Director

Who We Are:

Frieze is the world’s leading platform for modern and contemporary art, dedicated to artists, galleries, collectors and art lovers alike. Frieze comprises three magazines – frieze, Frieze Masters Magazine and Frieze Week – and seven international art fairs – Frieze London, Frieze Masters, Frieze New York, Frieze Los Angeles, Frieze Seoul, The Armory Show and EXPO Chicago. Legacy art fair brands The Armory Show and EXPO Chicago were acquired by Frieze in September 2023. In October 2021, Frieze also launched No.9 Cork Street, a permanent space for visiting international galleries in the heart of Mayfair, London.

Job title:  Director, EXPO CHICAGO

Location: Chicago, with regional/international travel as required

Job Purpose

The Director will lead on all aspects of EXPO CHICAGO, determining a vision for the fair and ensuring its successful delivery. It will involve working with all internal fair teams, as well as building a collaborative and productive working relationship with local collaborators, ensuring EXPO CHICAGO and Frieze’s best interests are realised. Externally, the Director will be responsible for liaising with key stakeholders and being the main contact point for galleries, collectors and curators. The Director will report to the Director of Americas, and work collaboratively with the Executive Director of Fairs and the global fair director team to ensure alignment with the overarching Frieze strategy.

Responsibilities

Strategy

• Determine the overall vision for EXPO CHICAGO;
• Contribute to building and implementing a strategy on how Frieze can develop and grow in the region;
• Contribute to delivering Frieze’s overarching goals in the Americas.

Gallery relationships

• Maintain strong relationships with galleries participating in the fair;
• Identify target galleries for the fair and build relationships, with regular contact and visits;
• Work with committee of galleries to select and represent the fair;
• Ensure that the fair and associated Viewing Room have excellent exhibitor lists, with a balance of programmes and geographies reflecting the fair’s strategy;
• Make visits to participating galleries when traveling around the region, demonstrating engagement with their program and making new VIP introductions;
• Target specific American galleries for relevant Frieze fairs as agreed with Frieze director team.

Audiences

• Hold relationships with collectors and art world professionals relevant for EXPO CHICAGO;
• Identify and coordinate opportunities for collaborations with local institutions;
• Identify and deliver brand building cultivation events;
• Contribute to other Frieze’s audience-development initiatives in the region, including membership.

Stakeholders

• Establish productive relationships with key stakeholders (including sponsors and partners) and support internal teams to develop these relationships in the best interests of EXPO CHICAGO;
• Nurture and maintain relationships with key organisations and regional bodies, ensuring the best outcome for EXPO CHICAGO .

Communications

• Be the figurehead and act as a press spokesperson for EXPO CHICAGO;
• Support press & marketing activities, working directly with outside agencies;
• Represent  EXPO CHICAGO and Frieze at local and international art world events.

Programming

• Strategize and deliver curated programming in and around the fair that is tailored to the fair, drive target audiences and reflect the fair’s identity;
• Identify, appoint and manage external curators working on the programming.

Financial

• Ensure commercial goals are met, whilst ensuring the excellent quality of the fair;
• Work closely with Frieze’s finance team on budget setting, tracking and reforecasting;
• Be responsible for  EXPO CHICAGO and associated Viewing Room gallery revenue;
• Support the partnerships team to meet sponsorship and fundraising goals across both fairs;
• Identify possible subsidies from local funding bodies and facilitate introductions.

Production

• Input on the design and architecture of the fair;
• Produce the fair floorplan and manage conversations with galleries on placement and specific presentations;
• Contribute to logistical decision-making that affects gallery and visitor experience.

Project / team management

• Maintain ongoing communication at senior level with venues and unions and represent Frieze’s interests;
• Ensure the smooth planning and delivery of the project across all stakeholders on time and on budget;
• Support Frieze’s recruitment processes where applicable, identify and recommend suitable candidates;
• Line manage relevant team members and ensure goals are met in respective business areas.
• As the most senior person in the Chicago office ensure team is supported.

Required Experience

• In-depth understanding of the art world and the key players in America, specifically the mid-West;
• Significant experience at a senior level within a related environment such as a commercial gallery, museum, or international art event in America;
• Proven people manager, able to successfully lead a team of subject matter experts/professionals;
• Able to collaborate with colleagues and work comfortably in a business where teams are based in different geographies;
• Strong relationships with gallery owners, collectors, curators and opinion-formers in America;
• A deep knowledge and understanding of the global contemporary art world;
• Demonstrable experience of managing and delivering complex and ambitious projects from inception to delivery, including commercial and financial aspects;
• Ability to present information clearly and confidently to press and public.

Per local requirements and in the interest of transparency, the range shown below reflects the prevalent current hiring range for this position. Hiring pay rates are based on a number of factors, including location and may vary depending on job-related qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience. The company strives to provide locally competitive rewards packages, which include base rate along with, as applicable, short- and long-term incentives, growth and developmental opportunities, and robust benefits, such as health care, retirement, vacation and other paid time off, and additional offerings.

Hiring Range Minimum:

$150,000 annually

Hiring Range Maximum:

$200,000 annually