Director of Public Programming

Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) is one of the world's leading performing arts centers and a cultural cornerstone of New York City. For over 160 years, BAM has championed boundary-pushing artists across theater, dance, music, opera, film, and multidisciplinary performance. As a home for the adventurous and the avant-garde, BAM is committed to amplifying diverse voices and fostering meaningful connections between artists and communities.

BAM seeks a visionary, deeply connected Director of Public Programming to lead the production and curatorial development of public-facing events that complement and extend BAM's mainstage season. This curator will conceive, develop, and execute a robust portfolio of programs — including artist conversations, symposia, community events, interdisciplinary series, and special commissions — that deepen audience engagement and position BAM as a site for civic and intellectual discourse. The Director will work collaboratively across departments to ensure that public programming reflects BAM's artistic values and serves the full breadth of its audiences.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  

Curation

• Develop and oversee an annual calendar of public programming in alignment with BAM's institutional mission, artistic season, and strategic priorities
• Commission and produce original programs, including artist talks, panels, reading groups, marketplaces, civic engagements, pop-up performances, and cross-disciplinary collaborations
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with artists, scholars, curators, activists, public officials, and cultural leaders locally, nationally, and internationally
• Identify emerging voices and underrepresented perspectives for inclusion in BAM's public programming ecosyste

Production & Operations

• Works with Director of Production to manage public programs, from concept through execution, including budgeting, scheduling, technical requirements, staffing, and post-event evaluation
• Collaborate with the technical production team to ensure all events meet BAM's production standards
• Oversee vendor and contractor relationships related to public programming
• Develop and manage the public programming budget responsibly and with accountability

Collaboration & Partnership

• Partner closely with the Marketing, Communications, and Education departments to promote programs and integrate them into BAM's broader community engagement strategy
• Build and sustain partnerships with universities, cultural institutions, civic organizations, and community groups
• Work with the Development team to support fundraising efforts related to public programming, including grant reporting and funder stewardship

Leadership & Management

• Supervise, mentor, and support a team of programming coordinators and production staff when applicable
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative working environment consistent with BAM's values
• Contribute to institutional planning conversations as a member of the programming team

• 7–10 years of experience in arts programming, producing, or curation, with a significant portion in a leadership role
• Deep knowledge of and passion for the performing arts, with familiarity across disciplines
• Demonstrated experience producing live events of varying scale and format
• Strong existing relationships within the New York arts community and broader national/international networks
• Exceptional organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously under deadline
• Experience managing budgets and working within financial constraints creatively
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and access
• Fluency in a language other than English is a plus

Compensation: The salary for this role is $115K. This position is full-time, exempt, and eligible for benefits. BAM provides a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, retirement plan opportunities including both 401(k) and pension plans, as well as BAM-related benefits including access to BAM's fantastic programming. 

Working conditions: Administrative Work (Category 1):

• The employee sits most of the time yet may occasionally move around the office, uses fingers and hands, engages in frequent oral communication, and has close visual acuity to perform activities such as viewing a computer and preparation of data and figures

• Hybrid Schedule: The position will primarily be onsite, with occasional flexibility to work remotely as the workload allows

Application Instructions:

BAM is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We strongly encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, particularly those from communities historically underrepresented in arts leadership. 

Applicants must complete an online application through BAM's website  - no phone calls, emails or walk-ins, please. 

Internal Applicants must apply through BAM's website 

Existing employees must meet all of the following criteria to be considered for an interview: 

• Completed at least 1 year of continuous, active service in current position. (Positions excluded include, but are not limited to, temporary assignments, and probationary employees):
  • Meet the experience and skills requirements as outlined in the job post;
  • Be employed in the current position for at least one
  • Performed in a satisfactory manner without any corrective actions in the last 12 months

Brooklyn Academy of Music is an Equal Opportunity Employer. BAM recognizes that historic institutional practices lead to a non-inclusive environment and is working to address diversity and inclusion in all forms. Individuals in BAM are experiencing their own pace during this process, which is not uncommon when addressing power and privilege. The Experience and Impact division supports and continues to take part in this process.