The Mass Cultural Council Executive Committee is actively designing the process to hire a new Executive Director, including whether to engage an external executive search firm or manage the process internally. Discussion on April 14, 2026 covered forming a search task force that may include external sector representatives, Open Meeting Law constraints, and the pros and cons, cost, and equity benefits of hiring a search firm. The Chair asked members to submit recommendations for task force participants by April 24 and stated his goal of having a clear search plan within 4–6 weeks, with an update at the May 19, 2026 Council meeting that could include a decision on using a search firm and a potential RFP timeline. This creates a pre-RFP opportunity for firms specializing in public-sector executive recruitment to position their services and advise on search design. Vendors can offer scoped proposals, timelines, and public-sector compliant processes that address the Council’s concerns about credibility, workload on staff, and transparency under Open Meeting Law.

Committee members referenced using a search firm in the previous Executive Director hire and express...