Artistic Director

Pilchuck Glass School, Artistic Director Position
Deadline: April 11, 2013


Position Description
Pilchuck Glass School is seeking a leader to develop and implement the next phase of the school’s programmatic mission. The Artistic Director will plan and oversee the educational and artistic program and lead management of the campus. She/he will implement the organization’s programmatic vision, represent the organization to its past, present and prospective constituents, travel on behalf of the school and pursue an on-going personal artistic practice.

Reporting Relationships
The Artistic Director will have a strong partnership with and report to the Executive Director and work collaboratively with the board, program advisors, and senior staff in defining and helping to implement the school’s strategic goals.

Primary Responsibilities
Plan programs including the summer educational programs and the annual cycle of residencies, develop new programs; oversee utilization of school’s educational resources and foster partnerships and collaboration with other educational organizations and schools.

Oversee and support the senior operations manager and registrar and work in conjunction with campus staff to manage seasonal and part-time employees including summer studio coordinators, assistants and interns. Manage and be supported by the new full-time position of Educational Coordinator who will be responsible for day-to-day program activities.

Work collaboratively with the: Finance Director developing program and campus budgets; Development Director participating in donor cultivation and solicitation, and fundraising events, and Marketing and Communications Manager helping to build the program visibility of Pilchuck internationally.

Participate in the Board of Trustee’s Program and Operations Committees, Artistic Program Advisory Committee (APAC) with liaison support from the senior manager of campus operations and the educational coordinator.

Travel nationally and internationally to visit artists, participate in conferences, meet leaders of affiliated colleges, schools, guilds, etc., connect with current and prospective faculty and students, etc. and serve as an ambassador and advocate for the school.

Pursue artistic practice utilizing studio(s) on campus to develop personal work.



Experience and Skills Required
The Artistic Director will be a visionary leader with strong artistic, educational, people management, strategic, and communication skills. This individual should possess a passion for the mission of Pilchuck, a deep appreciation for, and understanding of, the artistic and technical processes in glass, working with artists both new to and experienced in working with glass, and a broad understanding of contemporary art, its practices and directions.

Additionally, the successful candidate will have a record of successful program development, the ability to supervise campus program and operational staff and work collaboratively with administrative and development staff, experience in forging new and deepening existing relationships with multiple and diverse constituents, the ability to engage with various audiences, exceptional written and oral communication – as well as listening – skills, unquestionable integrity, and a commitment to professional excellence. It is preferred the candidate possesses a graduate degree in studio arts.

Compensation will match the candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Applications should include the following:
• One-page cover letter outlining interests and qualifications for the position
• Resume/CV
• 10-20 images of past and current artistic work (10 MB limit, total)
• One-page artist statement
• Five references, with a brief explanation of professional connection and contact information
• Use file name format: last name, first name, file type (e.g., resume, image 1, image 2)


Upon receipt of emailed application, applicants will receive a reply that materials have been received and a general schedule for the search process.

Application Submission
Please submit all suggestions, nominations, and applications in confidence to [email protected]. Electronic submissions only.


Pilchuck Glass School
Founded in 1971 by glass artist Dale Chihuly and patrons Anne Gould Hauberg and John H. Hauberg, Pilchuck Glass School has been a primary force in the evolution of glass as a means of artistic expression. By creating an environment with a primary focus on glass, access to resources, and an ever-expanding international community of artists (65 countries represented), Pilchuck has become one of the largest, most comprehensive educational centers in the world for artists working in glass.

Pilchuck’s artistic and educational programs take place on a serene fifty-four-acre wooded campus fifty miles north of Seattle. This setting in the foothills of the Cascade Range overlooking Puget Sound provides isolation from the influence of commerce and urban centers and allows artists to focus on art. The campus features two hot-glass shops, a studio building, kiln shop, coldworking studio, flat shop for neon and flameworking, wood and metal shops, and a glass-plate printmaking studio. These facilities offer a comprehensive array of workspaces with a broad range of equipment for glass art production. Other facilities include a lodge that houses a lecture area, library, kitchen, and dining room. An administrative building contains office spaces and a gallery with exhibitions of work by faculty and staff throughout the sessions so students can better understand the creativity and talent of their teachers and those who make the school work. Nestled into the wooded hillsides are numerous residential buildings for faculty, artists in residence, students, and staff. There are miles of trails through beautiful Pacific Northwest forests that provide opportunities for exercise and peaceful contemplation.

Over the past thirty years, thousands of artists from across the nation and around the world have come to Pilchuck to teach, to test new ideas, to learn, and to expand their artistic and creative horizons in the company of others who share a passion for art while coming at it with diverse perspectives and artistic modes. Every year, from May through September, Pilchuck offers thirty-six intensive residential sessions. Classes are limited to ten to twelve students and offer a concentrated inquiry into techniques and aesthetic ideologies. Students work in hot and cold glass techniques including glassblowing, casting, fusing, neon, stained glass, painted glass, flameworking, mixed-media sculpture and engraving.

Courses emphasize experimentation and teamwork while fostering individual initiative and expression. Instructors include leading national and international glass artists and university faculty members. Slide shows, discussions and demonstrations occur daily and are open to everyone on campus, providing stimulating opportunities for dialogue and exchange across disciplines and cultures. Surrounded by a community of great talent and creativity, both new and experienced artists make tremendous conceptual and artistic progress in a very short period of time. These experiences often become the impetus for new directions of artistic exploration for years to come.

During the summer sessions, seven separate artist residencies bring accomplished visual artists in all media to contribute to the artistic richness of the Pilchuck experience. Generally, the artists in residence are known for their work outside the field of glass, but some are international masters of glass.

The School has an annual operating budget of just under $3 million which is funded through a mix of contributed income, events, and tuition and fees; net assets of over $7 million; and a year-round staff of 16. The administrative offices are based in Seattle; the campus approximately an hour outside of Seattle is the site of all programmatic activity.

Pilchuck Glass School advances glass as an artistic medium beyond all imagining. The School is a haven preserved on Pacific Northwest forestlands where artists gather to study glass in ways both known and unforeseen. In this intimate and nurturing international community, artists and students learn from each other, freedom of imagination and personal expression thrive, and lives are transformed. At its heart, the School honors the relevance, integrity, and importance of the artistic process itself.

Mission Statement:
Pilchuck Glass School inspires creativity, transforms individuals and builds community.