Director of Public Art & Commissions

Job Title:Director of Public Art & Commissions
Organization:Arts New Orleans
Location:New Orleans, LA
Job Type:Full-Time, Exempt
Salary Range:$80,000 – $100,000, commensurate with experience
Application Deadline:August 3, 2025
Apply to: [email protected]

Position Summary:
The Director of Public Art & Commissions leads some of Arts New Orleans’ most visible creative work, overseeing the creation of transformative public art experiences that connect communities and celebrate New Orleans’ cultural vibrancy. This role combines strategic program leadership with hands-on project management. The Director will oversee three key program areas:

• The City of New Orleans Percent for Art Program

• A growing portfolio of private commissions

• LUNA Fête, our annual festival of light, art, and technology

This is a pivotal leadership role for a candidate with strong administrative skills, public art expertise, and the ability to supervise and collaborate with a multi-person team—especially during a period of organizational growth and transition.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Lead strategic planning and implementation for all public art projects

• Cultivate and manage relationships with city agencies, private developers, and community organizations

• Oversee the Percent for Art Program, managing over $1 million annually in public art commissions

• Supervise a team of public art professionals and project managers

• Direct artist selection, community engagement, permitting, and execution of large-scale projects

• Develop private commission opportunities and support artist growth through training initiatives

• Support the planning, curation, and execution of LUNA Fête alongside staff and contracted producers

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in arts administration, public art, or related fields

• Minimum 5 years of leadership in public art or cultural programming

• Experience managing high-budget public art projects and multi-disciplinary teams

• Strong project management, administrative, and communication skills

• Experience working with municipalities or Percent for Art programs is highly preferred

Salary & Benefits:

• Salary range: $80,000 – $100,000, based on experience

• 100% employer-paid health insurance

• 403(b) retirement plan with 2% salary match

• Flexible vacation policy

How to Apply:
Please note: this is a shortened job description. Read full description here: https://www.artsneworleans.org/director-of-public-art-commissions-job-description. Email a cover letter (max two pages), resume, and three references to [email protected]. Include your name and Director of Public Art & Commissionsin the subject line. Resumes submitted without a cover letter or via job services will not be reviewed.

Application Deadline:August 3, 2025.
Early applications are encouraged and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Interviews will be held August 14–15, but may begin earlier for qualified applicants.