Located in the heart of downtown Durham, the Carolina Theatre has been a center of the city’s arts and cultural life for nearly a century. The Carolina Theatre’s Board of Trustees seeks an executive leader who will embrace the values of the organization – serving the entire community and stewardship of the building – while working collectively to set a future vision for the Carolina Theatre that will inspire and guide the Board and staff. Primary responsibilities of executive leadership and strategic oversight for the Carolina Theatre include visioning, strategic planning, Board governance, financial stability, community engagement, programming, and staff management. The Carolina Theatre has retained Management Consultants for the Arts to lead this search, and interested candidates may apply for this position by visiting this link: https://mcaonline.com/searches/president-ceo-carolina-theatre
Located in the heart of downtown Durham, the Carolina Theatre has been a center of the city’s arts and cultural life for nearly a century. The Carolina opened in 1926 as the Durham Auditorium. Through the 1940’s and 1950’s, the Theatre was a majestic showplace attracting the highest level of stage shows and concerts. The venue went into decline in the following two decades, leading to its closure and plans for demolition. Through the dogged efforts of local volunteers, the venue was saved and underwent two rounds of extensive renovations that added cinema facilities. For the past 25 years, Carolina Theatre of Durham, Inc. (CTD), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has managed the theatre, which is still owned by the city of Durham.
As stated in its recently adopted strategic plan,
“The mission of the Carolina Theatre of Durham, Inc. is to drive the cultural, educational, and economic vitality of the region.”
CTD lives that mission through its presentation of vibrant live events, thought-provoking cinema, and engaging educational programs, serving residents across Durham and the Triangle Region. Further, CTD is a vital community partner, sharing venue space or productions with organizations such as Duke Performances (Duke University), the Cat’s Cradle (Chapel Hill 50+ year old venue), the American Dance Festival, Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, master classes with DPAC Broadway series actors, local festivals and small businesses, and various non-profits within the area.
CTD receives generous operational support each year from the City of Durham, which owns the historic building. In 2018, a six-year $2 million capital improvement plan was developed with the City of Durham to address the building’s ongoing needs as it moves toward its 100th anniversary celebration in 2026.
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA
Durham, Chapel Hill, and Raleigh comprise the region known as The Research Triangle – “The Triangle” – and are anchored by numerous tech companies and three research institutions: North Carolina State University, Duke University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. CTD is part of an active and sophisticated arts community which includes the Durham Performing Arts Center, the American Dance Festival, Nasher Museum of Art, NC Symphony, NC Opera, Carolina Ballet, and NC Museum of Art, among many others. Information about Durham may be accessed here: https://downtowndurham.com/
With total number of residents exceeding 2.2 million, the Triangle is one of the fastest growing regions in the country, with a young (median age of 37), productive, and well-educated population. Demographic information on Durham and the Triangle may be found here:
https://censusreporter.org/profiles/33000US450-raleigh-durham-chapel-hill-nc-csa/
LEADERSHIP
CTD’s current President & CEO is Rebecca Newton, who took the position as the organization recovered from its 2016 financial crisis. During her tenure, CTD has established a solid financial footing and operating model. In fall of 2019, she shared with the Board her desire to step away from the position at the conclusion of the season (June 2020) in order to return to her previous focus as an impresario, producer, and musician. The next President & CEO will inherit not only healthy financials but also a strong and experienced staff.
The CTD Board of Trustees currently consists of 18 area business leaders, volunteers, and community advocates. Four of the Board’s positions are filled through appointments from the Durham City Council and one from the Durham County Board of Commissioners. The President & CEO serves as an ex officio, non-voting member of the Board.
CURRENT ENVIRONMENT
Budget, Size, Scope
CTD currently operates on an annual budget of approximately $3.5 million with an earned / contributed ratio of approximately 65/17, with an additional 18% of its support ($690K) coming from the City of Durham as a management fee. There is no accumulated debt; CTD has operated on a balanced budget for the past three seasons, following a challenging year in 2016. Through the collective efforts of trustees and staff, more than $1 million in debt was retired within 24 months. CTD currently has 21 fulltime employees and up to 54 part-time and seasonal employees. There are no collective bargaining agreements guiding its backstage or front-of-house operations.
Programming
There are three primary areas of CTD programming: live events, film, and education/community engagement. Currently, 50-60 live events are presented through an agreement with NS2 (https://nationalshows2.com/), providing a financially risk-free arrangement for CTD, which does book some shows outside of the NS2 arrangement. However, serving the community is important to the operating model – and values – of the Carolina. A host of local arts groups use CTD as their primary venue. Further, meetings, commercial acts, weddings, and parties (in all, 200+ events annually) keep the Carolina at approximately 80% occupancy and hosting 150,000 visitors each year.
CTD offers two programs under its Education and Community Engagement programming:
- Arts Discovery Educational Series, which includes approximately 30 live and film performances throughout the school year to over 16,000 greater Triangle-area school children and families. Tickets are low cost to the public and largely free to Durham Public Schools.
- Family Saturday Series performances are offered once a month during the school year to families with children of all ages. Tickets are also offered at a low cost to the public. Through relationships with eight local partner organizations, low income families can attend at no cost.
