all contractual
obligations.

Board Development
o

Keep the board informed about MRACs operations, programming, and critical issues providing the
tools and analysis the board needs to make informed decisions.

Work in partnership with the board to identify and recruit board candidates.

Marketing and Communications

o

Ensure that information about MRACs activities, programs and goals is appropriately disseminated,
consistent with MRACs written communication standards and reflective of MRACs organizational
values.

Establish sound working relationships and cooperative arrangements with community groups and
organizations.

Serve as MRACs principle public spokesperson, representing MRAC at conferences, meetings,

workshops and making group presentations.

Advocacy and Outreach

o

Serves as principal liaison to the Minnesota legislature, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, Minnesota
State Arts Board, Forum of Regional Arts Councils of Minnesota, and other entities that impact
MRACs interests.

Communicate with the public, policymakers, funders and community leaders about the artistic
importance and public value of MRAC constituents and effective ways to strengthen these important
community and regional resources.

Metropolitan Regional Arts Council

Executive Director

Build coalitions and articulate information to help shape public policies that are beneficial to MRAC
and the constituency it serves.

Serve as the Minnesota Citizens for the Arts board member representing Region 11.

Promote public access to and appreciation of the arts in communities throughout the metro area and
the state of Minnesota.

Educate MRACs constituents about the importance of their articulating and communicating the
public value of the arts and their active involvement in local and statewide arts advocacy efforts.

THE DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

College degree required, with at least 10 years of management experience in public, nonprofit or related
private sector field.

Demonstrated team development and board management experience.

Exceptional strategic and analytical abilities with demonstrated success in developing new strategies.

Able to communicate simply and effectively for a variety of audiences and through several different
media.

Highly collaborative, with demonstrated success working in teams and within highly inclusive and
participatory decision making processes.

Demonstrated expertise and experience within initiatives related to the arts.

Adept at developing and maintaining successful partnerships with public, private and independent sector
partners.

Comfortable in fluid and dynamic work settings, able to interpret and apply strategic guidelines with minimal
direction and incomplete information.

Strong interpersonal and project management skills in order to effectively coordinate work assignments and
relationships.

Demonstrated ability to effectively interact, communicate and collaborate with people from a wide range
of cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds.

Passion for the MRAC mission and an existing network within the MRAC funding region.

Metropolitan Regional Arts Council

Executive Director

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This position will require extended use of a computer keyboard and monitor; and is performed in a fast-paced
environment, where interruptions are frequent. Most work is performed in an office environment, but
occasional travel and flexible hours, including during evenings and weekends, are required.
THE COMPENSATION PACKAGE
Compensation will be competitive and include participation in the organizations comprehensive benefits plan.

MRAC is an Equal Opportunity Employer

BALLINGER|LEAFBLAD INVITES YOU TO CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Lars Leafblad, MBA
Co-Founder/Principal
612-598-7547
lars@ballingerleafblad.com

Marcia Ballinger, PhD

Co-Founder/Principal
651-341-4840
marcia@ballingerleafblad.com

www.ballingerleafblad.com