Executive Director of , inclusive Cheech Marin Museum of Chicano

The City of Riverside and the Riverside Art Museum: A Story of Cultural Legacy & Civic Collaboration

The City of Riverside has long stood as a cultural crossroads in Southern California—a city rich in history, civic pride, and a deep, ongoing commitment to the arts. Within this vibrant community, the Riverside Art Museum (RAM) anchors two architectural and cultural landmarks: the historic Julia Morgan-designed museum and The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture—each serving as a pillar of creativity, inclusion, and community engagement.

At the heart of RAM is a building designed by Julia Morgan
, one of the most influential architects of the 20th century and the first woman licensed to practice architecture in California. Completed in 1929, the building originally served as a YWCA—a hub of social progress and women’s empowerment. Today, it serves as a dynamic space for rotating exhibitions, arts education, and cultural dialogue. Preserving and programming within this historic space is both an honor and a responsibility.

Just steps away, another story unfolds at The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture
—affectionately known as “The Cheech.”Opened in 2022 through a groundbreaking public‑private partnership, The Cheech is the nation’s first permanent museum space dedicated to Chicano art. It houses the personal collection of actor, comedian, and art advocate Cheech Marin
, comprising more than 500 works by Chicano artists. Located in the city’s former public library—a 1964 modernist building thoughtfully repurposed—the center represents not just an evolution of space, but an evolution of purpose: celebrating identity, voice, and representation in the arts stewardship.

This visionary endeavor was made possible through a collaborative agreement between RAM, the City of Riverside, and Cheech Marin
, who together built a new model for civic and cultural partnership. The city invested in the renovation and preservation of the library building;
Cheech Marin contributed his extensive collection and public support; and RAM stepped forward to serve as the operating partner—bringing deep curatorial, administrative, and educational experience to the effort.

The Riverside Art Museum, inclusive of these two institutions, reflects the City of Riverside’s commitment to honoring its past while boldly investing in the future of art, culture, and community inclusion
. They stand as powerful examples of what can happen when a city, its citizens, and its cultural leaders come together to create something truly transformative.

The Executive Director of the Riverside Art Museum is pivotal in connecting the city’s cultural legacy with innovative civic collaboration in these significant historic spaces.

Riverside, California | Full-Time | Arts & Culture Leadership

At the Riverside Art Museum (RAM), our mission is to uplift diverse artistic and cultural voices
, cultivate inclusive exhibitions, collections, and educational programming, engage in transformative conversations, and foster strong community connections.

We are seeking a bold, visionary Executive Director to lead the Riverside Art Museum into its next chapter of artistic excellence, operational innovation, and community impact. As the chief executive of a growing, multi‑site organization rooted in deep cultural legacy, the Executive Director will guide RAM's strategic direction, build meaningful regional and national partnerships, and ensure operational excellence and fiscal sustainability.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a proven nonprofit leader with significant experience in operations, fundraising, and public‑private collaboration—someone who understands the power of the arts to transform lives and communities.

RAM consists of two locations, the community’s long‑time encyclopedic museum housed in a historic 1929 building designed by Julia Morgan
, the first licensed female architect in California and famed designer of Hearst Castle. Just steps away is The Cheech—our contemporary cultural jewel and the…