Venues
The Carolina has three venues. The primary venue is Fletcher Hall, a Beaux-Arts style proscenium space with 1,048 seats, which hosts live events. Upstairs, there are two cinema spaces, with 226 and 49 seats.
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
As previously noted, the next President & CEO will join an organization with a solid financial foundation and business model. Among the opportunities for CTD are these:
- Fully develop an action plan around the goals set by the Strategic Plan. The primary objectives of that plan include the following:
- increased effectiveness of governance and operations
- Increased and more diverse sources of income
- Increased diversity of audiences and programming, while enhancing earned income revenues and excellence of programming
- Increased visibility and awareness, both internally and externally, of the Theatre’s mission and vision, value to the community, and commitment to reflecting and engaging the community
- Develop programming and activities – live events, film, education, community engagement – that will reach an even broader cross-section of this highly diverse region
- Engaging the Board fully in order to use their collective abilities in service to CTD.
- Evaluate and execute the pending capital campaign for building improvements.
- Plan a robust celebration for the Carolina’s 100th anniversary in 2026.
Along with these opportunities, there are challenges the next President & CEO must embrace in concert with the Board and staff, including:
- Finding the right balance of serving local artists and companies while continuing to attract the finest national and international talent to the Carolina.
- Developing a cohesive team and culture that encourages programming areas to work in concert to serve a common vision.
- Building even more relevance in an increasingly competitive arts and entertainment market.
- And, of course, developing needed protocols to continue operations in the era of covid-19.
POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The President & CEO will bring visionary leadership to CTD, with the ability to shape a future direction for the organization and creating an inspirational culture for the staff and Board. Primary responsibilities of executive leadership and strategic oversight for CTD include visioning, strategic planning, Board governance, financial stability, community engagement, programming, and staff management. The CTD Board of Trustees seeks an executive leader who will embrace the values of the organization – serving the entire community and stewardship of the building – while working collectively to set a future vision for CTD that will inspire and guide the Board and staff. The President & CEO reports directly to the Board of Trustees through the Chair. The key elements of responsibilities include the following:
- Effective execution of the recently adopted strategic plan. In concert with key staff members, oversight of all programming efforts, rentals, and activities in the facility.
- Effectively forge important relationships externally, including with the City, funders, and current / potential arts partners.
- Overseeing and expanding income streams, including box office, development, and rentals.
- Serve as a key member of CTD’s fund-raising efforts, including the execution of a pending capital campaign.
- Develop and maintain a positive and productive working culture that will enhance the staff’s ability to do their best work.
- Work closely with the Board to engage their skills and commitments to governance and advocacy.
- Oversee all organizational, financial, and business affairs.
QUALIFICATIONS
While no single individual may possess all of the following qualifications, the successful candidate for this role will possess many of these skills and experiences:
- A visionary leader who is able to innovate and adapt, using the Carolina’s many assets in new, unique, and evolving ways.
- A deep love of and a demonstrable history with the performing arts, preferably in a presenting environment.
- A true organizational leader who understands vision and strategy. The search committee is open to varying experiential backgrounds – e.g., producing/programming, administration, education, or fund-raising – so the key focus for them will be leadership capacity.
- Prior roles with organizations of significant (if not comparable) size or scope. The committee is open to candidates who have previously held the CEO position as well as those who have demonstrated leadership capacity but in secondary roles.
- A strategic thinker relative to organizational vision and growth.
- An understanding of all areas of income generation, including audience development and fundraising, and an ability to serve as a key leader of contributed revenue efforts.
- A strong relationship builder.
- Demonstrated success in building board membership and effectiveness.
- Although someone with a presenting background is preferred, the search committee has indicated an openness to candidates from other arts disciplines who understand mid to large-scale presentation.
- Strong organizational management, financial management and budgeting skills.
The following personal attributes are also important to the Committee:
- Exceptional communication skills – both speaking and writing.
- Taking satisfaction in serving as an ambassador in business and social settings.
- A real passion for community and enhancing community with and through the arts.
- A transparent, collaborative, and confident leadership style.
- Satisfaction in achieving the best work in others.
- A desire to be fully engaged in the Durham community.
COMPENSATION, APPLICATION PROCEDURE, AND START DATE
The salary will be competitive with other theater companies of comparable stature and size. Benefits will include the following:
- Medical/dental/life/AD&D/short and long-term disability insurance plans
- Paid vacation, holidays, sick leave, and personal days
- Travel budget
- Parking
CTD has engaged Management Consultants for the Arts to facilitate this search; David Mallette and Jason Palmquist are the consultants leading the process. The Search Committee, comprised of six CTD trustees, hopes to make its final decision by mid-late summer, with the new President & CEO onsite as soon thereafter as possible. Interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to submit in complete confidence a cover letter, resumé, and four professional references to the consulting firm retained to conduct the search. The cover letter of no more than 1½ pages should describe why this post and organization is attractive to the applicant and what about them and their work makes them a potentially strong contributor as a leader of CTD. Application materials should have the applicant’s name included as part of each file name and must be submitted electronically through the following link:
https://mcaonline.com/searches/president-ceo-carolina-theatre
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