Apply on
Job Details
Estimated: $89,000 - $120,000 a year
Full Job Description
Executive Summary
Grace Cathedral is the cathedral church for the Episcopal Diocese of California, sitting at the top of
San Francisco’s Nob Hill. The iconic building is a French Gothic revival church and the third largest
Episcopal cathedral in North America. In addition to daily worship services, weddings and funerals,
Grace Cathedral hosts frequent arts performances and cultural programming. It is open every day of
the year and is visited by hundreds of tourists each week. A K-8 boys' school and preschool are also
located on the property.
The cathedral was built in five phases between 1928 and 1964 and is of steel-reinforced concrete
construction. Key leadership at the cathedral includes the Chapter, or senior staff; a Board of
Trustees; and a standing board committee, the Buildings and Grounds Committee, with expertise in
architecture, engineering and property management.
Project Summary
The Way It Is Now
Under normal circumstances, the cathedral is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, and
some evenings depending on the services and events schedule. The cathedral has a loyal group of
volunteers who, for many hours of the day but not all, occupy a visitor’s desk at the front entrance
of the cathedral to answer questions and distribute a number of brochures about different aspects of
the cathedral. The cathedral also has a loyal group of docents, who give free tours of the cathedral at
1 p.m. most days. The cathedral is free to enter, with signs suggesting a donation of $10. The main
visitor brochure gives a basic overview, a map, and covers highlights of the cathedral. Visitors who
arrive when there are no volunteers or docents onsite are left with little guidance. There is almost no
signage about any of the art in the cathedral, and only basic information available on the cathedral
website (gracecathedral.org). The cathedral does have an app tour, GraceGuide, which can be
downloaded onsite using the cathedral’s free wifi. The tour includes welcomes by the Bishop of
California and the Dean of Grace Cathedral, an adult highlights tour, a children’s scavenger hunt,
and music to walk the labyrinth by.
Goals
Grace Cathedral has a diverse and rich collection of art—including the building itself—and is
seeking to better share the story of the art of cathedral with all who enter to maximize its impact and
to increase the connection of visitors to the cathedral. We are looking for a consultant to work with
us to envision and plan the visitor experience and the interpretation of our art collection, both to
highlight the breadth of the collection and to present a unified story.
We are looking for a consultant with expertise in the history of art, museum settings, exhibitions,
displaying art, visitor experience and telling a story with an art collection. We are also looking to this
consultant to help us create a plan for art labeling and wayfinding, that will give a visitor a clear path
to experience what the cathedral has to offer.
Of particular concern in the cathedral’s art collection are several murals (see Mural Statement in the
attachments). It is our intention to “retain and explain” and this will be an important part of the
interpretive work. We are a community that values creativity and the arts, that looks for ways to
innovate as well as preserving tradition, and that does not shy away from the difficult questions.
Attachments
Visitor Brochure
AIDS Memorial Chapel Brochure
Windows and Murals Brochure
Murals Statement
Art Census
[https://www.dropbox.com/sh/psp8sfu5agv3mql/AADcCFp1cg-9wrpPIHRflVr8a?dl=0]
Links
https://gracecathedral.org/
America’s First Episcopal Cathedral (KRON4 TV 1964)
[https://diva.sfsu.edu/collections/sfbatv/bundles/227028?fbclid=IwAR0-
fQ5cWezFXT0noZI1C3VqKBSmSGadC-_obG5gonaRj1cKAfD-22IplaY]
You may also with to download our app, GraceGuide, available on the App Store or Google Play.
Process
We are currently inviting RFPs from consultants within the Bay Area with the goal of filling the
position as soon as possible. When hired, we expect to see a period of information gathering,
working both with the many stakeholders at Grace Cathedral and with the wider community in
which we are set. This would include an exploration of the major options for the development of art
labeling and wayfinding at the cathedral. Questions are welcome and tours of the cathedral are
available upon request.
Please include in your proposal:
- An outline of the experience you have in this field, and especially any working with
institutions that resemble Grace Cathedral.
- A proposed team roster with expected roles and responsibilities.
- Your initial ideas about the methodology you would bring to this project.
- A budget and timeline for the work [consultant work only—not materials and installation]
We are accepting proposals on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Please return your proposal
and address any questions to Rebecca Nestle, Director of Cultural Programs, Grace Cathedral, 1100
California Street, San Francisco, CA 94108, rebeccan@gracecathedral.org.
Thank you for giving the time to consider this request. We hope to hear from you soon.