Metro Arts commissioners agreed July 24 to stand up an ad hoc Search and Vision committee to work with Metro Human Resources in shaping the executive director search, commissioners and staff said.
Chair West said the committee will partner with Metro HR to develop the job description, inform candidate criteria and provide the commission’s priorities to human resources. Human Resources will manage the formal posting, recruitment and hiring timeline, staff said.
“We are active partners in the search, and coming with our own vision for the commission so we can help inform the search,” Chair West said during the meeting. The commission asked for a short, frequent meeting cadence — about shorter meetings every other week — while HR sets a formal timetable.
Commissioners discussed bringing external perspectives into the search process. Some expressed interest in using outside facilitators or search firms to expand the candidate pool and to get an external lens on qualifications; staff and legal counsel noted that Metro HR will outline the permissible process and legal constraints. Director Hall of Metro Human Resources (referenced by staff) will ultimately determine the official hiring timeline and procedures, staff said.
Several commissioners signaled willingness to serve on the ad hoc committee; Commissioner Cole voiced particular interest in participating. A staff representative said the committee would meet with HR before any public posting to finalize the role description and selection approach. No formal panelist or firm was selected at the July 24 meeting; commissioners agreed to meet with HR to finalize scope and membership before the search launches.
Staff emphasized the need to work within Metro code and HR procedures and said the commission will be able to provide supplemental questions and interview feedback as candidates are presented by HR. The commission also discussed stakeholder engagement — bringing in community thought partners and former grantees or arts leaders for input on priorities — and will determine the mechanism for that input in the coming weeks.
No formal hiring decision was made at the July 24 meeting; HR will manage the solicitation and application phase and return candidate recommendations to the commission for interviews and final selection.