Seeking Director and Chief Curator

The California College of the Arts (CCA) is seeking a creative, accomplished, and dynamic person to become the next director and chief curator of the CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts. 

The CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts was established as part of CCA’s San Francisco location in 1998 as a forum for the public presentation and discussion of international contemporary art, architecture, design, and curatorial practice. Occupying a strategic niche between artist-run spaces and museums, the Wattis operates as an independent laboratory to experiment with non-traditional ways of presenting art. Through groundbreaking exhibitions, the Capp Street Project artist residency program, lectures, symposia, and publications, the Wattis has an international reputation as one of the most exciting venues for contemporary culture in the United States. 

The Wattis is currently located in the Potrero Hill neighborhood in San Francisco, in walking distance to the vibrant CCA campus. In September 2024, CCA will complete its major campus expansion project designed by award-winning architect Jeanne Gang of Studio Gang. This building will feature a new home for the Wattis in the center of the campus. This moment of transition is an opportunity to newly define the Wattis’ engagement with both campus community and our wider audience.

The director of the Wattis is responsible for the curatorial vision, strategic leadership, fundraising initiatives, and overall management of Wattis programs, staffing, and resources. The director formulates and implements the annual exhibition and public program schedule at the Wattis, personally curating exhibitions and engaging other curators as needed. The director researches and writes scholarly essays for catalogs and other print and online publications and is an effective and compelling communicator in print and in person. The director is a passionate advocate for the program, vision, and values of the Wattis, building college-wide and public support for the program with the goal of sustaining a robust visitorship, donor base, and reputation for excellence. The director builds on existing relationships with current donors, cultivates new patrons, and engages with Wattis stakeholders on an ongoing basis. For the full job description, including position responsibilities and minimum qualifications, please click here.  

In keeping with CCA’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, we seek candidates with a demonstrated ability to cultivate an equity-focused curatorial vision and collaborative environment. Candidates should be actively engaged with current conversations surrounding the role of institutions now and be invested in building community with artists both locally and internationally. They should be enthusiastic about working within an art and design college, where there is great potential for collaboration with faculty and students.

For specific information regarding CCA’s Wattis Institute: wattis.org

Application deadline: Screening begins immediately. The priority deadline for applications is July 5, 2023.