Executive Director

Position Summary

The Executive Director of the Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum (Myrtle Beach Art Museum) will have a significant opportunity to lead one of Myrtle Beach's most distinctive cultural assets into a new era of artistic excellence, regional visibility, and community impact. This role will represent a major career opportunity for a visionary arts leader seeking to shape the future of a growing art museum, elevate its role in the cultural life of the region, and make a lasting impact on Myrtle Beach's arts scene. Working closely with the Board of Trustees, staff, artists, donors, civic leaders, and community partners, the Executive Director will provide strategic and hands-on leadership for the Myrtle Beach Art Museum's artistic direction, exhibitions, collections, community engagement, institutional growth, fundraising, operations, facilities, and public engagement. This leader will strengthen the Museum's financial sustainability through grant writing, donor cultivation, fundraising events, and contributed income strategies while fostering a culture of excellence, communication, respect, accountability, and trust among a dedicated staff and volunteer team.

As the Museum's primary ambassador, the Executive Director will deepen relationships with residents, visitors, schools, libraries, veterans' programs, artists, and community organizations, ensuring the Museum continues to thrive as a high-quality art museum, a welcoming civic gathering place, and a catalyst for creativity across the region.

Organization

The Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum is the only art museum in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and the only art museum along South Carolina's north coast. Established in 1987 and opened to the public in June 1997, the Museum has become a vital visual arts institution serving Myrtle Beach and the broader tri-county region of Horry, Georgetown, and Brunswick Counties. Located in an iconic historic building with views of the Atlantic Ocean, the Museum is a well-loved community landmark and distinctive cultural destination, featuring 11 intimate galleries with approximately 2,700 square feet of exhibition space across two floors.

Since opening, the Museum has presented more than 300 visual arts exhibitions, including painting, sculpture, photography, fiber art, ceramics, and traveling exhibitions from lenders across the country. The Museum also presents annual juried exhibitions highlighting regional and student talent, including the Annual High School Exhibition and the Annual Waccamaw Arts & Crafts Guild Exhibition. Education and community engagement are central to the Museum's mission, with studio programs, artist-led workshops, school tours, outreach activities, and community events extending access to the visual arts. In 2018, the Museum added the Lineta Pritchard Pottery Studio, an important resource for hands-on arts learning in the Grand Strand area.

The Museum has a 17-member Board of Trustees led by President Rosemary Long Jenrette. The Executive Director reports to the Board of Trustees and oversees five full-time staff members, five part-time staff members, and 11 volunteers. The Museum has maintained a balanced budget, with average annual revenue of approximately $700,000 to $800,000, providing a solid foundation for future growth, expanded visibility, and continued institutional impact.

Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates. The Museum is committed to a workplace that values diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect, and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status.