Assistant to Access Programs and Initiatives (Part-Time, Temporary)

Whitney Museum of American Art; New York (NY); On-site; USD 41,000 - 45,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Commuter benefits

Admission to world-renowned museums

Job summary

The Whitney Museum of American Art invites applications for an Assistant to Access Programs and Initiatives. This role supports the Access division within Social Impact, working with Interpretation, Educational Content, Curatorial, Exhibitions, and Visitor Services to develop and distribute accessible materials for Whitney exhibitions and programs.

The position is part-time (21 hours weekly), in-person, Tuesday–Friday with one Saturday per month, plus occasional Sundays.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in education, museum studies, disability studies, studio art, art history, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience in research and writing.
• Strong administrative and communication skills.
• Knowledge of modern and contemporary art history and practice.
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse communities and a commitment to social justice.
• Proficiency in ASL or Spanish a plus.

Responsibilities

• Assist in producing Access content for the Whitney mobile guide with multiple departments to ensure artworks include access components.
• Help produce and maintain access materials (Large Print Guides, ALDs, induction loops, social narratives, image descriptions).
• Contribute to in-person and virtual Access Programs (Whitney Signs, Whitney Descriptions, Quieter Hours).
• Create work orders and assist with Access events.
• Maintain communication with Access educators to coordinate monthly programs.

Skills

Research and writing

Administrative skills

Communication skills

Collaboration

Social justice awareness

ASL/Spanish (nice to have)

Education

Bachelor's degree in Education or Museum Studies or Disability Studies or related field

Job description

The Whitney Museum, the defining museum of twentieth-century and contemporary American art, seeks an Assistant to Access Programs and Initiatives.

The Assistant to Access Programs and Initiatives reports to the Director of Learning and Social Impact.

The Whitney’s Access division builds pathways for visitors with a wide range of disabilities to engage with the richness and complexity of American art. Through regular programs like Whitney Signs, Verbal Description and Touch Tours, and Quieter Hours for Neurodivergent Visitors, we work to build community and create space for multi-modal conversations about art. The Access team is dedicated to ensuring that access isn’t just a checklist but instead a method of creating a welcoming space for diverse groups of disabled people. Working collaboratively with departments like Interpretation and Educational Content, Curatorial, Exhibitions, and Visitor Services, the Access team develops and distributes a wide range of access materials that disabled and non-disabled visitors can utilize to facilitate and/or deepen their engagement to Whitney exhibitions and programs.

The Access Programs division is a part of the Social Impact area; Social Impact lives within the Whitney’s Education department.

This position is part-time (21 hours per week) and fully in-person. The schedule will be Tuesday-Friday, and one Saturday per month to assist with the Whitney Descriptions and Whitney Signs programs. Occasional availability on Sundays is also required.

Responsibilities:

• Assisting with the production of select Access content for the Whitney’s mobile guide. Working with departments such as Interpretation and Educational Content, Digital Content and Curatorial to ensure access components for appropriate artworks on view
• Assisting with the production and maintenance of access materials including but not limited to: Large Print Guides, Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs), induction loops, social narratives, image descriptions, etc.
• Assisting with all aspects of the Whitney’s in-person and virtual Access Programs including Whitney Signs, Whitney Descriptions, Quieter Hours for Neurodivergent Visitors, and other programs designed for people with disabilities
• Creating work orders and assisting with all aspects of Access events
• Maintaining consistent and clear communication with Access educators to coordinate monthly programs
• Consistently responding to messages received through the Access Feedback email and phone line
• Conducting outreach to diverse disability communities through various modes including email marketing, in-person off site visits to community organizations, and the production of accessible fliers and posters
• Performing a wide variety of administrative functions to help day-to-day management of the Access division, including but not limited to processing invoices for freelance educators, service providers, and freelancer writers, assisting with budget tracking, tracking program statistics, creating reports, submitting work orders and calendar requests
• Learning cultural competency with diverse disabled groups/disability etiquette
• Working closely with various departments including Visitor Services, Facilities, Security, Special Events, Marketing, AV and other Museum departments to ensure that Access programs run smoothly
• Purchasing and organizing art materials, and ordering snacks for some programs/events
• Documenting program sessions and public events while organizing files in respective systems
• Conducting research as needed for the Access team

Requirements:

• B.A./B.F.A. with a background in education, museum studies, disability studies, studio art, art history, or a related field
• Demonstrated experience in research and writing
• Strong administrative and communication skills
• Knowledge of modern and contemporary art history and practice
• Ability to work collaboratively and be a team player
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse communities and a commitment to social justice
• Successful candidates will have a demonstrated interest in working with diverse disability communities, a desire to learn more about contemporary art, and knowledge of art making practices.
• Proficiency in ASL or Spanish a plus
• Expertise in writing or facilitating image description a plus as well

Compensation & Benefits:

• Hourly rate of $31.44
• Commuter benefits - parking and mass transit
• Admission to world-renowned museums across the city and nationally

If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates. Whether you’re new to arts and culture administration, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or take the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar. Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interest in the arts and culture space and what you hope to bring to this role.

About the Whitney

The Whitney Museum of American Art, founded in 1930 by the artist and philanthropist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, houses the foremost collection of American art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. From her vision arose the Whitney Museum of American Art, which has been championing the most innovative art of the United States for 86 years. The core of the Whitney’s mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit American art of our time and serve a wide variety of audiences in celebration of the complexity and diversity of art and culture in the United States. Through this mission and a steadfast commitment to artists themselves, the Whitney has long been a powerful force in support of modern and contemporary art and continues to help define what is innovative and influential in American art today.

EEO Statement

The Whitney Museum of American Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Museum does not discriminate because of age, sex, religion, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital status, partnership status, veteran status, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, or any other factor prohibited by law. The Museum hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled. The Museum encourages all qualified candidates to apply for vacant positions at all levels. This description shall not be construed as a contract of any sort for a specific period of employment.