The director shall be selected by a majority of the board, and shall serve at the pleasure of the board. The director shall be knowledgeable in the arts, and shall have demonstrated proficiency in the administration of programs relating to the arts. The director may upon designation and instruction by the board serve as the state agent to apply for, receive and disburse federal funds made available to the state in furtherance of the arts. The director is the chief administrative officer of the board and is responsible for performing the executive duties of the board as provided in this chapter. The director shall not be a member of the board. All other employees of the board shall be in the classified civil service of the state. No employee of the board or its advisory committees may be an applicant for or recipient of board assistance, nor may an employee be an officer, director or employee of a recipient sponsoring organization.