Saint-Gaudens Memorial
The Saint-Gaudens Memorial (SGM) is one of the country’s earliest preservation organizations, founded in 1919 to maintain and present the home, studios, gardens, and artwork of sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, known for his Memorial to Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts Regiment and other Civil War monuments, coin designs for the U.S. Mint, and his impact on art and culture of the American Gilded Age.
The organization’s mission statement encapsulates its aspirations: “The Saint-Gaudens Memorial promotes the life and work of sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848-1907), champions the creative arts and artists, past and present, and partners with the Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park in Cornish, New Hampshire, to enrich its cultural offerings and natural setting.”
SGM operated the property as a museum from 1927 until 1964, when it donated the site to the federal government. Today it is the Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park, which is maintained and managed by the National Park Service and draws about 40,000 visitors per year. The Saint-Gaudens Memorial is the “friends’ group” for the Park, producing and funding exhibitions, concerts, and programs at the Park for the benefit of the public, as well as advocating for the Park to ensure its vitality and sustainability. While SGM is autonomous, it works in close partnership with the National Park Service to promote the site and enhance its visibility.
The Park encompasses 190 acres overlooking Mount Ascutney and includes Aspet, the artist’s home featuring original family furnishings; formal gardens; and studios where he created some of his greatest sculptures. More than 150 of his renowned works are displayed throughout the studios and grounds, providing an immersive experience into his artistic genius. The beautifully maintained landscape, featuring formal gardens and walking trails, adds to the serene and inspiring atmosphere of the Park, which is open seasonally from late May to late October.
In the Picture Gallery, SGM presents two rotating exhibitions of contemporary or historical art each season. The organization also hosts a summer concert series in the Little Studio and on the lawn, featuring classical, jazz, folk, funk, bluegrass, Broadway, Indigenous, global traditions, and family-friendly selections. Since 1978, SGM has sponsored the Saint-Gaudens Fellowship, a prestigious annual award for emerging artists that honors Saint-Gaudens’s commitment to artistic mentorship in his own time. SGM also supports workshops led by the sculptor-in-residence, youth camps, and other public programs.
The Saint-Gaudens Memorial is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization governed by a twenty-seven-member Board of Trustees. It currently has one part-time administrative staff person plus three part-time independent contractors for exhibitions, concerts, and social media. The organization has an annual budget of about $250,000 and an endowment of about $3 million. Separately, the National Park Service, which administers and maintains the property, has a $1.3 million budget and a staff of 15 employees.
This is an exceptional opportunity for an accomplished nonprofit leader to enhance the Saint-Gaudens Memorial and elevate awareness of Augustus Saint-Gaudens’s artwork and legacy. The Executive Director will play a pivotal role in building the organization’s capacity and ensuring its financial sustainability by increasing philanthropic support both locally and nationally for programs and projects, in association with the Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park. The Executive Director will be responsible for creating new pathways for engagement in addition to overseeing, with the collaboration of trustees, staff, and independent contractors, the active schedule of exhibitions, concerts, fellowships, and programs. Working in close partnership with a dedicated Board and staff, the Executive Director will guide the organization through several timely and important initiatives:
The Executive Director will have proven effectiveness as an executive or advanced-level professional in nonprofit organizations such as museums, historic sites, preservation institutions, or other similar mission-driven entities. The successful candidate will demonstrate accomplishment as a strategic thinker, team builder, fundraiser, innovator, and leader adept at translating vision into organizational action. The Executive Director need not have a background in the arts but should have a passion for the nonprofit mission.
To apply in confidence, submit application by September 16, 2024 to: Dan Yaeger and Ken Turino, Senior Search Consultants, Museum Search & Reference, via [email protected]. Please include:
Applicants are encouraged to apply early as candidates will be considered on a rolling basis. Nominations are welcome. All applications and nominations are kept confidential; we will not contact references without your permission. For more details, visit: www.museum-search.com/open-searches.