Executive Director

Gallo Center for the Arts via TOC Arts Partners

Modesto, CA 95354

Deadline

Rolling

Posted

Aug 07, 2026

The Gallo Center for the Arts (GCA) seeks a dynamic, mission-driven executive to serve as its next Executive Director. This is an exceptional opportunity for an accomplished arts leader to guide a thriving, community-rooted performing arts center into its next era — building on a strong artistic and civic legacy while strengthening the organization’s financial foundation, programming, and community partnerships.

*About the Gallo Center for the Arts *

The Gallo Center for the Arts is a state-of-the-art performing arts complex located in the heart of vibrant downtown Modesto, California. The Center features two indoor performance venues — the 1,248-seat Mary Stuart Rogers Theater and the 440-seat Foster Family Theater, connected by a grand shared lobby — as well as year-round outdoor community programming in the Modesto Rotary Music Garden.

The mission of the Gallo Center is to enrich the quality of life in the San Joaquin Valley by providing an inspirational civic gathering place where regional, national, and international cultural activities illuminate, educate, and entertain. The Gallo Center celebrates the diversity of its community by offering an array of cultural opportunities designed to appeal to, and be accessible for, all.

For more information about the Gallo Center for the Arts, please visit GalloArts.org.

About Modesto, California

Halfway between San Francisco and Yosemite National Park and surrounded by some of the state’s richest farmland, the growing city of Modesto sits at the very heart of California and is the region’s cultural and agriculture center. Modesto is located in the center of the Central Valley surrounded by the Coastal Ranges and the Sierra Nevada, and close by, the numerous farmlands that produce a majority of several crops for the United States. Modesto has a Mediterranean climate, with cool to mild winters with moderate rainfall and warm, dry summers.

Cultural life in Modesto is as varied as its diverse population. In the heart of downtown you can see many of the 100 colorful street murals painted by international artists invited to Modesto as part of the annual DoMo Walls festival. Nationally known musicians and touring Broadway musical come to town for performances at the Gallo Center for the Arts, sharing the spaces with established and valued resident companies presenting music, dance and theatre. Downtown Modesto hosts a monthly Art Walk, with local artists displaying art for sale, artist demos, local gallery shows, in a multi-venue map self-guided tour. And of course, the exciting food and wine scene of Modesto and the region is fueled by the central role Modesto holds in viticulture and agriculture that impacts the entire nation.

The Executive Director provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the Gallo Center for the Arts. This role is responsible for overseeing programming, financial stewardship, development, marketing, and community engagement. The ED will also work in collaboration with the current Chief Operating Officer on a division of duties and responsibilities relating to the operation of the Gallo Center for the Arts. The Executive Director ensures that GCA presents high-quality performing arts and community events while maintaining sustainable business practices, and serves as the organization’s primary ambassador to donors, civic leaders, artists, and the broader Modesto community.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategic Direction
Provide overall leadership, vision, and strategic direction for the Center, in alignment with the mission and goals established by the Board of Directors.
In collaboration with senior staff and the Board, articulate the organization’s strategic opportunities and craft the roadmap for the Gallo Center’s next era, with particular attention to the priorities identified in the organization’s new strategic plan.
Ensure that the Center’s stated values guide daily operations, with a keen focus on the care and well‑being of staff, artists, volunteers and community members.
Model and lead a culture of teamwork and shared responsibilities and accountability.
Maintain productive communication among staff, leadership, volunteers and the Board to foster a culture of transparency and collaboration on issues ranging from finance to artistic philosophy.
Formulate and recommend policies, procedures, and programs for Board consideration, and ensure accurate recordkeeping for all organizational activities.
Provide leadership and direction to staff, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Programming & Artistic Curation
Lead Gallo Center programming in keeping with the organization’s mission, vision, and values, and oversee development, scheduling, and execution of the annual calendar of performances, events, and programs.
Deepen the Center’s understanding of its audience and community, applying a responsive approach to programming and community events.
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