Kaitohu Director

The Big Idea; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fixed-term contract

City centre location

Leadership role

Network opportunities

Job summary

Artspace Aotearoa in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland invites an inspired Kaitohu Director to lead artistic direction, programming and fundraising. Reporting to the Tiaki Board, the Director will shape PūĀtāra, drive bold annual programming and ensure responsible stewardship of resources.

This is a rare opportunity to grow the organisation’s public profile, broaden engagement with contemporary art regionally and internationally, and advance Te Tiriti across governance and culture.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in visual arts programming and management.
• Ability to lead staff and develop teams; fundraising experience.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, diversity, equity and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Lead the expression and implementation of the organisation's vision.
• Provide artistic, financial, and organisational leadership.
• Develop a bold annual programme and sustain long-term viability.
• Strengthen public profile and engagement with art locally and internationally.
• Work with the Tiaki Board and wider organisation to evolve Te Tiriti commitment across programming, governance and culture.

Skills

Arts leadership

Fundraising

Staff development

Negotiation

Job description

Arts programming, artistic direction & curatorial, Business development, funding & partnerships, Management & leadership

This is a unique opportunity to make a significant contribution to the development and creative vision of Artspace Aotearoa—a leading contemporary visual art organisation.

About Artspace Aotearoa

Pivotal to contemporary art in Aotearoa, Artspace Aotearoa was founded by artists and arts workers in 1987 as a public art gallery to platform contemporary art practices that were not supported in Támaki Makaurau Auckland and beyond. The organisation presents an annual programme that develops critical discourse, is a resource for artists, and connects the Aotearoa context with international conversations. While the expression of the organisation continues to evolve, as it is regularly reshaped by the fixed-term Kaitohu Director, these founding tenets remain at its core. The Tiaki Board of Trustees appoint the Kaitohu Director who shapes the programme.

Artspace Aotearoa acknowledges Te Tiriti o Waitangi The Treaty of Waitangi as Aotearoa New Zealand’s founding document. Artspace Aotearoa prioritises the evolving relationship of the dual constitutional heritage of Te Tiriti in its operational and programmatic approach.

Artspace Aotearoa is currently located on Karangahape Road, in the centre of Támaki Makaurau Auckland, where we are committed to deepening our values within Mātauranga Māori, Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa, and tangata Tiriti contexts.

The Role

The new Kaitohu Director will lead the expression and implementation of the organisation's vision, as set out in PūĀtāra, our strategic direction to 2030. Reporting to the Tiaki Board, the Director holds artistic, financial, and organisational leadership of the organisation. Working closely with the Deputy Director and curatorial team, the Director will lead a bold annual programme, advance critical discourse in contemporary art, ensure responsible stewardship of the organisation’s resources, and support its long-term financial and operational sustainability.

The Director will lead and develop the Artspace Aotearoa team, strengthen the organisation’s identity and public profile, grow and diversify engagement with contemporary art, and act as a spokesperson.

A key responsibility will be to work with the Tiaki Board and the wider organisation to continually evolve Artspace Aotearoa’s expression of its commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi across programming, governance, relationships and organisational culture. The Director will also contribute to sector leadership and advocacy, building strong relationships across Aotearoa and internationally.

This is a rare opportunity to lead one of Aotearoa’s most significant contemporary art institutions at a pivotal moment, with the freedom to shape ambitious, artist-led programming.

Position details

This is a five-year, full-time fixed-term role, based in Támaki Makaurau Auckland. The role reports to the Artspace Aotearoa Tiaki Board and has direct reports including the Kaiwhakāmā Tuarua Deputy Director and Kaiāwhina Whakaaturanga Assistant Curator. The anticipated start date is January 2027.

What we are looking for

We are seeking an original leader with a strong record in visual arts programming and management. You will bring a creative, critical, and future-focused voice; the ability to lead and develop staff; and experience with fundraising. You will have excellent communication, relationship-building and negotiation skills, a respected or emerging presence within Aotearoa’s visual arts sector, and the ability to represent Artspace’s vision to diverse stakeholders. You will demonstrate a considered commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, diversity, equity and inclusion, together with integrity and high professional standards.

A full position description, including responsibilities and what we are looking for in an ideal candidate, and our organisation’s strategic direction to 2030, PūĀtāra, are available to download on our website .

What we offer

• A space for fearless programming, in the city centre of Támaki Makaurau Auckland
• Support with career development and personal growth through networking and learning opportunities in Aotearoa and internationally
• Fair pay conditions and annual leave entitlements comparable to industry standards
• A commitment to the well-being of our people—we support the growth and development of our whānau in mana-enhancing ways, including flexible working arrangements
• An organisational culture where diversity, equity, and inclusion are fundamental to building a better, stronger, and more representative art sector