Position Summary:

The Museum Educator is a position within Public Programs, in the Learning and Engagement division, responsible for leading the planning, development, and delivery of programming that is engaging and meaningful for adult and multigenerational audiences. The position develops and delivers a variety of programs inspired by the museums collection, exhibitions, architecture, and grounds, prioritizing access, diversity, inclusion, and innovation. This position will focus on creating and sustaining large-scale programs for adults and multigenerational audiences, as well as smaller educational experiences. Programs include (but are not limited to): museum-wide public events, concerts and performances, and gallery [MA1] programs. Additionally, the Museum Educator will provide support and facilitation as needed for public programs in general, and the innovation and development of new, future public programs that grow our adult and multigenerational audiences. The position requires strong planning and organizational skills, innovative and strategic thinking, and an interest in facilitating a wide range of museum experiences.

This position reports to the Manager of Adult Programs and works in close collaboration with the Public Programs team, in addition to Learning & Engagement division colleagues, artists, performers, presenters, museum staff and volunteers, and community partners. Most programs are delivered in the evenings and on weekends, so the ability to work at those times is essential.

Principal Responsibilities (Essential Functions)

• Plan and facilitate select programs on the museums roster of offerings for adult and multigenerational audiences, including museum-wide public events, concerts and performances, and some gallery programs.

• Develop program content and goals that align with the museums mission.

• Communicate and collaborate effectively with Learning & Engagement team, curatorial, marketing, and all other necessary departments to present programming inspired by and interpreting the museums collections and exhibitions.

• In collaboration with our Community Engagement team, engage with the local community to build a diverse presenter network, inclusive collaborations, program access and audience interest. Cultivate effective collaborative relationships with area artists, institutions, communities, and organizations to develop quality public programming.

• Provide written program content as needed, and collaborate with the communications department for successful marketing, and creation of collateral materials.

• Serve on cross-departmental teams to collaboratively plan multigenerational public programs, represent education on exhibition teams, and contribute to other initiatives.

• Work with the divisions administration and operations team to coordinate facility needs, resources, supplies and registration for programs

• Assist in the creation of the public programs budget; manage program expenditures.

• Consistently monitor/evaluate programs for effectiveness, impact, and improvement. Meaningfully reflect on past programs to help push museum program offerings forward.

• Research new development on trends in audience engagement for adults and share knowledge with groups to inform programs.

Minimum Qualifications

Traits, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent planning and organizational skills

• Ability to lead gallery conversation and create meaningful connections between artwork and audience

• Knowledge of the visual arts and museum pedagogy; knowledge of or willingness to learn about nature, education, and architecture.

• Highest ethics as they relate to all aspects of museum practices and confidentiality

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Outstanding customer service skills

• Ability to work independently, as well as within a team

• Ability and willingness to work weekends, evenings and holidays as required

• A good sense of humor and a calm demeanor under pressure

• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office applications.

• Ability to use or willingness to learn specialized museum applications including The Museum System, Event Management Solutions, Tessitura and Tableau.

• Bilingual (Spanish language) is a plus

Education and Experience:

• Bachelors degree in art education, art history, museum studies or studio art or related field required.

• Two years experience in planning and presenting educational programs in an art museum setting, or equivalent experience required.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Valid Arkansas drivers license with clean driving record; willing and able to travel for program development and facilitation.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical demands: Regularly, while performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to travel independently regionally and in communities served. In the work environment described below, position requires working at a desk and utilizing a computer and a telephone, good eye/hand coordination, bending and stretching, standing and sitting in the ability to move around galleries, the classrooms, and throughout the museum, including travel on the outdoor trails. Visual acuity to review written materials is required for this job.

