Public Art Manager (ASM)

Salary: $92,311.00 - $110,092.00 Annually
Location : Nashville, TN
Job Type: Full-Time Civil Service
Job Number: 27089E
Division: Arts Commission
Department: ART Public Art & Artist Devel
Opening Date: 10/06/2026
Closing Date: 11/5/2026 11:59 PM Central

Position Description
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Public Art Manager is a full-time Civil Service position responsible for leading the program management, policy development, financial analysis, and oversight of all aspects of Metro's award-winning public art program, which includes administration of both capital (One Percent for Art) and operating budgets. The Public Art Manager oversees the permanent Percent for Art collection, including oversight of multiple ongoing projects that range in scope and complexity. The Public Art Manager serves in a key operational and strategic leadership position and supervises the work of all public art project managers (currently four). The position works directly with artists, community and institutional partners, colleagues across the agency, the Arts Commission, and other stakeholders to create and strengthen opportunities for public artists and expand access to public art experiences in Nashville and Davidson County. This position manages a wide array of public and private partnerships with Metro departments and local, state, and national organizations committed to public art. The Public Art Manager requires strong leadership skills, strategic thinking, interpersonal skills, and a passion for the mission of Metro Arts.

Typical Duties
Public Art Program Oversight

• Oversees the development of high impact public art projects including planning, procurement, artist selection and management, and monitoring progress from project conception to installation.
• Designs and guides project schedules and multiyear tracking systems for all public art projects.
• Develops and manages the capital (One Percent for Art) and operating budgets, schedules, and documentation for the public art program, in coordination with the Finance Administrator.
• Manages contracts with vendors, contractors, and service providers and ensures responsible resource stewardship.
• Serves as lead staff support to the Public Art Committee of the Arts Commission.

Public Art Program Development and Planning

• Leads strategic planning and implementation of the Public Art Community Investment Plan.
• Leads short- and long-term public art planning and evaluation.
• Reviews and makes recommendations for updates to the Public Art Guidelines and other procedural and policy guidelines regularly.
• Develops cross-departmental partnerships that increase opportunities for public art across the Metropolitan Government and Nashville community.
• Identifies emerging opportunities, needs, partnerships, and program models that could strengthen the public art ecosystem.
• Develops and facilitates artist trainings, residencies, temporary artwork, and other special programs that support the public art ecosystem.

Supervision and Team Leadership

• Supervises the work of four direct reports, including three Public Art Project Managers and one Collections Manager. Sets and adjusts priorities, assigns projects, supports the development of annual work plans, and conducts annual employee reviews.
• Identifies developmental and training needs of direct reports and develops strategies to provide training, support, and mentorship.

Agency Leadership

• Serves as a member of the leadership team and supports the Executive Director and others to develop agency-wide short- and long-term planning, policy development, and evaluation.
• Works collaboratively on agency-wide initiatives including programs, events, special projects, and external communications that celebrate organizational milestones, engage key stakeholders, and communicate the impact of Metro Arts and showcase the value of investments in public art.
• Works on special projects and prepares and presents reports, recommendations, presentations, and related materials as required.
• Represents Metro Arts and builds and maintains relationships with individuals and organizations to strengthen partnerships and opportunities to support public art.
• Contributes to a collaborative team culture by facilitating clear and open feedback, effective communication, and coordination within the public art team and across the agency.

Minimum Qualifications

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Bachelor's Degree plus five (5) years of professional management-level experience in public art administration or management or related fields such as capital project management, urban planning/design, architecture, public administration, or museum studies.

*The required experience above must include a minimum of two (2) years of supervisory experience, including coordinating and reviewing the work of others*.
NOTE - Additional experience may be considered in lieu of the degree requirement and an advanced degree may be considered in lieu of some of years of required experience.

Candidates with accreditations earned in a foreign institute are encouraged to apply.

Note: Per Metro Ordinance No. SO94-1078. All employees of the Metropolitan Government shall be residents of the State of Tennessee or become residents of the state within six (6) months of employment as a prerequisite to employment with the Metropolitan Government.
Preferred Experience, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Professional experience in municipal art programs, public art administration, visual arts administration, or creative placemaking.
• Demonstrated experience managing programs, projects, exhibitions, or other complex collaborative initiatives, including the ability to manage multiple deliverables on overlapping deadlines.
• Experience working with budgets, financial statements, and performing financial recordkeeping and analysis for projects and programs.
• Experience building collaborative and professional relationships across different communities, organizations, and institutions, particularly with historically marginalized and underrepresented communities.

Full-time, Civil Service positions -
10 Vacation Days per year (increasing after 5 years of service)
1 Sick Day per month
12 Paid Holidays per year

Public Safety - Sworn and Civilian positions -
20 vacation days per year
3 Personal days per year
1 Sick Day per month
12 paid holidays per year

Part-time, Non Civil Service positions - Visit HR and Benefits webpages for more information.

Full-time, Non Civil Service positions - contact hiring department for benefits information

Seasonal/Temporary positions - no benefits offered.
01

What is the highest level of education you have completed?

• No diploma
• High School Diploma or Equivalent
• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Doctoral Degree

02

How many years of professional-level management experience do you have in public art administration or management or related fields such as capital project management, urban planning/design, architecture, public administration, or museum studies? *Must be reflected in your work history details.*

• No experience
• 1 - 4 years
• 5 - 7 years
• 8 or more years

03

How many years of supervisory experience do you have (must include coordinating and reviewing the work of others)? *Must be reflected in your work history details.*

• No experience
• 1 year
• 2 or more years

04

Please briefly describe your experience in public art administration or management or related fields such as capital project management, urban planning/design, architecture, public administration, or museum studies. If none, enter "n/a".
05

Please briefly describe your supervisory experience. If none, enter "n/a".
06

Please briefly describe your experience managing programs, projects, exhibitions, or other complex collaborative initiatives, including the ability to manage multiple deliverables on overlapping deadlines. If none, enter "n/a".
07

Please briefly describe your experience working with budgets, financial statements, and performing financial recordkeeping and analysis for projects and programs. If none, enter "n/a".
08

Please briefly describe your experience building collaborative and professional relationships across different communities, organizations, and institutions, particularly with historically marginalized and underrepresented communities. If none, enter "n/a".
Required Question