Fair Director, Americas

Frieze is the world’s leading platform for modern and contemporary art for scholars, connoisseurs, collectors, and the general public alike. Frieze comprises three magazines – frieze, Frieze Masters Magazine and Frieze Week – and five international art fairs – Frieze London, Frieze Masters, Frieze New York, Frieze Los Angeles and Frieze Seoul (launching September 2022).

In addition, this October, Frieze will launch No.9 Cork Street, a hub for visiting international galleries in the heart of Mayfair, London. Frieze is part of the IMG network.

IMG is a global leader in sports, fashion, events and media and is a subsidiary of Endeavor, a global entertainment, sports and content company.

The Director will ensure the success of our two American fairs, Frieze New York and Frieze Los Angeles. A key aspect of the role is to determine the vision for the fairs and ensure their successful delivery. It will involve working with all internal fair teams, as well as building a collaborative and productive working relationship with local collaborators, and ensuring Frieze’s best interests are realised. 

Externally, the Director will be responsible for liaising with key stakeholders in both cities and being the main contact point for galleries, collectors and curators from the Americas. The Director will work with the global fair director team to ensure strong participation by North & South American galleries in other Frieze fairs.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy

• Determine the overall vision for Frieze New York, Frieze Los Angeles, and associated Viewing Rooms;

• Inform and deliver the strategic goals for Frieze’s activity in the Americas, assess and anticipate how Frieze can develop and grow in the region;

• Contribute to strategic planning for the other Frieze fairs globally, particularly with regards to galleries and audiences from North & South America.



Galleries relationships

• Maintain strong relationships with galleries across North & South America;

• Identify target galleries for the fair and build relationships on behalf of Frieze, with regular contact and

visits;

• Work with two committees of galleries to select and represent Frieze New York & Frieze Los Angeles;

• Ensure that both fairs and associated Viewing Rooms have excellent exhibitor lists, with a good balance of American and international galleries;

• Make visits to Frieze-participating galleries when traveling around the region, demonstrating engagement with their program and making new VIP introductions;

• Target specific American galleries for other relevant Frieze fairs as agreed with Frieze director team.

 

Audiences

• Hold relationships with collectors and art world professionals across North & South America;

• Identify and coordinate opportunities for collaborations with local institutions;

• Identify and deliver brand building cultivation events across Americas;

• With the VIP and marketing teams, build Frieze’s membership offering and audience in the Americas.



Stakeholders

• Establish productive relationships with key stakeholders (including sponsors and partners) and support internal teams to develop these relationships in the best interests of the partners and Frieze;

• Nurture and maintain relationships with key regional bodies, ensuring the best outcome for Frieze.



Communications

• Be the figurehead and act as a press spokesperson for Frieze New York, Frieze Los Angeles, and associated Viewing Rooms;

• Support press & marketing activity, working directly with outside agencies;

• Represent Frieze at local and international art world events.



Programming

• Strategize curated programming in and around the fair that is tailored to New York & Los Angeles, and that will drive audience and reflect Frieze’s identity;

• Identify, appoint and manage external curators working on the programming.

Financial

• Ensure commercial aims are met, whilst ensuring the excellent quality of the fair;

• Be responsible for Frieze New York, Frieze Los Angeles, and associated Viewing Rooms 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 map of gallery stand locations 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 in America where applicable, identify and recommend suitable candidates;

• Line manage relevant team members in New York & Los Angeles and ensure goals are met in respective business areas.



Required Experience

• In-depth understanding of the art world and the key players in America, specifically New York & Los Angeles;

• Significant experience at a senior level within a related environment such as a commercial gallery, museum, or international art event in America;

• 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,

including commercial and financial aspects;

• Ability to present information clearly and confidently to press and public.

Working Conditions

  • This is a permanent position.

  • Please note, the role would be based in New York.

  • Travel and weekend work will be required.

If you are interested in this role, please apply via the below link:

https://wmeimg.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/WMEIMGUS/job/NY---New-York-247-Centre-Street-Frieze/Director--Frieze-New-York-Frieze-Los-Angeles_JR5651

Applications will close by 13th August 2021.

Our Diversity & Inclusion Statement 

Frieze unites people in our love of the arts. We understand this can only be accomplished when we harness the entirety of our company and lead with a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion in everything we do. As a global company that drives culture, we are committed to practicing anti-discrimination including race, gender identity, sexual orientation and disability, together with artists, writers and cultural practitioners from all backgrounds. There is still much work to be done to address systemic inequality and discrimination within the arts and culture industry, and we are dedicated to making progress to both within our own organization and the art world at large.