Exhibitions and Operations Manager

A.I.R. Gallery, the longest-running alternative space for women artists in the United States, seeks an Exhibitions and Operations Manager.

Founded in 1972, A.I.R. Gallery is a feminist, artist-directed, nonprofit arts organization and alternative exhibition space for women and non-binary artists. Located in Brooklyn, New York, A.I.R. fosters the voices of underrepresented artists and centers creative risk-taking and community building through programs that include free, year-round exhibitions, monthly community events, and fellowship opportunities for emerging and mid-career women and non-binary artists.

A.I.R. currently seeks a full-time Exhibitions and Operations Manager to manage the programs and daily operations of the organization, including but not limited to: project management and logistical oversight of exhibitions and events, facility management, and coordination of major ongoing programs such as the A.I.R. Fellowship Program for Emerging and Underrepresented Women and Non-Binary Artists and the A.I.R. Commissioning Program for Mid-Career Women and Non-Binary Artists. This position reports directly to the Executive Director and works in close collaboration with the Communications and Programs Manager.

The ideal candidate will have experience in exhibition-making and project management working directly with artists, a strong work ethic, excellent organizational and writing skills, and deep alignment with A.I.R.’s feminist mission.

The responsibilities of the Exhibitions and Operations Manager include:

Exhibitions Program:
-Manage daily operations of A.I.R. Gallery, including project management and logistical oversight for 20–25 visual art exhibitions each year.
-Maintain the seasonal exhibition calendar and schedule of public and internal events.
-Provide exhibiting artists with ongoing logistical and project management support through regular studio visits and during installation.
-Work with each exhibiting artist to collect, edit, and format all exhibition materials (checklists, artist bios, etc.), providing editorial support through the editing and copyediting of press releases and other didactics.
-Manage exhibition installation/deinstallation schedules, equipment/tech needs, shipping, photography, signage, and lighting.
-Manage exhibition-related independent contractors and vendors such as art handlers and installation photographers.
-Draft and issue exhibition contracts and manage exhibition-related expenses and invoices.
-Alongside the Communications and Programs Manager, work with exhibiting artists to coordinate the development and presentation of any public programs organized in conjunction with their exhibition, including artist talks, panels, workshops, and performances.
-In collaboration with the Communications and Programs Manager, plan and implement press outreach and promotion strategy for A.I.R. exhibitions and events.
-Work with the Board of Directors’ Exhibitions Committee to review new exhibition proposals and enlist support from the committee as needed.
Facility and office operations, including managing equipment and supplies for gallery, office, and storage.

Fellowship and Commissioning Programs:
-Working closely with the Board of Directors’ Fellowship and Exhibitions committees, organize all activities of the A.I.R. Fellowship and Commissioning Programs.
-Manage the annual Fellowship Program selection process and biannual Commissioning Program selection process, including inviting and onboarding jurors, preparing and promoting open calls for applications, facilitating the application and review processes, and onboarding new Fellows and commissioned artists.
-Organize and schedule Fellowship programming, including fall professional development workshops and spring exhibition discussions.
-Provide ongoing support to each cohort of six fellows and three commissioned artists, including through regular studio visits and check-ins.
-Manage Fellowship and Commissioning Programs’ expenses and invoices, tracking the programs’ expenditures, and collaborating with staff as needed for grant applications and reporting.
-Foster community within the Fellowship and Commissioning Programs’ cohorts and between the cohorts and the greater A.I.R. community.

Additional Responsibilities include:
-Represent A.I.R. and its mission and programs to the public, including interfacing with gallery visitors, responding to email and phone inquiries, and being an articulate advocate for women and non-binary people in the arts.
-Alongside staff, train and supervise participants in A.I.R.’s internship program. This includes assigning daily tasks and long-term projects and conducting daily intern check-ins.
-Provide development support as needed for program-related funding requests.
-Provide additional support to the Executive Director as needed.
-Work with the Executive Director to shape ongoing programming strategy.

Requirements

Qualifications:
-BA (MA in Art History, Curatorial Studies, Arts Administration, or a related discipline or equivalent work experience in the field of contemporary art preferred).
-Minimum 3 years experience working in nonprofit arts administration or a commercial gallery, preferably in a small or mid-sized exhibition space.
-Prior experience working directly with artists in realizing exhibitions and projects.
-Exceptional oral and written communication skills.
-Collaborative nature with an interest in feminist working methodologies.
-Commitment to equity in the arts and amplifying underrepresented voices.
-Proficiency with Google Suite and Adobe Suite, particularly InDesign and Photoshop.

This position is full-time and in-person with a set schedule of Wednesday–Saturday from 10am–6pm, in addition to regular evening/weekend events and once-a-month exhibition installations on Tuesdays from 10am–6pm.

Salary is $55–60k (commensurate with experience) with health benefits and three weeks (12 days) of paid vacation in addition to the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Application Instructions

Interested applicants should email a cover letter, resume, two references, and a writing sample (combined in a single PDF) to jobs@airgallery.org by August 3, 2025. They expect to conduct interviews for this position in August with an ideal start date of September 2025.

A.I.R. Gallery is an Equal Opportunity Employer and strongly encourages candidates from historically underrepresented backgrounds to apply.