• Work environment: Work will be performed in an office environment, museum galleries, art studios, outdoors on the trails, and in communities served. Some evening and weekend hours are required. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the Museum work environment is usually low to moderate

About Crystal Bridges

The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. We explore the unfolding story of America by actively collecting, exhibiting, interpreting, and preserving outstanding American art. Crystal Bridges was founded in 2005 as a non-profit charitable organization by arts patron and chair of the museums board of directors, Alice Walton. Since opening to the public on 11-11-11, the museum has welcomed more than 5 million visitors and garnered 15,000 membership households. Some 280,000 school children have participated in the Willard and Pat Walker School Visit program, which provides educational experiences for school groups at no cost.

Crystal Bridges takes its name from a nearby natural spring and the bridge construction incorporated in the building, designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie. A series of pavilions nestled around two spring-fed ponds house the galleries and amenities such as a restaurant, museum store designed by architect Marlon Blackwell, and a library featuring more than 50,000 volumes of art reference material. In addition to the museums architecture, a Usonian house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright was preserved, acquired, and moved to the museum grounds in 2015, and a rare Buckminster Fullers Flys Eye Dome was installed in 2017, both providing access to American architectural masterworks in a natural setting.

Sculpture and walking trails link the museum's 120-acre park to downtown Bentonville, Arkansas. A new entrance, elevator tower, and pedestrian bridge was added to the north side of the building in 2017, increasing access to the museums north lawn and newly enhanced North Forest Trail. More than 600,000 visitors a year utilize the museums five miles of walking trails.

Crystal Bridges permanent collection spans five centuries of American artworks from early American to the present, and is always free to view. Crystal Bridges is committed to telling broad and inclusive stories by acquiring and showcasing the highest quality works by artists underrepresented in art history and conventional museum frameworks. Works such as Asher B. Durands Kindred Spirits, Gilbert Stuarts George Washington, and Georgia OKeeffes Jimson Weed are displayed alongside contemporary artists such as Kerry James Marshall, Maya Lin, Fritz Scholder, Jaune Quick-To-See-Smith, Felix Gonzales-Torres, and Amy Sherald represent some of the finest achievements in American art. The collection continues to grow, while the museum also offers temporary exhibitions that complement the collection and can also reveal arts connections to equality and justice.

Crystal Bridges provides year-round programming for all ages. In 2019, more than 800 public programs and events were offered, including lectures, performances, classes, and continuing education for K-12 teachers. Crystal Bridges stays connected online with the full collection available via eMuseum, an award-winning app, a podcast called Museum Way, all available for free, and many of the museums lectures such as the Distinguished Speaker Series are on Crystal Bridges YouTube channel. An online-learning initiative provides opportunities for students and teachers with arts-based courses, as well as SmartHistory with arts history videos and essays. Crystal Bridges also offers two research fellowship programs. The Tyson Scholars in American Art program encourages and supports full-time scholarship that seeks to expand boundaries and traditional categories of investigation into American art and visual culture. The Reese Teacher Fellowship provides for research into the development of interdisciplinary connections between American art and core curriculum subjects of language arts, history, social studies, and the sciences. In addition, Crystal Bridges administers the awarding of the Don Tyson Prize, an unprecedented award recognizing significant achievements in the field of American art. Additional information about Crystal Bridges is available online at CrystalBridges.org.

About the Momentary

The Momentary is a new contemporary art space that opened to the public on February 22, 2020, in downtown Bentonville, Arkansas. A satellite to Crystal Bridges, the Momentary presents visual, performing, and culinary arts. The mission of the Momentary is to champion contemporary arts role in everyday life and explore the unfolding story of contemporary American arts in an international context by actively commissioning and exhibiting outstanding works that explore new ideas and inspire action. The Momentary was founded by the Walton family, based on the vision of Tom, Olivia, and Steuart Walton. The Walton Family Foundation is supporting this project as a way to enhance the quality of life in Northwest Arkansas. The Momentary welcomes all with free general admission. Additional offerings include an artist-in-residence program, culinary experiences including an Onyx Coffee Lab, indoor and outdoor gathering spaces, an outdoor festival space, and a gift store. For more information, visit theMomentary.org. The Momentary is located at 507 SE E Street, Bentonville, Arkansas 72712.